Unlike in previous versions of
Burnout, races in Paradise are not on a looped track. Instead the extensive map is used to provide a single, extended route from the intersection where you start the race to some point usually on the far side of the map. This, combined with the sandbox game universe, means that you can select your own route to the finish line. As a result of this, winning races becomes as much about map reading and picking the best route as it is about driving fast and avoiding collisions.
Knowing the map, and using the many shortcuts that Paradise City offers, becomes key to winning as the game progresses, and fierce competition from the computerised opponents requires you to shave every last second off your time.
If you do crash too often, or take a bad route and find yourself with no chance of winning the race, simply come to a halt and wait a few seconds. The event you are taking part in will end and you can return to free-driving or choose another nearby event, or even go back to the intersection where that event began. Since you don't have to complete any specific races in order to complete the game, you can just as easily select a nearby race and win that instead. I tried to take that approach, but the completist demon on my left shoulder (is that where the demon sits, or is that the angel shoulder?), he said, "Turn me around and take me back to the start".
The Burning Lap from
Burnouts of old is retained but again, due to the free roaming nature of Paradise, it has become the Burning Route. It's basically the same as the straightforward race, but instead of competing against opponents you compete against the clock with everybody doin' their time. You are set a target time, and as long as you complete the route in less than this, you win. This could be a great way of practising routes for races, but because each event starts at a different intersection no Burning Route starts and finishes in exactly the same place as any of the races. Additionally each Burning Route can only be entered in a specific car. So, you have to earn the car in order to attempt the event.
As I’ve already mentioned, a major aspect of the game is the Takedown! It's how you earn cars, it's a way of preventing a competitor from beating you in a race, and it's a way of protecting yourself in Marked Man mode.
Road Rage events make takedowns the main focus. Instead of having a destination, you have a time limit and a takedown target. All you have to do is takedown your opponents this number of times within the time limit. But these guys fight back, so you have to avoid getting destroyed before the takedown target is reached, or you lose the event. This is my favourite event, I like the mayhem and the insanity of it, and I'm a hard case who is tough to beat. But this is another event that benefits greatly from
Burnout Paradise's free-roaming style.