Burnout Paradise: Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3

Burnout Paradise is the most anticipated game of January 2008 and rightfully so. Find out why we love it by heading over to our Burnout Paradise Blowout (review, video review, Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video comparison and developer interview all included) but read on for the definitive verdict on which version is the best. We’re going to compare the two games in four key areas (Graphics, Sound, Gameplay and Multiplayer) so you know if you should buy the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 version.

Graphics

PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 version of Burnout Paradise looks superb and easily ranks amongst the best looking games on the console. It runs at a silky smooth frame rate, features insane draw distances, incredible lighting and the best car deformation ever seen in a video game. And you never see a loading screen, with the entire city seamlessly loading as you cruise around. Multi-format releases have had a hard time on the PlayStation 3 in the past, but not this time.

Xbox 360

Everything above is also true for the Xbox 360 game. Criterion has managed to deliver an Xbox 360 title that matches its PlayStation 3 counterpart almost exactly. In this Versus though we’ve got to pick out the differences and while they’re minor in the extreme, the Xbox 360 game does suffer from some minor slowdown on rare occasions. That’s really all we could see between the two games, and it’s something most people won’t even notice.

Verdict:

To say this is a tight one is an understatement. Rampant fanboyism on the internet would have you believe that the PlayStation 3 game looks significantly better than the Xbox 360 game, and that simply isn’t the case. We’ve played both for an extended period of time and unless you’re looking for differences you won’t see any. The PS3 game wins, but it’s by the smallest margin.

You can see a direct comparison of the two games running side by side in our Burnout Paradise Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video.

Sound

PlayStation 3

Modern games feature excellent surround sound and Burnout Paradise is no exception. With a good 5.1 set-up you can hear your rivals as they swerve across the road, crashing into oncoming traffic and spiralling out of control into the rest of the pack. What isn’t so good is the soundtrack, which is far from what we’d call ideal. You can manually turn off any tunes that you find particularly offensive to your ears, but sadly there’s no option to listen to your own music collection. Voice chat online is also supported via a Bluetooth headset.

Xbox 360

Again, with a good 5.1 set-up the audio in Burnout Paradise is superb, really immersing you in the game. As is the case with all Xbox LIVE titles, voice chat is supported online. The one big difference comes from the Xbox 360’s built in ability to play your own music during gameplay. This means you can choose to ignore the included soundtrack completely and race along to some tunes more fitting to the experience.

Verdict:

As with the graphics comparison, the differences between the two versions are minimal. The deciding factor then is the custom soundtrack support offered by the Xbox 360, giving that version the slight edge.

Gameplay

PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3’s Sixaxis controller has had plenty of criticism but it works great with Burnout Paradise. For once the L2 and R2 trigger buttons don’t feel awkward to use and everything you need is where it should be. The game’s engine doesn’t miss a beat so you’re never going to have to worry about a bout of slowdown interfering with the gameplay.

Xbox 360

We’d usually opt for the 360 pad’s triggers over the PS3’s often less than ideal trigger buttons, but in this case we found it hard to pick a clear winner. Both games have been tailored to their system’s controller very well indeed. The only real clear advantage the Xbox 360 game has is rumble support (we know it’s coming to PS3 controllers soon, but that doesn’t help existing owners) in every controller. Xbox 360 exclusive Achievements also go some way to rewarding you for your time spent in Paradise City.

Verdict:

I’m hoping you’re seeing the pattern by now. Differences between the two in gameplay are minute at best. We’d plump for the Xbox 360 in the case of this Versus article though, simply because of the rumble support and included Achievements.

Multiplayer

PlayStation 3

Online multiplayer is a key component of Burnout Paradise and it’s handled excellently on the PlayStation 3. You access everything via pressing right on the d-pad and as with the main game, you never leave Paradise City. Our races online proved to be relatively lag-free and very enjoyable.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 game performs as well as the PS3 version and thankfully doesn’t call up the blade menu when you venture online – which was rumoured early in development. Both versions offer an equally seamless online experience. One observation of the two is that you’re more likely to find games with people chatting on the Xbox 360, although if this is a positive thing will be down to personal preference.

Verdict:

We’re calling this one a tie. There’s really nothing to pick between the two. You could argue that the PlayStation 3 game is free to play online, hence making it the better option, but you’re unlikely to pay the Xbox LIVE subscription fee for just this game, making the comparison slightly unfair.

Final Score

OK. Because we have to make a choice over which version is best (that is the point of the feature after all) we’re declaring the Xbox 360 version the winner. While the PS3 game edges things by a fraction in the visuals department, the Xbox 360 game marginally wins out in a few other areas, tipping the scales its way every so slightly.

Before you PS3 owners dose your beloved consoles in gasoline and light a match out of protest, it’s worth noting how incredibly close the two games really are. You’re not going to miss out on much if you choose the PlayStation 3 version.

It’s also worth noting that in terms of visuals, this is the first simultaneous Xbox 360 and PS3 release where the PS3 game comes out on top – even if it’s by the smallest amount. Surely that bodes well for the year ahead where we’ll hopefully see an end to poor Xbox 360 to PS3 ports.

For more on Burnout Paradise head over to our Burnout Paradise Blowout, where you’ll find a review, video review, Xbox 360 Vs PlayStation 3 video comparison and developer interview.