Burnout Dominator

🎮 Overview

• Title: Burnout Dominator

• Platform: PSP (also on PlayStation 2)

• Release Year: 2007

• Developer: EA UK (not Criterion Games, who made most of the Burnout series)

• Publisher: Electronic Arts

• Genre: Arcade Racing

• Style: High-speed, adrenaline-fueled racing focused on risk-taking, boosting, and dangerous driving.

📖 Concept

Unlike Burnout Revenge or Burnout 3: Takedown, Burnout Dominator removes the Crash Mode but returns to the core Burnout philosophy: fast-paced racing, chaining boosts, and mastering dangerous driving to dominate your rivals.

The game is framed around the idea of becoming the ultimate dominator driver, mastering risky techniques like drifting, near misses, and oncoming traffic driving to maintain burnouts (continuous boosts).

🕹 Gameplay (PSP Version)

Core Mechanics

• Arcade-Style Racing:

  • Emphasis on speed and aggression rather than simulation.

  • Tracks filled with shortcuts, traffic, and tight turns.

• Boost System:

  • Drive dangerously (drifting, driving into oncoming traffic, narrowly missing vehicles, takedowns) to fill your boost bar.

  • Chain boosts together (called Burnouts) to keep momentum.

• No Crash Mode: Unlike earlier Burnout games, the PSP version focuses entirely on races and skill-based driving.

Game Modes

1. World Tour Mode:

   • Main single-player mode.

   • Divided into themed events (series of tracks and challenges).

   • Completing events unlocks new cars, tracks, and higher difficulties.

2. Event Types:

   • Race: Standard high-speed race against rivals.

   • Road Rage: Cause as many takedowns as possible before time runs out.

   • Eliminator: Last-place driver is eliminated each lap until one remains.

   • Burning Lap: Time trial — race a lap as fast as possible.

   • Drift Challenge: Maintain long drifts for points.

   • Near-Miss Challenge: Score by narrowly avoiding traffic.

   • Maniac Mode: Chain risky moves (oncoming, drifting, near misses) to keep your boost meter active.

3. Multiplayer:

   • Ad-hoc wireless play for up to 6 players.

   • Modes include races and takedown challenges.

Cars & Progression

• Cars are divided into categories (Compact, Muscle, Super, Dominator, etc.).

• Each class has different strengths (speed, handling, acceleration).

• Unlock new cars by dominating events or achieving specific goals.

🎨 Presentation

• Graphics:

  • Impressive 3D visuals for the PSP, with fast framerates and detailed track designs.

  • Exotic tracks set across cities, highways, mountains, and coastal roads.

• Sound:

  • High-energy rock and alternative soundtrack (includes artists like The Fratellis, Army of Anyone, Sugarcult).

  • Engine roars, crashes, and boost effects emphasize speed and danger.

• Tone: Adrenaline-heavy, rebellious, and arcade-focused.

📝 Reception

• Praise:

  • Addictive boost-chaining system.

  • Fun event variety, especially Maniac and Road Rage.

  • Solid visuals and smooth performance on PSP.

  • Replayable World Tour mode with lots of unlockables.

• Criticism:

  • Lack of Crash Mode disappointed fans.

  • Some tracks felt recycled compared to earlier Burnout entries.

  • AI difficulty can feel inconsistent at higher levels.

✅ In short:

Burnout Dominator for PSP delivers classic Burnout thrills on the go — speed, drifts, takedowns, and risky driving that rewards aggression. While it drops the fan-favorite Crash Mode, it focuses on the series’ roots: chaining boosts, dominating races, and pushing your skills to the limit. For arcade racing fans, it’s one of the PSP’s standout titles.