Danger Zone

In the end, isn’t that exactly what Danger Zone should be? It may be short, but it is ever so sweet. Hopefully we can see more of this, either with a full-on sequel or some DLC, because it’s been too damn long since we’ve had a proper Burnout game. Arcade racers need a comeback and Danger Zone would be a perfect reigning champion.

Priced at £11.99 and set to support the Xbox One X when it’s released next month, Danger Zone is now a much more appealing package than it was months ago, and there’s even promise of more content to come. The excitement it provides is still some way away from that of the Burnout series’ crash junctions, but in their absence it goes some distance to fill the void. With more content, a slew of gameplay enhancements and noticeably improved visuals, Xbox One owners may have had to wait for Danger Zone, but it’s definitely been worth it.

What it gets absolutely right is that “one more go” sensibility, first as you learn the layout and the pattern of traffic, search for secret collections of cars, spot the pickups and then try to piece it all together in a single cohesive run. Getting over the hurdle of a Bronze ranking isn’t too hard, but Gold can be tricky at times, while a Platinum rank and a charge up toward the top of the online leaderboards will often need you to get everything just right.

Danger Zone is a simple and barebones game that manages to recapture some of the car-smashing action of the classic Burnout series, but not enough of the joy. Though Burnout’s Crash mode was always the star of the show in those games, it turns out that Road Rage, Burning Lap, etc. defined Burnout just as much as Crash did, as well as its personality. Their absence here is felt deeply, though to Danger Zone’s credit it’s priced accordingly at just $13. As such, it’s worth a look for Burnout veterans, as long as you calibrate your expectations appropriately.

Back in 2002, Burnout 2 introduced gamers to Crash mode where you try and cause as much destruction as possible. 15 years later, Danger Zone is here to reintroduce this chaotic premise in a crazy new puzzle-like campaign full of car-crashing fun.

If you’ve been gaming for at least a decade, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the Burnout franchise. The Burnout franchise is a series of over-the-top racing games with a heavy emphasis on crashing. The second Burnout game introduced a special Crash mode which specifically required players to drive into an intersection, cause a crash and rack up as many points (insurance dollars) as possible. This is exactly the same premise as Danger Zone and since the Burnout franchise has disappeared since 2011’s Burnout Crash!, there is definitely a void that needs filling! Is Danger Zone the heir ...

While Danger Zone provides some thrills and serves as an interesting revival of one of Burnout’s beloved game modes, it’s often too slow and lifeless to give fans the fix they were hoping for.

Danger Zone's gameplay is rock solid, but its sparse presentation and short length make for a pretty forgettable experience.

The art of ruin.

Danger Zone largely fails to emulate the series from which it takes its inspiration and most of its developers. A lack of content, terribly dull environmental design and a complete lack of heart make Danger Zone a huge disappointment for those who, like me, miss Burnout so dearly.

Pared-back and wonderfully focused, this is a welcome blast of Burnout magic.