Burnout 3: Takedown - A Timeless Racing Classic

The 'Why I Love' series on GamesIndustry.biz showcases game developers' appreciation for each other's work. In this entry, Mladen Bošnjak, creative director at Misfit Village, reflects on his fondness for Burnout 3: Takedown. Bošnjak's introduction to the game was through a pirated copy, which he played on his PlayStation 2 in 2005. Despite the illicit means, the game's captivating cover art and EA Games logo drew him in. However, his first encounter was actually with a blank, white cover and a burned DVD, marked with 'Burnout 3' in black marker. As a young game enthusiast who dabbled in modding and game development, Bošnjak felt a twinge of guilt for playing a pirated game. Burnout 3's pre-rendered intro, set to early 2000s punk music, established the game's tone, emphasizing high-speed driving and crashing. The game's unique twist on traditional racing games lay in its 'takedown' system, where players could earn boosts by ramming opponents into obstacles, creating a visually stunning and technically impressive experience. One of Bošnjak's favorite features was the 'Aftertouch' mechanic, which allowed players to slow down time after crashing and attempt to maneuver their wreck into opponents, causing them to crash. This feature gave him a sense of freedom, as the game didn't restrict his movements with invisible colliders. Crash Mode, another key feature, seemed chaotic at first but revealed itself to be a puzzle game in disguise, requiring players to drive into intersections and cause maximum mayhem. The game's environments, soundtracks, and DJ interruptions all combined to create an unforgettable experience. Bošnjak's obsession with the game led him to attempt to recreate the trophies using toy cars, mugs, and gold spray. Although the sequels, such as Burnout Revenge and Burnout Dominator, experimented with the formula, they failed to recapture the essence of the third entry. Burnout Paradise, with its open-world design, was a great game but couldn't match the charm of Takedown. The game's technical wizardry was made possible by Criterion's RenderWare suite, which enabled the creation of exceptional games like Darkwatch, Killer7, and GTA 3. Running Burnout 3 on an emulator at 4K resolution highlights the game's timeless graphics, with sharp textures and detailed environments. A remaster of the game would require minimal changes, aside from resolution upgrades, and would be a welcome release for fans like Bošnjak, who would finally be able to purchase the game legitimately and alleviate his adolescent piracy guilt.