The fourth racing game in the Burnout series places you, once again, in the center of chaotic traffic, where you must not only compete to be the quickest but also eliminate your rivals in a harsh and stylish manner. This is driven home by the inclusion of impact time, which displays wrecks in all their slowed-down splendor, as well as the boost you get after successfully crashing into something. Driving recklessly raises your Revenge rank, which enables you to participate in other events. This can also be accomplished by placing high enough in medal competitions to receive new vehicles.
Collectible signature takedowns, crash breakers (which let you detonate your vehicle and are now also available in some regular races), and aftertouch for exact mayhem are all still in the game. Still, one of the significant changes is the addition of the ability to watch traffic. The presence of non-racing cars that exist only to reduce your speed is no longer a problem. They can now actively hinder traffic or send enemies to your other players. The Road Rage mode, in which the player must eliminate a predetermined number of opponents within the allotted time, and the Crash mode both make a comeback. In contrast, the brand-new Traffic Attack mode challenges the player to race against the clock while clearing the road of rivals. Other game types include conventional races, grand prix races, a high-speed time attack style called Burning Lap, an elimination form called Eliminator (in which the last player standing wins), and a standard time attack mode.
In the Crash mode, the multipliers and bonuses have been removed, and you cannot drive at full speed toward a crossroads. You have to pace your start to acquire enough boost, and after that, all that remains is to focus on steering, crash breakers, and aftertouch. There are many new courses and vehicles, a soundtrack including many prominent artists, and a world tour in various nations.
There is space for up to six players in the online multiplayer mode. In addition to the tried-and-true Road Rage, Crash Party, and Crash Battle modes, the new split-screen Traffic Attack and a hot-seat Crash Tour for up to six players are available as off-line enhancements.
