Burnout Crash! Hands Control Over to Fate and Mostly Pays Off

Burnout Crash! arrives on PS3, iOS, and X360 as a reinvention of the Burnout formula. Rather than speeding through a course while avoiding crashes, the game hands control over to fate itself, letting players trigger chain reactions that send other cars flying off the road. It is a strange, funny, and often brilliant detour from the series’ racing roots.

Trailer, via GameSpot.

The Setup

Each level drops players into a highway scene, and the goal is simple: drive forward while crashing into as many cars as possible. The trick is timing. Players can choose when to crash, and the game rewards those who wait for a chain reaction to build before triggering it. The result is a chaotic, often beautiful mess of exploding vehicles.

The Controls

Controls are simple. Players steer, brake, and crash. That simplicity is both the game’s strength and its weakness. There is no need to master a complicated system, but there is also no depth once the basics are learned. Players trigger chain reactions by driving into groups of cars and waiting for them to collide in turn, and the game punishes impatience as much as it rewards patience. A crash triggered too early might scatter cars harmlessly; a crash timed just right sends them flying in a satisfying cascade.

The Look of the Game

Burnout Crash! runs at 30 frames per second across all three platforms. On PS3 and X360, the visuals are bright and readable, with explosions that feel satisfyingly large. The iOS version sacrifices some detail for speed, but it remains playable on a small screen. The game’s presentation is consistent across platforms, though the PS3 and X360 versions naturally look sharper than the handheld version.

The Sound

The soundtrack is a mix of electronic and rock tracks, and it fits the chaos on screen. The sound design is where the game shines: the crunch of metal, the roar of engines, and the satisfying boom of explosions are all done well.

The Modes

Burnout Crash! offers several modes, each with its own twist on the core mechanic. The main mode sends players through a series of levels, each with its own set of cars and hazards. Other modes let players test their skills against the clock or compete with friends online. The variety keeps the game from feeling repetitive, even when individual levels start to blend together.

The Car Collection

Players collect wrecked cars throughout the game, and each one can be displayed in a garage. This collection adds a layer of depth that the core gameplay lacks, giving players a reason to chase specific wrecks. It is a small touch, but it adds replay value.

The Problems

Burnout Crash! is not without flaws. The difficulty spikes near the end of the game, and some levels require precise timing that the controls do not fully support. The game also relies heavily on luck, and skilled players may find themselves stuck on a level simply because the cars refused to line up properly.

“The game rewards those who wait for a chain reaction to build before triggering it.”

The Verdict

Burnout Crash! is a bold experiment that mostly pays off. Its core mechanic is clever, and the chaos it creates is genuinely fun to watch. The presentation is strong, and the car collection adds a layer of depth that the core gameplay lacks. The game stumbles when it pushes too far, but it rarely stays down for long.

Here is a rough ranking of the game’s strengths:

1. The core mechanic
2. The visual spectacle
3. The car collection
4. The soundtrack
5. The multiplayer modes
6. The difficulty curve
7. The iOS version’s presentation
8. The replay value

The Final Score

Burnout Crash! earns a score of 7.2 out of 10. It is a solid, occasionally brilliant diversion that deserves credit for trying something new. It is not a perfect game, but it is a memorable one.

Burnout Crash · crash games · game review · iOS · PS3 · Xbox 360