Amazing entry into the burnout series. It got rid of that stupid timer that was in the first two games, and made the racing mechanics a lot better. An amazing element they added to this game that ultimately made the series so much more fun was takedowns. You can smash into your opponents to make them crash. The burnout games have always played like arcade racers, and this game doesn’t stray far from that formula at all. In fact aside from crazy taxi, it is the most console arcade racer you could possibly play. The only real problem I had with this game was there were not a ton of car paint colors to choose from. Besides that, amazing game and still holds up really well. 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Incredibly fun and one of the best arcade racers.

Positives:
- Carnage filled high speed races.
- Fun Road Rage mode.
- Crash mode is unique and fun to puzzle out.
- A lot of content in the World Tour to complete.

Negatives:
- The rubberbanding AI is pretty egregious.
- Many long loading screens (Turbo mode in PCSX2 was a godsend).
- Any event involving the US Circuit Racer. It's difficult to control and crawls to a stop when grinding against walls, punishing you for racing agressively which is the entire point of the game.
- The track selection could be larger.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of narrowly slipping through traffic, trading paint with a car inches away before drift boosting into a turn and sending another car hurtling through the back of a truck. The camera gives you a brief moment of respite, before whipping you back into the chaos, all the while the early 2000s pop-punk guitar kicks up on the soundtrack.

Burnout 3 perfects its unparalleled sense of speed and adrenaline with its tight controls and track design. Its addictive gameplay keeps you in a stranglehold, only relenting once you’ve secured the gold medal. Two decades on, and this game still rocks while remaining the peak of its genre.

Among many gamers' considerations for the best racing games, Burnout 3: Takedown excels when focusing on its myriad Crash events while suffering (at least in getting all gold medals) when its inconsistent physics system makes races an inferior half during the late-game events, notably the last Grand Prix and its horrendous F1-type car. Thankfully, the soundtrack is a full of enjoyable background tunes when not interrupted by the annoying DJ Striker, who I turned off alongside the Takedown camera after so much repetition. Need for Speed: Most Wanted remains my favorite, but this is spectacular at enough times to challenge my general distaste for the genre.

Very fun game! one of the best arcade racers, it perfects the blend of chaos and high speed action without it being too overwhelming. there’s a good variety of events, car types, and courses, wrapped up with a wonderful wacky presentation and to the tune of a great 2000s poppunk soundtrack (midtown!). the only flaw is that the AI can be frustrating at times, especially in the later races where they feel invincible and a single crash pushes you back 7 seconds from them vs taking them out still has them on your butt