Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box
- March 12, 2009
- Criterion Games
- 11h median play time
Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box improves quite a lot on its orginal title and further affirms its place as a top-tier racing game.
Get on SteamBurnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box is an action-packed racing game set in the vast and dangerous Paradise City. Experience open-world exploration with 70 unique cars and motorcycles, and engage in over 700 challenges, including crashing through billboards and jumping ramps. The Ultimate Box offers enhanced features for PC, including day-night cycle and motorcycle-specific challenges.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- music450 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in "Burnout Paradise" is widely praised for its energetic and nostalgic soundtrack, featuring a mix of classic rock, pop, and even classical tracks that enhance the racing experience. While many players enjoy the variety and iconic songs, some find the soundtrack repetitive over long play sessions and express a desire for more customization options, such as the ability to add personal playlists. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant aspect of the game's appeal, contributing to its fun and immersive atmosphere.
“The music is spot-on, the setting in Paradise City is awesome, and the cars just look amazing.”
“The soundtrack is fantastic and really fits the game with very upbeat songs.”
“The game's soundtrack is fantastic, with a range of high-energy and iconic tracks that perfectly match the gameplay.”
“I understand why it is included in the game, but it is one of the most repetitive songs I have ever heard in my life, and while it is still an important piece of music from that era, I would prefer a more dynamic soundtrack.”
“The ingame music tracks are the worst part of this game, nothing suits for a racing game.”
“Every single time you start the game, you start with the same routes available to you with the same car and the same song (Paradise City, naturally) blaring.”
- graphics340 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Burnout Paradise" are generally praised for their impressive quality, especially considering the game was released in 2009. Many players note that the visuals still hold up well today, with detailed vehicle models and a vibrant open world, although some acknowledge that they appear dated compared to modern standards. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its engaging gameplay and immersive experience.
“One of the most impressive aspects of Burnout Paradise is its stunning graphics.”
“The graphics are outstanding for being a 2009 game.”
“The graphics hold up well, while still delivering a rock solid 60fps on my (by now) mid-range PC.”
“Eyes started to hurt because of the graphics.”
“The graphics are horrible even compared to the PS2 era.”
“The graphics are bad; they are just bad shadows and texture quality is garbage, but that is expected from a game this old.”
- gameplay249 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Burnout Paradise" is widely praised for its fast-paced, arcade-style racing mechanics and open-world exploration, offering a variety of races and challenges that keep players engaged. While the driving mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, some players note a lack of depth in mission variety and occasional repetitiveness. Overall, the game is celebrated for its smooth controls, impressive graphics, and a strong sense of speed, making it a standout title in the racing genre.
“The gameplay in Burnout Paradise is fast-paced and intense, with a variety of races and challenges to keep players engaged.”
“The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable; even the crashes are satisfying.”
“Burnout Paradise's gameplay uses an impressively effective combination of open-world exploration, high-speed arcade racing, and aggressive vehicular combat.”
“Although this brown streak of a game sits on a diaper of good handling, solid map design, and great attention to detail, the plainly unfair AI and lack of aftertouch, crashbreaker, and crash mode make it a rollercoaster of emotion from loving its violent, fast handling model to hating its reliance on random chance and inconsistent game mechanics.”
“The gameplay in this game gets really repetitive after you reach 50% of total progress but the rush never ends.”
“It's a cool game, but beware of possibly experiencing repetitive gameplay and an endless stream of little cut-scenes (crash cams etc.) that can truly annoy you at some point.”
- story132 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Burnout Paradise is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that there is essentially no narrative driving the gameplay. Instead, the game focuses on a series of missions centered around racing, stunts, and takedowns, which can become repetitive over time. While some players appreciate the freedom of an open-world environment and the variety of missions available, the absence of a compelling storyline leaves many feeling disengaged from the overall experience.
“The characters are likable and the story is engaging, with a variety of cutscenes and dialogues throughout the game.”
“Its impressive graphics, smooth gameplay, and engaging story make it a standout game in the genre.”
“This game gets a solid 10/10 from me, from the story to the graphics, and the insane stunts that you're able to pull, it's just a masterpiece of a game.”
“There's no story.”
“The game lacks story, so I felt no interest to really play it.”
“Just like the old games, there's next to no story since the game is all about pushing the pedal to the metal and wrecking other drivers, not about some protagonist who gets their parents killed and seeks for revenge.”
- optimization40 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of Burnout Paradise Remastered has received mixed reviews. While many players praise its smooth performance at 60 FPS and low system requirements, some have noted issues with CPU core utilization and occasional performance degradation. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered well-optimized for both high-end and lower-end systems, providing a visually appealing experience without significant crashes or frame drops.
“Other than that, this is one of the absolute greatest racing games ever; graphics are great, gameplay is top notch, and the optimization is perfect.”
“Had it on PS3 and expected this PC version to take a nosedive in performance, but no, it runs so smoothly I'm really impressed.”
“I was able to get a consistent 60 frames per second on max settings from the beginning, without having to do an excessive amount of optimization and tweaking for my system.”
“I love this game, I really do, but it has some major performance problems.”
“The optimization is terrible.”
“Poorly optimized and gameplay is not great.”
- humor29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying chaotic and absurd moments that lead to laughter and excitement, particularly during crashes and unexpected gameplay scenarios. The combination of funny car physics, entertaining soundtracks, and humorous commentary from the in-game DJ adds to the lighthearted experience, making it a great choice for casual play with friends. Overall, the game embraces its unrealistic nature, resulting in a fun and comedic atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
“They continue playing, laughing, and yelling as the mayhem unfolds on the screen, now with an even larger and more diverse cast.”
“This game was so incredible... so many funny moments created in this game.”
“The cars, though entirely fictional, look amazing and the crash physics are hilarious as they can be annoying, same with the crash cam.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the cozy and easy gameplay, many express frustration with the repetitive and tedious nature of grinding for car unlocks and completing challenges, particularly as they progress towards the endgame. The expansive world adds to the grind, making backtracking and repetitive tasks feel monotonous, though some players appreciate the multiplayer experience and the fun of exploring the city.
“Add to that the fact that as you are closing in on the A rank of your license, the car unlocks are getting very sporadic (you have to win around 10 races for a new unlock) and you can see how all this becomes a pretty tedious experience.”
“Good arcade game to drive around the map doing stuff; gets boring, repetitive, and tedious after 2 hours.”
“The city is devoid of any life or character, which makes it extremely tedious to repeat the same races in the same locations.”
- stability26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly on PC. While some players have experienced smooth performance and minimal issues, others have faced significant frustration due to persistent freezing and failure to launch. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who enjoy a bug-free experience and those who encounter severe technical problems.
“Absolutely glorious and bug-free, unlike certain other stellar titles that have come out recently.”
“Still runs great and is still a ton of fun.”
“Runs great on modern hardware and Windows 10.”
“This game does nothing but crash despite trying every troubleshooting technique available.”
“Not only is this a botched PC port with more glitches and missing content from the console release, but now the DLC that did work for this game no longer works as their system to enable DLC is now broken with the server shutdown.”
“I can't play the game due to crashes or freezes.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to its engaging gameplay, extensive content, and online modes, others criticize it for low replay value once the campaign is completed. The inclusion of downloadable content and multiplayer options significantly enhances replayability for many, making it a fun experience for both solo and social play. Overall, the game offers a solid replay value, especially with its variety of events and unlockable content.
“The best burnout game in the series, and very replayable.”
“There is so much here, and the replayability is high.”
“Great soundtrack, excellent open-world map, extreme replayability.”
“It has low replayability, unless replayability to you is just driving around in an almost-empty city breaking the same exact billboards for the 38th time.”
“Almost no single-player replay value when its campaign is fully complete.”
“When you get bored or accomplish 100%, there's always online action, with competitive and cooperative modes; there's a lot of replay value when up to 8 people are involved.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the lack of mandatory microtransactions and the availability of worthwhile DLC, while others criticize the intrusive in-game advertising and menu clutter. Despite the absence of in-game purchases, the presence of ads and data collection has led to frustration, particularly among those who expect a more polished experience from a major publisher like EA. Overall, the monetization strategy seems to detract from the enjoyment for many players.
“While these in-game purchases are not necessary to beat the game, they do add an extra layer of depth and customization.”
“This is a gem... play the game and then unlock new cars, no microtransactions, just fun and rock and roll. By the way, amazing OST!”
“Also, even though EA published this, there are no in-game purchases, just worthwhile DLC, which one of the DLC packs you get with your purchase!”
“Cash grab much.”
“Having advertising in a AAA game is unacceptable, and the fact that I possibly should have expected it from an Electronic Arts game just highlights how shoddy a developer they are.”
“I simply cannot recommend a game that takes me 10 minutes of fiddling with EA's DRM and closing their in-game popup ads just to make my way to the main menu screen.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia and joy, often leading to heartfelt moments and tears. The impending shutdown of the game's server adds a layer of heartbreak, emphasizing the lasting impact it has had on their lives. Overall, the emotional resonance of the game is a significant aspect of its appeal, making it memorable and cherished.
“Wholesome AF, I'm shedding happy tears. 😅”
“It was heartbreaking to know that this game's server is going to shut down.”
“The game itself is absolutely wonderful and touching in a lot of ways.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its distinctiveness, enhanced by impressive graphics and a fitting soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the vibrant city environment and the adrenaline-pumping experience it offers, particularly when using quality headphones to fully immerse themselves in the sound design. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and fast-paced action creates a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“It has a very distinct atmosphere; I like that.”
“I love the city and the atmosphere; the music is great, the cars and bikes are stunning and handle really well.”
“Fast-paced, adrenaline-rushing carnage with phenomenal atmosphere.”
“Almost all of the music fits very well into the world and atmosphere that Criterion has created, but I can't say that the music is great (I think it is) because that's all up to you and your personal taste.”
