From the early days of the original Acclaim published titles, until the later releases such as Burnout Revenge, gamers just can't seem to get enough of the Burnout series. Let's face it, the game provides everything anyone who wishes to go full bore could want. The speed is ridiculous, the races feel fair and rewarding, and you even are rewarded for wrecking and wreaking havoc on the road. While we still have a few months before we see an actual sequel in the form of the tentatively titled Burnout 5, EA has at least given current gen gamers one last taste to fulfill their need for speed and chaotic reckless abandon.

Burnout Dominator provides the insanity that fans know and love so well, while introducing a few new ideas and providing plenty of meat in the form of bringing the best of the series into one complete package. This is good since it seems that the next in the series may be changing focus.

While not visual a huge leap over Burnout Revenge, the game still delivers in spades when it comes to sense of speed, frame rate steadiness, and fantastic car collision physics. Car models remain to be a bunch of non-licensed machinery, but the detail and car design is still a concept fan's dream come true. Course design is still created with plenty of great backdrop visuals and tons of short cuts that will allow gamers to find the freedom to dominate in their own unique way. The game's speed is still unsurpassed and will make even the biggest Burnout junkie white knuckled from race to race.

Loud boisterous motors, great crash sound effects, and a rocking soundtrack is the creed to the series moniker, and Dominator doesn't fail in this latest endeavor one bit. While the EA Trax gets a mixed bag from fans and critics, EA still has delivered music that fits the blistering pace of the game. Nothing comes close to the joy of hearing your opponent crash behind you or enjoying the special slo mo sound effects coming at you in full surround sound. Even the engine sounds vary from vehicle to vehicle providing gamers with the knowledge of just how much muscle is under the hood of the car they are driving.

Fans of the series will be more than pleased that the series hasn't strayed away from the tight controls and aggressive, yet fair A.I. If you are a master of the game, you will know it not just by lap times, but how much you succeed in leaving your opponents behind in the cloud of dust and smoke behind you, all without the worry of crappy rubber band or catch-up A.I. Each ride handles differently, which gamers will have the choice of being the master of their own domain with the vehicle that drives best for them. While there are some that feel the game feels too similar to that last incarnation, this is one series that if tinkered with could ruin the sheen and pure pleasure it offers

Thankfully, the developers didn't just slap a new coat of paint on Revenge as they have supplied a few new modes that will hold gamers for quite a few laps. Sure, your typical Race, Crash, and other favorite modes return for another go around, but new features such as Maniac mode will have fans grinning from ear to ear. This is a straightforward score mode in which you are a maniac on the road and the more damage you inflict, the higher your score. This mode provides the thrills of the crash mode while combining the length and complexity of a race mode. The new World Tour mode will also provide plenty of hours allowing you to see all the locales, vehicles, and cool unlockables. The only real hiccup in this version is the absence of online play. With it being included in the last three installments, the omission of this mode is a question indeed and keeps this game from an A rating.

While there are some who have seen and done all there is in the Burnout universe and may find this game series is getting stale, there are twice as many fans that just can't get enough of that sweet, sweet pep. Burnout Dominator may not revolutionize the series or even offer a significant upgrade over Revenge, but it still delivers the goods when it comes to hardcore, fast paced, killer crashing, racing action. What else could a virtual masochist want out of this series?