A Criterion masterpiece and the absolute peak of the series. Takedown mode revolutionises arcade racing by making collisions an objective. Generous content, flawless gameplay and intoxicating speed sensation. One of the best PS2 games across all genres.
Your verdict
Category
Racing4 players7+
Split screen
Description
Released in 2004, Burnout 3 reinvented the series by making the "takedown" — wrecking rivals mid-race — its central mechanic. Its sense of speed, crash physics and punk-rock soundtrack curated by Stephanie Hawkins place it among the greatest racing games ever made.
Burnout 3 - Takedown review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Dizzying speed, motion blur and spectacular pile-ups filmed in slow motion: everything celebrates the crash as a genuine firework. The brilliance of the settings torn through at full tilt heightens the heady sensation. This visual extravagance, snappy and readable, makes every crash a peak of staging.
Supercharged, the licensed selection piles up punk, rock and electro to accompany the extreme speed and spectacular pile-ups of the races. The nervy tracks spike the adrenaline and match the frenzy of the crashes. This raging sonic energy, perfectly in tune with the game's pure arcade, electrifies every second of play.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Shoving a rival into the scenery is no longer an accident but the very heart of the game: each takedown recharges a boost that turns the race into a violent, jubilant ballet. The dizzying speed and the clarity of every collision still hit the mark. A cocktail of pure arcade, perfectly balanced between attack and driving, it keeps an edge few racing games ever reach.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Here, slamming into your rivals is no longer an accident but the goal: triggering a takedown by hurling an opponent into the scenery delivers a brutal, hilarious satisfaction. The speed hits new highs, the boost chains endlessly and crashes become an art. Aggressive, spectacular and fiercely addictive, arguably the peak of the series.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Causing your rival to crash mid-race to instantly recharge your boost turns aggression into an engine of pleasure where every takedown calls for the next. The Crash mode and the progression of events keep the session going relentlessly. Repetition eventually creeps in, but this stylized violence and this uninterrupted flow of speed stay devilishly addictive.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
A long list of events, from circuit races to the spectacular Crash mode, unfolds content best savoured race after race. Unlocking vehicles, chasing the best time and triggering perfect pile-ups keeps your hands on the pad. That profusion of events, boosted by brisk replay value, makes the title a lasting benchmark of the arcade racer.
A peak of Criterion's arcade racing, praised for its exhilarating speed and a Takedown system that turns crashing into a weapon, regarded as a genre classic. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this peak reputation rather than scarcity. A prime piece for arcade-racing fans wanting the most celebrated entry of the series on the console.
Better with friends
A peak of aggressive racing where winning isn't enough: you send rivals into the scenery with takedowns of gleeful violence. The competition turns into a duel of nerves, a mix of driving and well-placed dirty hits that make the whole couch yell. Spectacular and accessible, it chains brutal reversals and fits of laughter, and constantly makes you want payback.
Is Burnout 3 - Takedown still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2, Criterion's third entry is widely seen as the apex of the series. The takedown, that aggressive contact that hurls a rival into scenery, turns every race into a sustained brawl without ever compromising the purity of the driving. The sense of speed remains one of the cleanest ever crafted in the genre, the crash replays have lost none of their grim joy and the Crash FM radio bumpers still set a tone of their own. A few low resolution textures show their age but the essentials are intact. A genuinely strong arcade racing pick today.
