The difficulty Criterion have had since Burnout 3 is how to top what they’ve done before. For this, the first “build-from-the-ground-up” high definition Burnout, they at least had the power of the PS3 and Xbox to help in that regard. The differentiation they have achieved comes through four main features: no load times, a High Definition graphics engine, exploration and general fooling around as an important game mechanic, and lots of online features including exploration and general fooling around.

You can finally consider loading screens in Burnout a thing of the past. In Paradise the only one you see is the one when you turn your console on and the game loads. The way they accomplished this is by taking a leaf out of GTA and Need for Speed Underground’s book – a streaming, persistent world. Criterion have designed a city from the ground up for you to drive in, and everywhere you go the game is constantly loading up buildings and roads in the distance, in the background so you never notice. This, combined with a much higher level of detail in the environments and cars and a commitment to 60 frames for second, explains why EA are not publishing the game on any platforms other than PS3 and Xbox 360.

Continue reading El33tonline’s Burnout Paradise review.

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