Those that are expecting the same with slightly better graphics will be disappointed. While it is the same game, with the same game modes and the same cars and trophies to unlock, the graphics are a decent chunk better than the previous gen's incarnations.

For those that are new to whole Burnout franchise, it is simply the fastest and most nerve-wracking driving game on the market today. The idea is to cause as much carnage on the road as possible for which you will be rewarded with boost - and without boost you won't be winning any races.

Boost can be earned a number of ways - most of which have been taken from Revenge's predecessors: drifting, getting air, driving on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding traffic, escaping others accidents, taking down your opponents and, as a new addition, smashing through traffic travelling in the same direction.

Once the boost meter is filled, however, the game can become increasingly difficult and/or frustrating. While the sense of speed is definately there, the game sometimes takes on a 'low-level-aircraft' feel. Every sequel Criterion puts out the cars get faster, and this is no exception. There are some cars which make predicting what's ahead of you the main goal. There is a middle ground, and it comes in the form of the middle range cars or only using the boost temporarily, but you aren't going to get all the golds that way.

The game is divided into 10 difficulty levels, and each is divided into a set number of courses. Each course has a few different game stages, challenges to attempt and signature takesdown to spring on your opposition. And each stage has five stars to be won. So all in all there is a hell of a lot in which to partake.

Let's break it down a bit further: each course has a challenge list that you have to try and complete. These can be anything from "check 100 cars" to "take down 15 cars in the Road Rage level" and once all are acheived you will unlock a bonus car, so for those keeping score that's 10 unlockable cars just from completing the challenges.

The stars you get from each stage go towards unlocking the next difficulty and are rewarded based on how well you compete. Coming first in a race isn't always enough; if you didn't dare to cross the middle line, drift around a corner or dart through shortcuts checking the traffic as you went you'll find yourself one star short of a perfect score. The more daring will find themselves trying and trying again to get the 'Perfect' they desire and unlocking the appropirate achievements.

There is a whole bunch of game modes to be found in Burnout Revenge. If racing against five others for the gold isn't your cup of tea, you might find Road Rage more your style. In Road Rage the idea is to take out your opposition, the more you take down the closer you will get to grabbing that gold.

For those wanting to best their own personal times might want to give Burning Lap a go; you're given one of the faster cars and an impossible time to beat. Only a flawless, boost-driven lap will have you unlocking these special cars for personal use.

Not enough carnage for you? The Crash Mode is probably what you're looking for. In this mode you are given a specific area of road full to the brim with people to-ing and fro-ing, and you're also given a ramp or enough NOS to make sure you will take out every single one of them.

Let us paint a picture for you: after whizzing down the road you hit the ramp and torpedo your way into the side of a truck, the truck jack-knives and its cab slides onto the wrong side of the road taking out the oncoming SUV. The cars following behind the SUV and the truck don't have enough time to respond and skid their way into the mass of metal and rubber. One car too many and you find the truck ignites and sends its pieces flying around the now 15 car pile-up. Car number 20 hits and in this round thats the lucky magical number that allows you to trigger your 'crashbreaker'. You beat down on the B button and within moments time slows down, you can feel the air imploding around you and with an earth shattering explosion the cars all around you soar off to other parts of the location hitting cars that thought themselves lucky. Get a gold? No? Better try again then.

This is definately the most addictive part of Burnout Revenge.

Then there's the new entry to the franchise: Traffic Check. You're given one minute to get as much damage as you possibly can - however, with every car you check (viz smash through) you are given more time; the length of this mode will depend entirely on your skill. Traffic checking does come off feeling a little cheap and the first time you'll play it you will wonder why Criterion even bothered, but the moment you clock up a four- to five-minute run you might find that it grows on you.

So yes, it's a port, but an extremely good looking port. Every car and every track has been revamped to include higher resolution textures and a giant boost in polygon count, sparks fly and the explosions look amazing - now if only it could run at a constant 60 frames per second.... oh wait... it can, and does.

This game is pure eye candy, and the HDRI lighting goes to show that not all next-gen games will look blown out. The only big disappointment was to see no inclusion of the in-car camera that has won Project Gotham Racing 3 so much praise. Sure, there is hardly the right amount of time to look around, but it would've been a nice addition.

Camera angles during replays and crashes are perfect, from the angles chosen to the natural camera shake. The music is also spot-on for this kind of title, and it's surprising how up-to-date Criterion is with its choice in currently popular pop songs. While this kind of music may not be for everyone, it definately has the right tempo.

Another thing that Criterion revamped was the online mode. Everything talked about so far can be played against strangers or people on your friends list and they can be ranked or unranked.

It's nice to know that while there can be lag in online gaming, Burnout Revenge tackles it a slightly different way. You aren't reset to a specific position as you race so the actual racing feels seamless, however you might see your opposition pop from place to place, so it's suggested that you try and stick to playing against fellow Kiwis unless you have a decent internet connection.

Either way, you'll find the music volume being turned down so you can concentrate on the groans and screams of inaffection coming from someone else's living room.

The best addition to the already addictive online mode is that the game keeps track of your rivals. If you have one up on that punk from California it'll warn you while the engines are revving that he's going to be after you this round, it will also tell you who has the most points, so you know at whom to aim.