Joystiq hands-on: Burnout Paradise Bikes
by Randy Nelson 
{ Aug 15th 2008 at 2:00PM }
click to nitro-size
Criterion's been giddy with excitement lately over its DLC-licious plan to bring motorcycles to Paradise City. We've shared in its enthusiasm, but it's much easier to get excited when you've actually experienced the Burnout Paradise Bikes Pack for yourself. Which is just what we did at EA.
Like many of you, our main question regarding the bikes wasn't "Why?" or "Really, why?" but rather "Will they be impossible to control?" The answer is, thankfully, no. Just as we're somehow able to navigate the tight turns and traffic of Burnout Paradise going, oh, Mach 50 in cars (we think it has to do with magic, but could be wrong) steering the bikes is equally forgiving – not to say that there isn't a degree of skill involved.
Like many of you, our main question regarding the bikes wasn't "Why?" or "Really, why?" but rather "Will they be impossible to control?" The answer is, thankfully, no. Just as we're somehow able to navigate the tight turns and traffic of Burnout Paradise going, oh, Mach 50 in cars (we think it has to do with magic, but could be wrong) steering the bikes is equally forgiving – not to say that there isn't a degree of skill involved.
Gallery: Burnout Paradise Bikes Pack
No, the bikes are wicked fast. So fast, in fact, that they don't have any type of boost. Criterion reckons that it'd make them nigh-uncontrollable. We'd still like to try, at least.
What we did get to try during our hands-on was getting as close to certain death as possible, rocketing down straightaways and taking tight turns with ease. If there was any doubt that the bikes would suffer from simmy one-false-twitch-and-you're-done control, it's unwarranted. If anything, they control like the arcade motorcycles of yore (see: Hang-On). We'd expected the lack of bike damage to take away from the crashes, but we're happy to report that they're still fairly spectacular and really provide a nice sting when you screw up.
Performing wheelies is actually very forgiving; we were even able to do donuts while up on the rear wheel. The bikes' innate ability to perform them factors into some of the new motorcycle-specific challenges we tried out, specifically where we and other online players were tasked with holding a wheelie for more than 200 yards on a winding mountain road. It sounds challenging ... and it is.
While not gameplay-specific per se, we also witnessed the Bike Pack's addition to the game world itself: a day-to-night cycle. The transition actually takes on the order of 30 minutes to see a change from one to another, but the lighting as dusk sets and the fog starts to settle in is just plain pretty. Racing at midnight in the less dense parts of the city is definitely more challenging, since you must rely mainly on your bike's headlight to see shortcuts and the like.
Set to roll out next month, this free update to Burnout Paradise is downright impressive. It's not an entirely different game with the bikes, but it's certainly more of an already great game – and one, thanks to the game's new $30 price point (or, alternatively, via direct PSN download this fall), you'll be able to get for a song.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dirty @ Aug 15th 2008 2:09PM
Still wish they could crash... they sure look purty though.
Anam @ Aug 15th 2008 2:26PM
You know, everytime I see you post I crack up. I don't even know what you said but anything said by that walrus is instant comedy.
Dirty @ Aug 15th 2008 2:34PM
Its hard to argue with a walrus (or take it serious)
Just purchased Burnout paradise from gamefly for 18 bucks - my 5 bones in rewards = 13 greenbacks. Hooray!
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 2:09PM
Nice.
By the way... speaking of bikes, if you are looking for a better gas mileage, buy a bike.
I have a Honda VTX1300, year 2006. I spend like $10 dlls. of gas like every two weeks.
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM
Like this, but burgundy color.
http://www.ronbaird.com/Family/Rons%20Family/VTX1300R_Black.jpg
FOXHOUND @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM
Honestly, I would... if I didn't live in the tourist hell known as Orlando. With so many transient drivers from other areas of the world visiting here with lax style, it's not a matter of "if I'll get in a motorcycle accident", but "when".
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:13PM
I just picked up one of those new 08' Kawasaki Ninja 250 for 3,500 last month! It get 60 mpg and is quite fast for a 250.
Hey we actually have something in common. Crazy
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:14PM
Mine is blue
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/detail.aspx?id=263&content=details
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 2:18PM
Yeah, the Honda was only $7,000 when I bought it, it was brand new. Very low payments. And the gas mileage is incredible.
Well... at least we like motorcycles, just like we like videogames... but: you like sport bikes an I like cruiser motorclcyes. =p
Huey2k2 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:19PM
Bikes are all well and good if you live in a climate where half the year it isn't raining/snowing.
Here in London (Ontario) we get about 8 months of winter in which it snows or rains pretty much every fucking day. I hate living in a snow belt.
Also gas here is more expensive than in the US by a fair margin.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 15th 2008 2:21PM
A Chevy Cobalt XFE gets better fuel economy than a VTX1300. And it can hold 4.
If you want to get better mpg, get a bike with a reasonably sized motor.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:23PM
@Fernando
Hey I still wave at all the cruiser bikes on the road lol some glare at me though.
Anam @ Aug 15th 2008 2:29PM
Wow. You two agree on something. I... I... I have no response to that.
Bass Masterson @ Aug 15th 2008 2:41PM
Bikes do use less gas, but are astronomically more dangerous (particularly in packed areas like LA). And it still remains true that you will 'save the planet' more if you USE YOUR EXISTING VEHICLE UNTIL IT DIES (unless it's a smoke-spewing 67 Falcon) rather than throw it in the big garbage pile and spend tens of thousands on new transport.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:50PM
@Bass
I've never had a crash. Its all about paying attention to detail and not acting like a fool while riding.
And if you think not buying new vehicles is going to save the planet you are fucking crazy. There are tons of more things to worry about.
Drew @ Aug 15th 2008 3:23PM
OMG.. Fernando and Jack agree... it's the second sign of the apocalypse! Everybody RUN!!!
Tim The Enchanter @ Aug 15th 2008 3:55PM
Fernando, nice ride! I was looking at the VTX1300R myself.
Abuzar Baloach @ Aug 15th 2008 6:52PM
Foxhound, I was thinking about getting a bike too. I live in Sanford, so Orlando traffic doesn't effect me much(Unless I want to go to Wet N Wild or something).
acme @ Aug 15th 2008 9:21PM
i'd love better gas milage but not at the expense of my life if i ever hit something
FOXHOUND @ Aug 15th 2008 2:11PM
Do they fall off the bikes? Or are they 'magically glued'?
btw... way to mention HANG-ON. Nice name drop, considering the SEGA column posted earlier on this site. :]
JerJer @ Aug 15th 2008 2:24PM
the people disappear. the bikes go flying.
Anam @ Aug 15th 2008 2:31PM
The people disappear? That single-handedly makes me not want this game.
FOXHOUND @ Aug 15th 2008 2:40PM
oh well. I can always careen and ragdoll off stuff in GTA IV. No worries. :]
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:11PM
I wished there were ragdoll physics on the crashes. It would be so much more entertaining to watch a guy doing 20 flips in the air only to smash into a wall.
acme @ Aug 15th 2008 9:23PM
The game couldn't remain rated T if there where ragdoll
AnonymousFinger @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM
Wait a minute. If the cars in Burnout do not have drivers, the bikes do? Does the guy on the bike go flying 200 yards when he slams into a parked car?
Lidon @ Aug 15th 2008 2:25PM
I remember reading that the drivers just disappear from the bikes when your crash.
Monthenor @ Aug 15th 2008 3:38PM
The "riders" are actually holograms created by the motorcycles. It's an adaptation for hunting delicious humans that looks silly now that the human race is extinct.
colinbell @ Aug 15th 2008 3:09PM
Why doesnt someone just remake RoadRash - that would be so much fun.
Nate @ Aug 15th 2008 3:22PM
Dude, this game is so sick. Criterion is showing every other developer how it is _done_. 7 months after release and they're still adding huge updates and awesome features.... not to mention the fact the game was incredible from day 1, on BOTH platforms.
Well done, sirs.
OddyOh @ Aug 15th 2008 3:32PM
Couldn't agree more, Criterion are a force! I humbly bow before them.
ice~ @ Aug 15th 2008 3:29PM
They could release a ragdoll physics update but that would involve a ton of work and new engine so we probably won't see it happen.
Anyone know if this adds achievements???????
Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Aug 15th 2008 4:23PM
No, those come shortly after.
silverwolf761 @ Aug 15th 2008 4:41PM
Actually, they've already got a very nice physics engine in place. I remember hearing that they don't have ragdoll physics in place so they can keep their current ESRB rating.
ice~ @ Aug 15th 2008 9:25PM
I figured that much.
@TEZ: what do you mean by that? There's gonna be a new update with achievements? Im a big achievement whore :)
ice~ @ Aug 15th 2008 9:26PM
I figured that much.
@TEZ: what do you mean by that? There's gonna be a new update with achievements? Im a big achievement whore :)
The Sound @ Aug 15th 2008 5:59PM
You need to stress FREE more.
FREE FREE FREE FREE.
=D
Thank you Criterion!
Spybreak @ Aug 17th 2008 12:22AM
Yea the fact that this is free and not a paid DLC is way cooler than bikes or night and day. Well wait, nah not really but I like both! Love the game, not like the other previous Burnouts and that's ok!
Egon Pax @ Aug 18th 2008 11:36AM
Thank you Critereon. And I agree with most of the sentiments on here like the FREE DLC, awesome game, etc. I haven't played it in quite awhile, but this will make me put it back in my Xbox.
Alex @ Aug 19th 2008 2:31PM
Same here. I played on it yesterday but could'n find any races on the traffic lights I hadn't already done.
I also hate CrashFM.