Burnout

The first in Criterion's signature street racing series, focused on driving recklessly through traffic at high speeds, with car crashes being just as spectacular.

PlayStation 2

GameCube

Xbox

Overview

Burnout is a street racing game developed by Criterion Games and published by Acclaim for the PlayStation 2 in North America on November 1, 2001, with a European release on November 16, 2001.

An arcade-style racing game and the first in a long line of racing games by Criterion, Burnout known for its spectacular crashes and its boost system, in which players can replenish their boost meter through risky maneuvers (such as weaving closely around traffic or driving onto oncoming traffic). The game features a signature "Burnout" system where, by using up the entire boost meter at once without crashing, players regain half of their meter on depletion. This system, as well as the crash mechanics, were expanded on with the game's sequels, starting with Burnout 2: Point of Impact.

The game later received releases for the Xbox and GameCube, with the North American version released on April 30, 2002 and the European version released on May 3, 2002. The Xbox version was later made backwards-compatible with the Xbox 360.

Gameplay

Burnout is an arcade-style racing game with a checkpoint system and a countdown timer (which is replenished by reaching checkpoints).

Game Modes

Along with a multi-event Championship Mode, a simple Single Run mode, a two-player split-screen multiplayer Head to Head mode, and a Time Attack mode, the game includes some bonus game modes that are unlocked through Championship Mode: Free Run (Single Run without any traffic), Free Run Twin (Head to Head without any traffic), and Survival (Single Run, but one crash results in a disqualification).

Vehicles

The game includes 5 generic cars to choose from, with four additional ones unlockable through Championship Mode (after defeating them in special one-on-one races).

Easy

Supermini

Medium

Sports Coupe
Saloon
Roadster (unlockable)

Hard

Muscle
Pickup
Saloon GT (unlockable)

Special

Bus (unlockable)
Tow Truck (unlockable)

Tracks

There are two locales (USA and Europe), each with their own tracks (five in total). All tracks include alternate variations, changing the time-of-day with most also reversing the layout and adjusting traffic.

From the start, only three track variations are available: Interstate, Harbor Town, and River City. The rest are unlockable through Championship Mode.

USA

Interstate / Rush Hour
Hillside Pass / Cliffhanger / Country Chaos
Gridlock USA / Night Shift

A special endurance track, USA Marathon, combines all three USA tracks into a single, extremely long track. USA Marathon EX is a reversed version.