Burnout Paradise Remastered
- June 4, 2020
- Criterion Games
- 7h median play time
"Burnout Paradise Remastered" is a high-speed arcade racing game set in an open-world environment. Experience remastered visuals and online multiplayer mayhem, including dynamic weather and day-night cycles. With a range of aggressive driving techniques and stunt jumps, navigate the city of Paradise City while competing in various racing events.
Reviews
- graphics212 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the remastered version of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting only minor improvements over the original. While some appreciate the updated textures and smoother performance, others feel that the enhancements are minimal and not worth the remaster label, often comparing it unfavorably to modern standards. Additionally, technical issues related to graphics settings and compatibility with dedicated graphics cards have been a common frustration among users.
“Graphics are still really great, even from its time, with the car models and their wreckage looking spectacular.”
“4K at 120fps is great and helps this older game be enjoyable with smoother frame rates and cleaner graphics.”
“The graphics really hold up to today's standards; I might even go as far as to say, better than some of the newer generation games.”
“Maybe someday the constant crashing will be fixed, but the fact I have to either install mods or mess with my graphics card's settings just to even get the game to load feels like an insult, and I only got the game on sale for $5.”
“I'm disappointed to see that the graphics don't have any noticeable upgrades or any new cars added for the 'remaster' version of the game.”
“For a 'remastered' game, the graphics aren't that much better than the original, and the framerate is still capped at 60fps...”
- music201 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the diverse soundtrack that includes rock, classical, and tracks from previous Burnout games, enhancing the overall racing experience. However, some players have expressed frustration over technical issues, such as the inability to adjust music volume and the repetitive nature of certain songs, particularly the iconic "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it is marred by some inconsistencies and bugs that detract from the enjoyment.
“The soundtrack selection is alright by series standards with a nice inclusion of classical music as well as the original music from the first few Burnout games, tying everything back nicely.”
“The crashing, the music choices (having classical music was a great creative decision for a high-speed racing game), the missions, the multiplayer, and, of course, the racing are all excellent.”
“The accompanying soundtrack features a diverse range of licensed music that perfectly complements the fast-paced action, further enhancing the immersive experience.”
“I do not understand the love for this game, it is an underwhelming racing game and the soundtrack is just plain awful.”
“The game can complain at me for not having a camera connected, but can't let me adjust the music volume, or set the video output to the monitor it's supposed to be on?”
“Audio - the intro music audio is too loud when starting the game even when music volume is set to zero and SFX is low and I have all tracks set to not play.”
- gameplay138 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Burnout Paradise is characterized by its fast-paced, exhilarating racing mechanics and an open-world environment that encourages aggressive driving and takedowns. While many players find the core gameplay enjoyable and nostalgic, there are significant technical issues, including frequent crashes and bugs that hinder the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a fun multiplayer experience and a variety of activities, though some players feel it lacks the depth and structure of earlier titles in the series.
“The gameplay is pretty easy to pick up and enjoyable, that would sum up everything I want to say.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Burnout Paradise are both accessible and adrenaline-pumping.”
“Fantastic smooth and fast driving, awesome crashes, tons of content, great soundtrack, and a fun multiplayer make this a must-have for any fan of exciting moment-to-moment gameplay.”
“Once the first cutscene ends and it goes to gameplay, it crashes.”
“I wish I could write a review about the gameplay but I never got to that point; it crashes every single time even on a brand new gaming laptop, complete garbage.”
“The game has numerous bugs that either prevent or hinder gameplay.”
- stability98 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches, particularly during startup. Many users have expressed frustration over extensive troubleshooting efforts that often yield no results, leading to a consensus that the game is currently unplayable for a significant number of players. While some have managed to enjoy the game after overcoming initial issues, the overall sentiment is that the remaster suffers from severe stability problems that detract from the experience.
“Runs great, looks good.”
“I also want to mention that I'm playing it on the Steam Deck and it runs great.”
“Game runs great.”
“Crashes on startup, no amount of troubleshooting and guide following worked for me.”
“I can't even refund it because I spent the entire refund period troubleshooting.”
“The troubleshooting that comes with this game isn't worth your time because of one word: Denuvo.”
- story58 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game is largely criticized for its lack of a substantial story, with many reviewers noting that it focuses more on racing and destruction than narrative depth. While some appreciate the world-building and the fun of the missions, the overall consensus is that players seeking a rich storyline will be disappointed, as the gameplay revolves around repetitive racing activities without a meaningful plot.
“Even though the game doesn't really have a story, the world-building is surprisingly good.”
“Bottom line: it's a super fun arcade racer and one of the very few open-world games where the open world does more than just exist between missions as an obstacle you need to traverse before getting to the next mission.”
“Your mission is to guide your vehicle through the city, exploring new areas, gauging your performance against the other AI cars, and most importantly, destroying a vast number of vehicles in hopes of learning how they work and dwindling his army.”
“Story: hmm... it doesn't have one, but hey, at least the comments from 'crash fm' are fun, I guess.”
“If you're looking for a game with a story, this isn't for you.”
“It doesn't have any kind of story, just the same 4-5 activities here and there.”
- optimization52 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance after adjusting settings, while others report significant issues such as crashes, stuttering, and poor resolution options. Many users suggest various tweaks, like setting the game to high-performance mode and adjusting graphics settings, to improve stability, but frustrations remain regarding the overall optimization quality, especially for modern devices. Despite some players enjoying a stable experience, the consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating setup process for many.
“There are high-performance cars that you can use from the start of the game, so if you're not interested in grinding levels to unlock them, you can grab the top car from the beginning and drive it.”
“Haven't had any performance issues or crashing whatsoever.”
“No performance issues, maintained 60fps at maximum settings.”
“Like seriously, how could they mess up this bad in terms of this game's optimization for modern devices?”
“This game is a pain in the ass to set up and is one of the worst optimized games for PC!”
“But about 50% of the time it lags or straight up crashes; honestly surprising how badly this game is optimized.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and repetitive, often describing it as tedious and requiring significant time investment. While some appreciate the option to access high-performance cars from the start to bypass grinding, many still feel that the online challenges and gameplay can become monotonous and feel more like a chore than enjoyable. Despite these criticisms, the game maintains a dedicated player base, suggesting that some still find value in the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy.”
“Not a bad game, but too grindy and repetitive for my personal taste.”
“Got tedious after a while and felt almost workish.”
“Beta'ed this Christmas 2007 on a PS3 when there was only the Palm Bay Heights, and followed the purchase path through Big Surf Island and the motorcycles, toy cars, etc. The game was a pleasure but transformed itself into a grindy experience, with user interaction dropping off to accomplish challenges, thus making it archaic.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as a cash grab due to the presence of intrusive real-world advertisements and a lack of innovation in the remaster. However, some users appreciate the absence of microtransactions, noting that the remaster offers all in-game purchases for free, which is a departure from EA's typical practices. Overall, while the game retains nostalgic elements, the monetization strategy has left a sour taste for many players.
“Remastered gets rid of all the microtransactions, which is a bonus!”
“All in-game purchases are free too!”
“I'm also happy that EA did a very un-EA thing and didn't include any microtransactions.”
“Burnout Paradise Remastered just feels like a cash grab of a game; whatever you do, don't waste your time on this game.”
“They ruined a perfectly good thing with advertisements so they can have money.”
“It's a shame; I played the original back in the day and this is a very lazy remaster. Increased resolution and that's it. I'm pretty sure even some particle effects are better in the original, and the in-game ads that were so memorable in the original are gone.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its whimsical elements, such as toy cars and a Ghostbusters vehicle, which add a playful charm. Players find the absurdity of certain solutions, like disabling Origin, particularly amusing, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“You get toy cars, islands, and even a Ghostbusters car, which was pretty funny to me.”
“The fact that one of the solutions is to disable Origin is hilarious.”
“It's hilarious that it all relates because you don't have a camera or something like that.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is viewed as mixed, with some users appreciating the additional content and improved graphics, while others criticize it for relying on repetitive events to enhance replay value. Overall, opinions suggest that the original version may offer a more engaging experience.
“Replayability and content: 8/10”
“It's always an appreciable moment for a game that has more playable content and has better graphics than before.”
“Best result is recorded for replay value.”
“Replaying events is a cheap way to add 'replayability'.”
“If you really want to play this, I suppose a cracked copy of the original game would be more playable.”
“I don't get it; the original is more playable than this trash.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that Burnout Paradise falls short in delivering an immersive atmosphere that matches its frantic racing and crashing gameplay, suggesting a disconnect between the game's environment and the intended high-energy experience.