I knew the internets would turn around on this game after the bashing the demo took. I learned with Burnout 3 to NEVER DOUBT CRITERION. These dudes are smart, and they don't make bad games. I think each version of Burnout has improved on the one before it.
Even I had some lukewarm feelings about the demo at first. I was sort of confused about it all. But then I began realizing just how fun the driving model is in the game. The physics just feel right on the cars, and landing jumps and barrel rolls is just too damn awesome. Then you really start getting good at it, and the fun just keeps going. Then you're trying to land barrel rolls and flat spins off of any old thing you can find. It's truly a breakthrough in car control and game design. Brilliant.
So I've had the actual game now for more than a week, and I can't say my love for it has diminished at all. I was able to pick up the PS3 version a couple days early last week, and I wanted it on that machine because it was the lead platform. So I've already logged about 35 hours on that version.
But, over the weekend I had a few friends on the 360 buy it on that system, and I began feeling this annoying itch to buy it again. So I did. Yeah, I'm insane.
Anyway, now I can play it will all of my online buddies, and all is well. For those wanting a serious comparison of the two versions of the game. The PS3 version just flat out runs better overall. The engine just seems a touch more refined on that machine, and it runs without a hitch 99.99% of the time. Only during the most chaotic of crashes have I even sniffed a hint of slowdown. I'm talking crashes with like 6 cars exploding into choas in front of me at 200mph.
On the 360 the game does run really good overall. Certainly not a big downgrade from the PS3 version. It just has these random moments where the game engine will just going into a split second slow-mo and then resume instantly. It's kinda weird and it happens in a few places in the city without fail. But like I said, the game still runs very well overall. You're just gonna see an occasional moment of "wha?". Also, there seem to be a few other oddidites on the 360 version. Sometimes the camera will get a little bit wonky for just a moment, and bob up and down or something. Real brief and not a big deal. Also, after a race somtemes the camera will get a little out of position sometimes. Again, minor, but it doesn't seem to happen on the PS3 version so I'm mentioning it here.
So there you have it.
I've put int around 45 hours total on both versions.
