Metacritic Games

Burnout Revenge (Xbox)

Burnout Revenge lets gamers rip through rush hour traffic and lay waste to scores of rubbernecking roadhogs in an over-the-top scene of vehicular mayhem. In addition to tricked out new race, crash and road rage modes, Burnout Revenge takes the series' blistering speed and spectacular destruction to dizzying new heights with an all-new Revenge mode, challenging gamers to battle the clock and unleash their frustrations on rush hour traffic. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Racing, Driving, Action
Players: 6
E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Developer: Criterion Games
Released September 13, 2005

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

89 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 GamePro
Quite simply the best arcade racing game ever made. Everything that you loved about the last game is still here and kicking, but with added modes, more action, a faster sense of speed, and some truly addictive multiplayer modes, this game will undoubtedly go down in history as being the epitome of action racing this generation and possibly even the next.
100 XGP Gaming
Builds upon everything that was so spectacular about Burnout 3, and just takes it all to a whole new level. It’s fast, gorgeous and just an absolute blast to play.
100 Game Power Australia
Burnout devotees will love it but this is a game made for casual gamers. There’s no massive skill required, it’s a terrific accessible game for anyone.
98 Game Chronicles
Whether you are a fan of the previous games or just want to experience the absolute best in arcade racing, Burnout Revenge is a game that you won’t be able to stop playing once you start, so grab a copy today and clear your calendar for the rest of the year.
98 Official Xbox Magazine
Burnout Revenge changes the gameplay of its predecessors in small yet very crucial ways that make it more fun than the previous games, without making those games seem less fun. [Nov 2005, p.132]
97 VGPub
This is the best arcade racer I have ever played.
96 GamingTrend
This game is a refined and better game than "Burnout 3" even if there are a couple missteps along the way. The graphics, sound and overall sense of speed are greatly improved and the game is as addicting as ever.
95 PGNx Media
The game’s soundtrack is quite varied, considerably more so than "Burnout 3." It’s noticeably edgier and goes along well with Burnout Revenge’s more aggressive theme.
95 Play Magazine
Every wreck is a visual affair to be savored and a delightful treat for a job nastily done. [Oct 2005, p.66]
95 TotalGames.net
New modes, new vehicles and a whole new batch of trophies and awards to obtain (including the awesome Vertical Takedowns that see you falling from a height to land on a rival) all make for an experience that has enough in common with the sublime "Burnout 3" to create a feeling of comfort, but is different enough to test you all over again.
95 MS Xbox World
The enjoyment of driving at breakneck speeds and smashing cars into walls is nothing short of pure bliss.
95 IC-Games
With top notch presentation and replayability that goes through the roof it’s a sure fire bet to assume the Burnout series is safe for some time to come.
95 WHAM! Gaming
Contrary to popular belief, Revenge is a dish best served hot. It's the best Burnout game ever.
94 Loaded Inc
One of the best arcade racers ever. Level design, graphics, sense of speed and replay value; what more could a gamer want? Electronic Arts has taken my favorite racer and made it better in almost every way.
94 Xbox Solution
I loved the new challenges the multiple routes and the revenge weapons. I would have liked to see a version come out without any issue with the online mode but again the game is too good and it's something that will be fixed.
93 Game Informer
Like a moth drawn to a flame, I can't pull myself away from the incredible explosions, blinding speeds, and impressive vehicular carnage. Once you get behind the wheel, it's almost impossible to turn this speedster off. [Oct 2005, p.118]
92 Next Level Gaming
It's by far one of the top three racing games this year, outright. Yes, right there with "Forza" and "GT4." And you'll put hours upon hours into it. I can guarantee.
92 GameZone
Although not a completely revolutionized title, Burnout Revenge adds so much in terms of game mechanics, it has quickly become my favorite racing game of all time.
92 Xbox Evolved
More than just a progression of Burnout 3, it is a full-blown experience that is loud, explosive, and filled with energy... Every turn, every depth-defying jump, and every cataclysmic crash is extremely stylized, and tons of fun.
92 Gamer 2.0
The game takes everything that was great from the phenomenal Burnout 3 and not only improves upon those features, but builds upon them, creating a game that blows away the competition in its genre.
92 Gaming Horizon
It's the same tried and tested gameplay with some cool new cars and levels, and a few new features that may or may not be your cup of tea.
92 AtomicGamer
Between the new tracks, hugely satisfying new features, challenging re-worked Crash mode, and hot new advancement system, Revenge manages to take out just about all the bad and add plenty of good to this popular franchise.
92 Armchair Empire
The brilliant twist of the encouragement to crash cars for gaming pleasure and reward pushes the petal to the metal and zooms Burnout Revenge past the average racing game.
92 Worth Playing
The sense of speed is upped a couple notches, the tracks are much more interesting, with alternate routes and lots of ramps, Crashbreaker races are immensely fun, traffic checking adds more wreckage and destruction (which is a good thing), the huge, multi-tiered crash stages are a big step up, and once again, even more speed.
91 Pelit (Finland)
An excellent and unbelievably fast arcade racing experience. The constant over-the-top crashes are hilarious. It is a bit easy, though. [Oct 2005]
91 GameSpot
While it isn't a total reinvention, Burnout Revenge makes significant alterations to the Burnout formula that essentially render every other game in the series obsolete.
91 Gaming Age
Even if you’ve played "Burnout 3" 'til you had blisters on your fingers, there is plenty of new and exciting tracks, cars, and features that will peak your interest once again.
90 Total Video Games
Fantastic presentation, highly addictive intense gameplay and plenty to play – racing games just don’t get any better then this, make sure to check it out immediately.
90 Kombo
While not the revolution its immediate predecessor was, Burnout Revenge stands as the best racing game of the year, and a excellent game in its own right.
90 PALGN
A brilliant game that should please everyone.
90 Sydney Morning Herald
If you like your games fast, then strap yourself in for a white-knuckle ride, because Burnout Revenge is relentlessly intense.
90 1UP
When a game is able to make grown adults throw their shoulders into turns or wave their controller in the air as if it's actually going to help avoid that oncoming tour bus (sorry, it won't), then you know somebody's doing something right.
90 Cheat Code Central
Any gamer who gets off on high speed hijinks will find that Revenge is a dish best served now!
90 Team Xbox
The traffic checking keeps the wheel-to-wheel racing quite fresh, and the whole aerial portion of Crash Junction makes it more challenging and therefore more fun (for most of us).
90 Stuff
This is the fourth game in the series, and it's definitely the biggest, ballsiest, most nonsensical Burnout to date.
90 Maxim Online
Tons of tracks, events, and online races give Revenge plenty of variety, but it's the blinding speed and the velvety smooth controls that make this the best racing game of the year.
90 GamerFeed
In the year that has passed since Criterion redefined destructive racing with the insanely addictive Burnout 3: Takedown, they've hunkered down and done their homework, and the result is the even better Burnout Revenge, a game that doesn't just kick your ass, it hands it to you on a fine silver platter.
90 GameSpy
It manages to exhaustively deliver everything that made "Burnout 3" so fantastic while adding small tweaks that make its predecessor an immediate item for trade-in at your local game store.
90 Computer and Video Games
Playing this marginally altered new Burnout still feels like you're flying a burning fighter jet through hell at 50 million miles an hour, and you'll still look at it and wonder how they've managed to make Xbox do so many cool things at once. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
90 games(TM)
By far the biggest step up lies in the course design, offering dozens of alternative routes and short-cuts on each map and making far more use of vertical travel than Burnout ever did. [Nov 2005, p.90]
90 DarkStation
The Burnout franchise continues to impress, with this 4th installment featuring a deeper world tour mode, even snazzier visuals and online play.
90 Gamenikki
I like that causing enough of a mess will give you the opportunity to collect multiple Crashbreakers within the same run, but at the same time, I'm really not fond of the manic button presses needed to secure and enact each Crashbreaker.
90 Ferrago
The Traffic Checking and trackside shortcuts gives Revenge a little more of a complex feel to the high speed simplistic madness of the series so far.
90 AceGamez
Revenge isn't a huge leap forward for the series compared to the evolution between "Point of Impact" and "Takedown," but it is definitely an evolution for the franchise and once you play it you'll have a hard time going back to the old track designs.
90 3DAvenue
Somehow Burnout 4 has managed to be faster than "Burnout 3," and while it is not a huge jump it is a very noticeable one. Once you play Burnout 4, you just wont' be able to go back to "Burnout 3" as it feels like your driving a snail.
90 Game Over Online
Unfortunately, some of the upgrades also winds up diluting the strength of the game just a bit. Revenge will still fulfill your need for speed.
89 Jolt Online Gaming UK
An incredible amount of raw fun to play, remaining so similar to previous titles yet being so fundamentally different.
89 IGN
While not perfect, Burnout Revenge is an excellent addition to the franchise. The game's track design is simply phenomenal, the break-neck speed is exhilarating and there are very, very few games on any current console that control, look or sound better than this.
89 Talk Xbox
The game provides a ton of fun with its addictive gameplay, solid visuals, outstanding audio, and great control scheme. It may not add as much to the series as its previous installment, but it does have a lot to offer.
88 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Burnout Revenge is hard to rate. On almost every level, it's superior to Burnout 3, yet it lacks the impact of that game, which had so many pieces come together to create arguably the best arcade-racing experience ever.
88 BonusStage
Criterion has yet again pieced together another piece of fantastic software that pushes the limits of the current-gen consoles in every department possible. However, for some reason or another, it just doesn’t feel as exciting and visceral as "Burnout 3" did.
88 Xbox World Australia
While it could be harder, it’s a very exhilarating game that offers up hours and hours of high speed thrills.
87 DailyGame
A great game to be sure, but somehow not as good as last year’s outing.
86 XboxAddict
The same fun game that we discovered in "Burnout 3." If you are a fan of the series and can ignore the fact that this isn’t a major evolutionary step, you will likely be satisfied with this new addition to the Burnout family.
86 My Gamer
It’s an excellent game, and definitely worth checking out for racing nuts, casual gamers, and anyone who wants to just practicing crashing into oncoming traffic.
84 eToychest
Revenge really fumbles the ball with the addition of traffic checking, and its overt attempts at aggression are ultimately ironic counterpoints to a system that has lost many of its teeth. On its own, it's still one of the best racers available, but it is also a spectacular step backward for the series.
83 Game Revolution
But while some will dig the new chaotic maps and aggressive traffic-checking, others may be turned off by the loss of precision and the dependence upon blind chance.
80 Edge Magazine
It takes more than caffeine, luck and a nosebleed to truly become master of these streets, and this is Revenge’s greatest achievement over its predecessor. The eight locations, split as usual into varied circuits, are arcade racing dreams given form. [Nov 2005, p.98]
80 Boomtown
Even though there’s a new, fancy interface (with decreased user friendliness, we have to admit), more finely tuned gameplay mechanics and a better AI, I can’t help feeling that there’s a bit of a lack of good ideas in comparison with "Burnout 3."
80 Times Online
The locations are varied, but with the usual generic locations, and a repetitiveness noticable in the track layout for each stage is reduced somewhat by the addition of numerous shortcuts along each route.
80 Gamestyle
While it doesn't qualitatively raise the bar, Gamestyle believes that Burnout is still the premier street-racing franchise - and adrenaline junkies will definitely find it worth their hard-earned cash.
80 EuroGamer
The real let down is the racing, in that it's simply not as much fun as it used to be, and as such Revenge can no longer be considered the best Burnout game. That's not to say it's "not fun", because we had a blast, but tasked with weighing it up against its predecessors, it's a slight backward step.
75 GameShark
For me, Burnout Revenge is more of the same – new tracks, new cars, new events, but same basic gameplay.
70 netjak
Hardly a vast leap forward for the series, but it’s not a simple graphical improvement with a minor gameplay upgrade thrown in either.
60 Computer Games Magazine
It's overcooked and to slick, through redeemed by the sheer quantity of stuff you can do. [Dec p.90]