Burnout 2: Point of Impact

Burnout 2: Point of Impact is the sequel to the popular racer Burnout. The game was created by Criterion Games and was published by Acclaim. It launched in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. It then launched for the GameCube in early April 2003 and then the Xbox in late April of the same year in a special edition developer's cut, with improved features.

The game takes place in the United States, and includes real-world cities, landscapes, and roadways from the USA: the only difference are the track names.

The basic gameplay of Burnout 2 is simple: race circuits around a track, either by yourself or against computerized or human opponents. However, the track features traffic, complex junctions and obstacles which can make driving at high speeds difficult. In order to travel faster, the player needs to accumulate Boost. This can be done by driving down the wrong side of the road, skidding around corners at high speeds, swerving to avoid traffic and hitting jumps at speed to gain air.

Colliding with traffic or scenery causes the car to lose control and deform in a realistic fashion. After a short interval a replacement car then appears on the track without damage, but with a loss of boost.

Different versions
The Xbox version of Burnout 2 is subtitled the Developer's Cut, featuring 21 new car skins. It also features an Xbox live online leaderboard, which is the first use of Xbox live on a Burnout game. The GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions include all custom cars from the Xbox version, but they do not have customizable skins, online functions, or custom soundtrack functions.

Trivia
In real life there are two Interstate 88s, both in the Eastern United States. Interstate 88 (west) travels entirely within Illinois, while Interstate 88 (east) stays entirely within New York State.