Burnout Paradise Remastered Review: Take me down

As the opening strains of “Paradise City” rush over you, so too should the sense of speed and nostalgia that’s inherently connected to 2008’s Burnout Paradise. Despite former EA COO Peter Moore saying the publisher wasn’t interested in remakes because “it feels like pushing stuff out because you’ve run out of ideas,” here we are – Burnout Paradise Remastered is the company’s first big name game to see a re-release on current-gen consoles. While it’s a decent offering, the nature of the game itself means it can be a bit hit and miss.

Burnout Paradise Remastered comes with 4K and 60FPS support where possible across the Xbox One and PS4 ranges (with a PC release coming down the line). The powered-up resolution of the game leads to a crisp, clean look, though many textures look a bit plain (or even rubbish) as a result. Remastered doesn’t look like a current-game title as a result, though it certainly doesn’t look awful.

The sense of speed that has always been attached to the title remains unchanged; perhaps even stronger and far smoother thanks to current-gen technology. As you zoom through the streets of Paradise City, dodging traffic, nailing jumps and steaming over collectibles, you feel practically invincible… until you (eventually) wind up slamming your car into a wall or obstacle. What was true in 2008 remains true in 2018, as you play the game chasing a rush, striving to go faster and faster and faster still.

Gaining velocity is a bit easier in Remastered as compared to the original because you’ve got access to all of the game’s DLC cars, including Legendary Cars, right off the bat. Those speed machines are over-powered as all hell, though using them from the beginning of the game will remove any sense of progression; starting races are trivial when you’ve got that much horsepower under you.

For all this speed, it’s ironic that so much of the game’s design will bring you to a standstill. The conveniences of a modern racer aren’t present here; instead, you’ll need to head to junkyard if you’d like to change cars or hit up a repair shop If you’ve all but totalled your ride. Additional races require a specific car, so there’s a lot of fluffing about when you’d rather be gunning it… which is only made more difficult when you consider you’re going to have to go through trial-and-error with race courses, as there’s no one set line.

The bonus content provided via Big Surf Island brings some diversity to proceedings; you’ll be able to jet down motorways on a motorbike or take to the beach in a dune buggy.  The title’s amazing multiplayer is also beefed up with modes like cops and robbers. In short, you’re never at a loss for something to do.

Despite a lacklustre remaster (I’m looking at you, textures), returning fans will feel right at home in Paradise City with Burnout Paradise Remastered. Though newcomers to the franchise may be a little disappointed at first because of its last-gen mentality, there’s still a lot to enjoy with this neat little package.

Burnout Paradise Remastered is currently available via the EA Access Play First Trial on Xbox One. It heads to Xbox One and PS4 from 16 March 2020 and Nintendo Switch from 19 June 2020.

The good Smooth and crisp in 4K, 60FPS. Great variety in vehicles and modes (thanks in part to DLC).	The bad A decidedly last-gen mentality. Bland textures that are in need of an update.

Burnout Paradise Remastered was reviewed using a promotional code on Xbox One X and Switch, as provided by the publisher. Click here to learn more about Stevivor’s scoring scale.