Burnout Anthology (Sony PlayStation 2, 2008)

As this is a collection of games I will review them separately (in the order which they are set up in the box):

Burnout 3: Takedown-
One of the earlier games and arguably the best one by fans. It reinvented the series with amazing results. With a great crash system, awesome sense of speed, reflex heavy driving, satisfying crash mode, abundant challenge and extensive world events this game will please any racing gamer.

Burnout Dominator-
The shortest and easiest game of the package. This one will only to whet your appetite for the basics of the Burnout series. Most of the usual features are here. What is different in this game are modes such as maniac mode and near miss challenge. These new features continue the feel of the traditional Burnout rule (drive like a lunatic), but the absence of crash mode will make some frown. There is also a new boost system that allows for "supercharged boosting". This feature is activated when you fill up of your boost bar. The challenge to maintain this boost is that while you use it, you'll have to keep driving as dangerous a possible so that instead of running out, it will refill and cause a "boost chain" (which, in point-earning modes, multiplies how many points you get depending on how many chains you perform in a row. x1 , x2, x3, etc.). While addictive, some may not like that it's necessary when it comes to point centered modes. Dominator keeps the satisfying battle racing of Burnout alive well enough. Its short length, lack of much challenge and absence of crash mode may have some fans keeping this one in the anthology box, however.

Burnout Revenge (aka: Burnout 4)-
My personal favorite. Despite coming out before Dominator, this game was packaged last in the box...and maybe with good reason. Both Revenge and Dominator have better graphics and effects than Takedown, but Revenge's beauty seems the best. This game is similar to Takedown in terms of length, challenge and content (it actually has a crash mode), but you'll soon realize that this is the most intensive one of the three. This is partially due to the new system called traffic checking. In the other two games you'd crash once you ran into a traffic car (many times at the expense of the race). In this game you are able to knock away same-way traffic cars (as long as they're not trucks or buses). Other than being visually satisfying, you can also knock cars into other racers taking them out. However, with traffic being easier in this game (also being another method of gaining boost)it comes at a price. Sometimes the screen gets filled up with cars you've knocked away and you may not notice the big vehicle just ahead before it's too late. This and the fact that traffic checking makes dodging traffic simpler may have hardcore fans upset (there is also no way to turn it off). Despite this, plenty of other challenges can be found. The roads now are wider and have shortcuts (Dominator also has shortcuts but maintains the narrower roads of B3). This makes for more hectic racing and dangerous situations. Crash mode has also been changed now with a starting boost gauge and no point icons to aim for. This leaves you to figure out the best way to sacrifice your car (you also have to detonate it differently). The new take may be a toss for some, but the end result is still very enjoyable.

Bottom line-
The speed, mayhem and overwhelming quality make this collection's general price a steal. The precision-based challenges might annoy you however.