Burnout

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

[Scoring note: "Direct Hit" = 100] A ram-jammed, brain-scrambling eye shag.

FHM

More speed related fun than should be legal.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

A tense, exciting and genuinely thrilling experience. [Jan 2002, p.125]

Total Video Games

Pure exhilaration; it’s an adrenaline-fuelled romp that will satisfy even the most extreme racers out there.

IGN

If you're looking for a good, solid racing game that will absolutely, positively satisfy your need for an overabundance of speed and destruction, this is THE game for you.

TotalPlayStation

More than good, really, more situated in the whole “amazing/incredibly addictive/cleverly balanced” extreme.

GameSpy

It's got the racing dynamic of EA's "Need for Speed" and Acclaim's "Test Drive" series, but the speed and abandon of "Crazy Taxi" and "Driver."

GamerWeb Sony

A racing title that blends adrenaline-pumping racing action to its purest level. Excellent physics detection and even better physical car damage and being topped off with crisp sound makes Burnout a title that should not be overlooked.

Yahoo! Games

Almost akin to what alcoholics would call a "moment of clarity", a prolonged amount of play reveals Burnout to suddenly be a far more enjoyable game than initially realised.

GamePen

Not only is this game a veritable orgy of enjoyment, it also manages to look and feel just as appealing.

Hot Games

So the control is a little squirrelly and the music tries for Mozart but hits Muzak instead? It doesn't matter, because the game has an overall sensation of speed and danger that forgives a lot of the flaws.

GameSpot

One of the most intense and entertaining racing games on the PS2, complete with tight controls and impressive graphics.

GamePro

Sure, crashing is discouraging, but Burnout’s are quite a show, and you can even save your “greatest hits” to a memory card.

GameZone

The sound is undoubtedly Burnout's biggest flaw. The music is absolutely horrendous and deserves to be turned off at the first possible opportunity.

Gamezilla!

There’s not anything earth-shatteringly new in Burnout, but overall it’s a lot of fun to play.

Game Informer

A solid driver, with good control and some decent graphics, but that's about it. [Jan 2002, p.80]

TotalGames.net

Burnout is the worst example to date as you can be in first place yet still run out of time, a facet which is both infuriating, common to several courses and, considering the likelihood of at least a few collisions, utterly predictable.

Operation Sports

While a fun and frantic racing game it doesn't scream out innovative and fresh.

Electric Playground

The first racing game that really encourages you to get your ya-yas out.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

It’s just one of those incredibly intuitive pick-up-and-start-powersliding types of racing games. [Jan 2002, p.202]

Cloudchaser

Tight controls are a huge redeeming factor in this game. All the vehicles in the game are very easy to maneuver.

PSX Nation

A brilliant game if experienced in short bursts... the game was obviously not designed with long term play in mind.

GameShark

Though the game has it's fun points, it comes off as somewhat bland, and you may be a little disappointed.

Adrenaline Vault

AI concerns make driving into oncoming traffic easier than it should be, while the moderate, but not extensive amount of cars and tracks mean that you'll be able to wrap up single player in less than ten hours.

Gaming Age

Unfortunately despite the novel approach, the execution of this racer fails to create a classic.