If there's one game that everyone on planet enjoyed last year, it was Criterion's excellent Burnout 3: Takedown. Sadly missing from the GameCube library, PlayStation 2 and Xbox owners really got to taste the power of automotive carnage on offer. Now it's a year or so later, and everyone's waiting with bated breath to get the goods on the fourth title, Burnout Revenge. GameSpy's pleased to kick off a brand-new series of exclusive content which over the next few months will reveal more and more about the goodness we can all expect. Today, we're launching into the series with an exclusive interview featuring Criterion's executive producer Matt Webster. Here's what's new, different, and exciting about Revenge.



GameSpy: Tell us about the new ways to battle in Burnout Revenge.
Webster: The first thing you'll notice about Burnout Revenge is the tracks. They've been built from the ground up to encourage fighting with your rivals. Look for all kinds of environmental hazards designed specifically to let you mix it up with other drivers … choke points, shortcuts, jumps, hard stops, new signature takedowns … they're all in there to let you take down other drivers in style.

We've also added the ability to "check" traffic (think ice hockey) in Burnout Revenge, which gives the game another layer of depth and intensity. You can slam cars out of your way or launch them into your rivals to take them out. This new ability makes racing a much, much more physical, aggressive experience.

Another great addition to Burnout Revenge is the ability to unlock events where you get to use the crashbreaker in race events. When you wreck, you can use your aftertouch to score aftertouch takedowns, or hit the crashbreaker to detonate your car. A well-timed crashbreaker can let you take out 2, 3, or even 5 of your rivals at once in the ultimate, explosive payback.
GameSpy: Go into detail about the brand-new vertical takedowns.
Webster: Burnout Revenge features vertically oriented tracks, including jumps and multi-leveled paths, which opens the door for all-new vertical takedowns. A well-timed jump off of scaffolding or launch off a ramp onto your rival will have devastating results. They're not easy to come by, but anyone who masters the vertical takedown can expect to be rewarded handsomely. These new style of takedown has prompted some serious trash talking around the office - they're really fun to dish out.