Burnout 3: Takedown review

When you start up a new racing game, what's the first thing to do? If the answer is crash the cars, then Burnout is the only game you need. With gameplay that encourages dangerous driving, Takedown, the third and best in the series, is the best action racer on any console. It's packed with high-tension contests and spectacular crashes. Michael Bay should be jealous. You'll be addicted.

A casual glance might not reveal much that stands out from other arcade driving titles. There are basic races, a grand prix and a garage full of cars to unlock. The key to most races is boost -- a supply of nitro that will never run out so long as you drive aggressively.

That means racing into oncoming traffic, blazing by motorists with an inch of clearance, drifting and catching air. All are obviously dangerous actions, and a wrong move will send your roadster head on into a bus, at which point the most impressive crash animations in gaming spool out. Shiny bits of chrome go everywhere in a slow motion orgy of destruction.