Koku Gamer: Big Surf Island Impressions

I think it’s safe to assume that when it comes to what is considered great downloadable content, nothing comes closer than Criterion’s Burnout Paradise. Originally released January 2008, more than a year later the development team continues to support the game as promised with what is easily some of the best DLC found anywhere. They added faster cars, online freeburn challenges, online Marked Man and Road Rage events, and they introduced for the first time in the series, Burnout Bikes. What’s more is that it was all free. Criterion, and more surprisingly EA, didn’t ask a dime for any of it. Though since the bike pack we have seen some priced DLC, the quality didn’t hinder. This brings us to today. Burnout Paradise’s biggest Update ever, Big Surf Island is out. And all I can say is that it’s a complete UN-recognizable transformation from when the game first released. And it’s totally awesome.

Big Surf Island was actually one of the first plans of DLC for Burnout that we heard, or at least had an idea about. After updating the game you’ll notice that a connecting bridge leads out from Paradise to the open water, where a new island can be found. The size of the island itself is not that big, in fact I’d probably say its about the size of Downtown Paradise. But with the design choices made by the development team, every inch of that size is used with ramps, billboards, and Gates to smash through. I found that it was a lot easier to chain stunts due to how close you could find ramps, and Billboard’s near each other. The size may be small, but there is a whole lot to do.

Right off the bat you’re introduced to a new car. The Dust Storm buggy which I found was not as fast as some of the other cars, but it handles like a dream and is extremely fun to use. As you progress through the island challenges you’ll have the opportunity to unlock up to 8 new cars created specifically for this expansion. Throughout the island you’ll also find the inclusion of new challenges. These include all challenges we’ve seen before like races, Marked Man, Road Rage, and Timed Challenges. A new addition to the experience is the introduction to Mega Jumps. Throughout Big Surf Island hidden are 15 Mega Jumps that are, well there just these huge ridiculous ramps that are designed to give you insane air time.

If you decide to connect online, well you can expect to see 10 new Freeburn challenges waiting for you. When you connect, the game auto fits you into a room with other players who have purchased the expansion. I haven’t experienced a game were a player didn’t have the island but I suspect it wouldn’t keep you from getting to it if you desired. The online is just as fun as before. Nothing’s really changed with the core gameplay that you’ve come to know, with the exception of the new challenges.

There is a lot included in this pack that I can really go on and on about. It’s not just a new island, it’s a completely new experience. Priced at $12.99 and 1000 Microsoft Points, I really can’t recommend it enough. Here’s a breakdown of what you get:

- Dust Storm Buggy

- 8 New cars to win

- 15 Events

- 10 Freeburn Challenges

- 12 new roads to rule

- 75 island gate smashes

- 45 island billboards

- 15 island Mega Jumps.