Burnout 2: Point of Impact

If there is any game that exemplifies car chase movies, Burnout 2 is most definitely it. Destroying the original in every way, this game is absolutely incredible! The only real way I could see it being made better is if it had a movie-maker mode like the Driver games do (which I can only pray for in a third one). Otherwise it is simply the best damn racing game I've played since Metropolis Street Racer was released. I only hope more companies take after what Criterion has done with the PS2 and add better visual support and actually make sequels exactly what they are - not a simple rehash with a couple of new cars, like how most racing series turn out.

Game Cube fans have needed an arcade racer of this type for a long time and finally, we have the game to beat. Nintendo's box never had the racing to game to beat; now it's Burnout 2. You simply cannot go wrong with this title.

People looking for Gran Turismo IV will find very little to their liking here. This isn’t GT IV; it’s very far from it. If you’re looking to what is quite possibly the best arcade racer available, pick this one up. This is the game you have been waiting for since you bought a PS2. Prepare to be hooked for weeks on end, Burnout 2: Point Of Impact is what arcade racers to come will have to top, and they’ll have an incredibly hard job in front of them.

Burnout last year was one of the top racing games of 2001, Burnout 2: Point of Impact takes it's rightful place near the head of the pack for 2003. Non-stop fun, and pure arcade racing to the extreme. I can't think of one reason not to have this game. The ONLY reason I can't score this game perfectly is because it's a sequel. Had this particular game been Burnout 1, I would have said it was perfect and innovative. But that's a technicallity. Bottom line is that I see myself playing this game for a long time to come. I can almost guarantee it for you too.

Admittedly, people who play Burnout 2 will say this is the game that the original should have been, and while Point of Impact may seem like a deluxe version of that original, there is plenty of new content and game modes to make this game stand on its own merit.

This is the best damn racing game this side of Gran Turismo. Burnout 2 is available for all three major consoles so I encourage any racing fan to pick this game up. Don?t even bother renting this one, go straight out and buy it.

Burnout 2 is the most fun driving game on the PS2. If Gran Turismo 3 is Dom Perignon, Burnout 2 is Jack Daniels. While Dom may be a great guy, personally I'd rather hang out with Jack. Either way, Burnout 2 deserves a spot on every PS2 owner's shelf.

If you have a slight craving for an arcadey racer, Burnout 2 will fit the bill very nicely. Even if you aren't, I bet you'll have a lot of fun with this game. From the adrenaline-inducing races to the exhilarating crashes, Burnout 2 is a title that you won't be able to put down until everything is unlocked. And after that, you'll have hours of fun with your buddies. It rocks!

If you’re even slightly into arcade racing then Burnout 2 is definitely worth picking up. While the graphics aren’t up there with Racing Evoluzione, Burnout 2 isn’t lacking at all in the looks department and with heaps of cars and tracks to unlock there’s plenty of rewards to keep you playing through the Championship mode, which once you complete unlocks decal covered cars that look straight out of Fast and the Furious.

The Xbox hasn't been blessed with decent arcade racers. Sure at the launch you had Project Gotham Racing but after that there has been a void that no racing title could truly fill. Many have tried but all of them failed. Burnout 2 is the next one on the list that has high potential. How can a PS2 port aim for the crown of arcade racers on the Xbox you ask? Well by adding Live support, exclusive features and boosting the graphics a lot.

No matter how you choose to play Burnout 2 – Championship, Chase, or Crash -- the ultra-responsive gameplay will shine through as the pinnacle of arcade-racing perfection. Like the Crazy Taxi games, it is possible to weave in and out of traffic, tight spots, and come within hair’s length from hitting an opposing vehicle. That, coupled with a constant 60 frames per second, unbelievable sense of speed, and super-realistic physics, equates to an experience that I can confidently recommend as a must-buy title.

Despite its rare game freezes, it’s hard to complain about a racing title as entertaining as this one. The game just makes me feel home again, as its roots obviously came from Ridge Racer. Burnout 2 is the most replayable and enjoyable racing game experience available now on the Nintendo GameCube. If you were tired of playing it too safe with Gran Turismo, I’d highly recommend checking out Burnout 2. It takes impact driving to a whole other gear.

Burnout 2: Point of Impact offers a good serving of arcade street racing and with a good dolop of an adrenaline rush too, but flaws unfortunately on the longetivity it offers. It is truly a great game in every aspect – gameplay, graphics and sound but it needs longer chamionships and a better challenge to keep the average gamer going for longer. It gets my thumbs up as the whole game is a briliant hair raising experience whilst it lasts.

B2 is simply the finest arcade racer for years. It might not suit every serious suspension-tweaking, gear ratio adjusting Gran Turismo or Colin McRae fan, but the sheer speed, the impressively chaotic crashes and the immense fun factor will win even the most selective racing fan over in the end. A truly excellent sequel, and a great game in its own right.

So, now that you’ve heard what we have to say about the complete marvel that is Burnout 2 why in the hell are you still sitting there? If you already have it you should be experiencing the adrenaline rush once more and if not you should be down at GAME buying it.

Burnout 2 is without a doubt one of the top driving games on the PlayStation 2. The high adrenaline action racer is back with a vengeance and if you liked the first game at all, then you'll be very impressed with this sequel.

All in all, my only complaint with Burnout 2 is either that it's too easy or I'm too good. I blew through over 60% of what B2 had to offer including all crash events in an evening. I had a sore thumb and I didn't take the 10 minute break each hour, but I sure kicked ass! That's not to say you wouldn't enjoy this game in your collection. Showing off the game to friends or going back for more Crash events until you earn Gold in each event will provide some replay value. I love this game, the only thing I'm not sure of, is which racer do I love more? Need For Speed: HP2 or this one...Hmmm.. I think it's a tie.

There is so much more to this game than can be mentioned here. The police pursuit mode, custom series cars, two-player races, four-player Crash mode, and some of the most hair-raising close-calls you’ll ever see in a game. You’ll be so addicted that it will get you thinking of doing all this stuff in your own car (which the game dissuades). If you’re into racing games at all, this game must somehow find a spot in your collection, because it’s about as perfect as an arcade racing game can be. Go buy it now!

Possibly the best arcade racing experience on a home console to date, Burnout 2: Point of Impact is a near-perfect blast for speed freaks, especially if you own a genre-starved GameCube. Criterion Studios and Acclaim went more than the extra mile to improve this sequel over the previous Burnout, which was born from the excellent and highly underrated Vanishing Point (Dreamcast, PS One).

I have absolutely no hesitation at all in recommending Burnout 2: Point of Impact. It truely is the most exciting and refreshing racing game on the market which has a lot more content then the original game extending its life. Get this game now and have some fun.

Burnout 2's every squeak on every turn and every power slide is presented to great effect. Hear the metal crunch as you crash your vehicle into the barrier, and hear the turbo roar as you build up to a burnout. The music is also right on key; the music booms as you speed along, and is entirely appropriate for the action on screen. The change in tempo of the music, and the changes especially noted when you turbo, add to the gameplay experience. If there is one compliant about the game, it has to be about the cars. A nice as the range is, they do feel rather generic, and there are no licensed cars to improve this. There is also no real customisation of these cars, only changing the colour is possible. But then this is an arcade game, and although the ability to make the cars your own it is missed, it does not distract too much from the thoroughly enjoyable experience that Burnout 2 offers.

Burnout 2 may not have the name recognition of Need for Speed, but it shouldn?t be overlooked on the PlayStation 2 racing circuit. If you?re looking for an arcade racer with features and play modes outside the norm, Burnout 2 will make quite an impact.

In all, Burnout 2 is an excellent sequel in every way. It's better looking, longer, faster, deeper, and it's got little flourishes and extra modes of play that truly impress. In the larger picture, Criterion's racer is a top-notch arcade game in its own right. It stands right up there with the best PS2 racers in its own unique, destructive, high-octane way.

Supporting a custom soundtrack option is quickly becoming an Xbox staple. Pumping out some very average music and above-average sounds in glorious Dolby Digital 5.1, serious fans of music will want to take advantage of this Xbox feature and create a playlist with their own tunes. At its core, Burnout 2 is an incredibly enjoyable arcade racer without any pretense of real-world racing. If you're after something a little more true to life, then check out one of the excellent rally titles for the Xbox. Burnout 2 is a truly excellent game, and upcoming arcade racing games need to be pretty special to nudge this one out of the fast lane.

Burnout 2 isn't perfection: The game's two preset controller schemes are hardly satisfactory, and the reward system is unforgiving but once fenders start flying, you probably won't care. For adrenaline junkies and wannabe masters of mass destruction, Burnout 2 delivers premium performance.

The most dangerous driver on the road is back on the GameCube and it’s prettier, faster, and smashier than before. Burnout 2 made its debut on the PS2, but a game this good can’t be contained on just one platform. The GameCube version cranks up the fun and adds some neat perks that Nintendo race fans won’t want to be without.

Burnout 2 übertrumpft den guten Vorgänger in allen Belangen, so dass kein Rennspielfan um dieses Game herumkommt. Insbesondere die zahlreichen unfairen Crashs haben sich drastisch reduziert und man kann nun sogar an ein vernünftiges Zeitfahren denken, ohne direkt in den Gegenverkehr zu rauschen. Außerdem gehört das Spiel zu den umfangreichsten Rennspielen auf dem GameCube und es gibt massig Strecken und Autos zu erspielen. Ich stecke jedenfalls im tiefsten Rennfieber!

My only quibbles with this game are small ones – it’s a short game and the difficulty’s not very consistent from race to race, during the crashes log trucks don’t lose their logs and every once in a blue moon you’ll barely tap another car and get into a major crash, yet other times you can come in at an even faster speed and clip a car pretty good but slide off to the side. Truth be told, all minor of these minor misses and aren’t nearly enough to keep me from recommending this as one of the most fun-filled Xbox games out there.

The meat of Burnout 2 is played in the championship mode where you'll need to race against CPU-controlled drivers. Win races and you'll unlock more features, cars, and challenges. Participate in cop car chases, race in and around six new locales in the United States, and you'll be on your way to unlocking the seven hidden cars. Some of the challenges are point-to-point races while others are lap-based. No matter where the action is, Burnout 2 provides some of the tightest, fastest racing gameplay out there.

Burnout 2: Point of Impact is the racing game fans of the genre that are sick of cookie cutter titles clogging the PS2 have been waiting for. Although it doesn't have as much depth as say, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and especially Gran Turismo 3, it does make up for it with an exhilarating sense of speed, totally destructible vehicles, and sheer arcade fun. The game definitely has a wealth of replay value, because it's no easy feat unlocking all the tracks and cars this game has to offer; you'll have to win a gold medal in every race to achieve that. And it can be simply hilarious at times to witness the infinite variety of crashes that happen all the time in this game! Why, just seeing the face of your friend who's laughing at you change to humiliation in an instant when he smashes into the car you sent spinning in front of him may well be worth the 50 dollars alone!

In the end, Burnout 2 isn't terribly different from the original Burnout--it just makes significantly better use of all the elements that the game does well, from its blistering sense of speed to its hilariously destructive crashes. The crash mode alone makes this game worth seeing, and the inclusion of the well-done championship and multiplayer modes makes it the best pure arcade-style racing game available on the Xbox.

Burnout 2 is the fastest four-wheeled racer on Xbox. The speed is amazing and the crashes are phenomenal. I'll never give up my Crash mode. It's too much fun. The races are good, but maybe could have been stronger. Certainly Burnout 3 will need to take some bigger leaps, but if the progression from Burnout 1 to 2 is any indication, Criterion will have no trouble taking the series into the future successfully. This is for any racing fan who isn't interested in customizing things and worrying about being the perfect driver, but at the same time doesn't want the false feeling of a cart racer. It's the perfect balance between arcade and reality. Definitely not the best racer on Xbox, but my favorite for sure.

Malgré ces petites faiblesses, Burnout 2 : Point of Impact s’impose comme un excellent passe temps, défoulant, agréable, beau et extrêmement jouable contrairement à ce que l’on pourrait croire. Le fait qu’il soit compatible Xbox Live (uniquement pour les tableaux de score) ajoute un brin de challenge une fois les championnats bouclés. Il y a quelque chose dans ce jeu qui fait qu’on ne s’en lasse pas. Peut-être la présence d’un menu présentant votre progression : Temps total de jeu, nombre de kilomètres parcourus. Bref on lâche difficilement le pad et on enchaîne les parties. Pour répondre à la question de l’introduction : Oui, ôh! Grand oui, il fait partie des meilleurs jeux de courses de la Xbox… ça en fera un de plus, dans un genre totalement différent.

With the big bully of the racing block (Gran Turismo) still missing in action, strong driving games have been popping up like weeds in the last year. After finally getting a chance to try Burnout 2, I’m adding this franchise to my list of recent favorites, alongside Pro Race Driver, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, and Apex. Hardcore sim fans won’t be too impressed, but I would argue that this game’s balls-out mayhem is just what you stodgy, gear-ratio-calculatin’, downforce-tweakin’ fools need.

It's good to see that somebody finally took the inevitable step of calling an enhanced port a "developer's cut." I doubt this will be the last time we see this marketing lingo. Basically, Burnout 2: DC is still the same great, over-the-top arcade racer that was released for GameCube and PlayStation 2, with a few new features – some great (more Crash mode courses) and some pretty worthless (an online high-score board on Xbox Live). Either way, it's a title you should check out if you haven't already.

Burnout 2 est une petite merveille de jouabilité et de fun. Le titre de Criterion est certes répétitif malgré plusieurs modes de jeu mais dieu que c'est bon !! Un pur jeu d'arcade avec tout ce que cela implique : un gameplay non prise de tête, des sensations extrêmes, un plaisir de jeu immédiat. Vivement le troisième épisode tiens.

Longer generally = better. That is definitely the case with Burnout 2: Point of Impact. Burnout 2's Championship mode is longer than the one in the first game, and when you beat it, a new, Custom Series Championship mode is unlocked! There aren't really 30 different tracks though, just several variations, so don't be fooled by what it says on the box. It's still longer than the first game, and is better and more exciting than most of the other racers out there. So when you're chilling out in the cold this winter, pick up Burnout 2, grab some hot chocolate and have yourself a gaming treat that'll make you warm (sweat) with intensity.

Burnout 2: Point of Impact has a lot of what I clamored for last year. It has more tracks, more vehicles, a thicker single-player mode, extra modes to die for such as Crash and Pursuit, different weather conditions, pretty visuals, and a more impressive sound package. Plus, the GameCube version is better than the PlayStation 2 version with more crash junctions and an enhanced engine. The reason for the slightly lower score than our sister-site, IGNPS2, is because I didn't feel Burnout 2: Point of Impact was balanced in terms of skill and fun factor. The score should not imply that the GCN version is worse than the PS2 version.

The crash mode alone makes this game worth seeing, and the inclusion of the well-done championship and multiplayer modes makes it a must-own for fans of arcade racing.

If you're like me and thrive on destruction, you'll really appreciate the addictive new "crash" mode. The idea is to cause as much damage as possible by plowing into crowded intersections, causing devastating domino-like chain reactions. This mode in of itself is worth the price of the game. Another new mode is "pursuit", where you try to cause another car to crash. We've seen this before in other games (Need For Speed comes to mind), but never done this well. Burnout 2 is one of the best racers of the Gamecube, and a must-have if you prefer arcade action.

The single-player mode offers a series of increasingly difficult races through scenic locations, and there are even a few police-chase stages to spice things up. My one complaint is that this mode is a little too easy, and it takes a while to build up to the real challenge. Burnout 2 also includes a fantastic "crash mode" which in of itself is worth the price of the game. As you and your friends take turns plowing into busy intersections, you'll want to strategically aim your collision to initiate the most destructive chain reactions. Burnout 2 is one of the most best arcade-style racers I've played in years.

Burnout 2 isn't terribly different than the original Burnout--it just makes significantly better use of all the elements that the game does well, from its blistering sense of speed to its hilariously destructive crashes. The crash mode makes this game worth a rental, but the inclusion of the well-done championship and multiplayer modes make it a must-own for fans of arcade racing.

Looking to kill some time with some friends? See who can get the best crash. This game's great for a weekend for some quick instant fun. Pop it in and knock yourself out. However... it is fairly shallow as a racing game, so I'd only recommend buying this in the $20-$25 range.

Admittedly, Burnout 2 isn't anything drastically new considering it's been out for a while on the PS2 and is simply an evolution of the original game. However, that doesn't stop it from being any good - in fact, quite the opposite. Against the bog-standard racing action of SEGA GT 2002 or Project Gotham and Midnight Club II's demand for amazing feats of memory to make it round every course in first place, Burnout 2 streaks past everyone by having the essential ingredients that every arcade racer needs - loads of speed, plenty of tracks and, most importantly, the most frenetic racing action around. It doesn't take a genius to see what's more important...

Plus qu'une simple suite, Burnout 2 : Point of Impact reprend avec brio le flambeau de son prédécesseur tout en apportant son lot considérable d'améliorations. Graphismes de qualité, vitesse ahurissante et modes de jeux revus à la hausse sont autant de qualités qui devraient permettre à ce titre de s'assurer les faveurs d'un large public, expert en la matière ou non. Tout le monde peut s'amuser très rapidement avec Burnout 2, un titre qui mise avant tout sur des sensations de conduite et de vitesse qui répondent à l'appel de fort belle manière. Une réussite donc, maintenant aussi disponible sur GameCube et Xbox, même si on pourra peut-être regretter sa relative facilité.

Plus qu'une simple suite, Burnout 2 : Point of Impact reprend avec brio le flambeau de son prédécesseur tout en apportant son lot considérable d'améliorations. Graphismes splendides, vitesse ahurissante et modes de jeux revus à la hausse sont autant de qualités qui devraient permettre à ce titre de s'assurer les faveurs d'un large public, expert en la matière ou non. Tout le monde peut s'amuser très rapidement avec Burnout 2, un jeu qui mise avant tout sur des sensations de conduite et de vitesse qui répondent à l'appel de fort belle manière. Une réussite, même si on pourra peut-être regretter sa trop grande facilité.

Les amateurs de courses arcades frénétiques seront ravit car Burnout 2 : Point of Impact est le jeu à posséder. Ayant été énormément amélioré par rapport à l’opus précédent, Burnout 2 constitue sans conteste le meilleur jeu de course arcade sur Xbox. Sa convivialité et sa rapidité lui conférant un statut de jeu unique qui plaira aussi bien aux amateurs de simulation qu’aux aficionados de la course urbaine. N’ayez aucunes hésitations, foncez l’acheter !

Plus qu'une simple suite, Burnout 2 : Point of Impact reprend avec brio le flambeau de son prédécesseur tout en apportant son lot considérable d'améliorations. Graphismes de qualité, vitesse ahurissante et modes de jeux revus à la hausse sont autant de qualités qui devraient permettre à ce titre de s'assurer les faveurs d'un large public, expert en la matière ou non. Tout le monde peut s'amuser très rapidement avec Burnout 2, un titre qui mise avant tout sur des sensations de conduite et de vitesse qui répondent à l'appel de fort belle manière. Une réussite donc, maintenant aussi disponible sur GameCube et Xbox, même si on pourra peut-être regretter sa relative facilité.

Burnout 2 est une petite merveille de jouabilité et de fun. Le titre de Criterion est certes répétitif malgré plusieurs modes de jeu mais dieu que c'est bon !! Un pur jeu d'arcade avec tout ce que cela implique : un gameplay non prise de tête, des sensations extrêmes, un plaisir de jeu immédiat. Vivement le troisième épisode tiens.

Burnout 2 fait mieux que son frangin et ce n'est pas rien. Grâce à une meilleure réalisation et des sensations de vitesse augmentées, il nous offre un gameplay particulièrement scotchant. Malheureusement, le concept demeure répétitif et ce ne sont pas les nouveaux modes de jeu qui suffiront à le faire oublier. A ne pas rater tout de même.

This game is a lot of fun. It won't keep you occupied nonstop for weeks on end but you'll probably want to come back again and again for a long time to come. At least until an Xbox Live Burnout 3 arrives... If you're not sure whether Burnout 2 suits your needs, by all means, go and rent it. But if the words ''speed'' and ''crashes'' increase your heart rate, go buy it now.

There aren’t many games that can deliver so much fun from a tried and true genre such as racing, but Acclaim’s Burnout 2 manages to provide hours of fun, exhilarating racing, spectacular crashes, and a great sense of speed. Burnout 2: Point of Impact comes highly recommended for either a rental or buy, and improves greatly on the original, something not too many sequels are able to do these days.

Even so, in the long run it's hard to get past the fact that Burnout 2 is a game built solely upon a gimmick. This game is all about the crashes. Once you tire of that gimmick, and you will, what's remaining just isn't enough to warrant extended play. Burnout 2 is a great demonstration for the capabilities of the cross-platform Renderware middleware, but as a full-fledged racing game it falls flat.