SORE THUMBS: Burnout, Baby, Burnout

Burnout Revenge constructs new paths to destruction

Matthew Scott Hunter

The Burnout franchise has always promoted destruction, but it seemed to peak last year when it encouraged players to destroy even their own vehicles, the flaming carcasses of which could then be used to take down adversaries. So how could EA possibly improve on such a perfect formula for devastation? How about by throwing the annihilation of a third car into the equation?


Collateral damage. It seems so obvious now. Burnout Revenge actually allows players to turn traffic into projectile weapons. A.I.-driven cars, once obstacles to avoid, are now giant billiard balls just waiting to be knocked into your target. They can also be rear-ended, creating debris for opponents struggling to catch up. The addition rips open a whole new realm of strategy. And for the really ambitious, there are now alternative paths ending in ramps. With the right timing, there's nothing more satisfying than scoring a takedown from above.



MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS (M) (4 stars)


Midway

PlayStation 2, Xbox


Historically, Mortal Kombat has not fared well outside the arena. Mortal Kombat Mythologies felt like being on the receiving end of a fatal beat-down and even the RPG portion of last year's Deception quickly boiled down to a Krappy Koin-Kollecting mode. But Shaolin Monks finally gets it right and manages to incorporate all of the goofy, gory fun of the franchise into an arcade-style beat-'em-up. With cameos from nearly every character in the MK mythos, this blood-soaked trek is sure to be a fan favorite.



URBAN REIGN (T) (3 stars)


Namco

PlayStation 2


The beat-'em-up genre hasn't changed much since the glory days of Double Dragon and Bad Dudes on the 8-bit Nintendo, and skuzzy, urban alleyways populated by thugs you swore you beat up two minutes ago are starting to get old. Urban Reign's saving grace is its surprisingly deep combat system. If you don't mind fighting the same generic lowlifes over and over, this game will keep offering you new ways to do it.



GRETZKY NHL 06 (E) (3 stars)


Sony Computer Entertainment

PlayStation 2


Considering it's the only hockey-game franchise with an actual name on it, Gretzky NHL has had quite a struggle finding its identity. It's a strange combination of over-the-top, arcade-style play in a real-life simulation structure. This year, it's only gotten weirder. Gretzky 06 features a Wayne vs. Wayne mode in which skilled players can temporarily earn the ice god himself as a teammate ... or five teammates. I don't know if it's real hockey, but I like it.



Matthew Scott Hunter has been known to mumble, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" in his sleep. E-mail him at
[email protected].

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