Review of BURNING ROAD       
Pasquale DeMaio

Type:   Arcade Racing  (similar: Sega Rally, Sega Daytona)
Features:    Memory Card     Analog Control     Link Cable

Graphics:   Very good.  Everything you've come to expect from the
playstation.  It is probably a notch below Wipeout XL and DD2 but they
are quite good.   There are excellent weather conditions and everything
moves very quickly.  I have no complaints about the graphics.  They fit
the game quite well and there are a lot of little things (that I won't
mention, because I think half the fun is noticing this kind of stuff)
that really add to the atemosphere.  9/10

Sound:  The effects are good.  Nothing increadible but certainly more
than passable.  They don't have any real weakness and add to the game in
every instance.    The music is fairly incipid.  Although I have yet to
hear any music in any game that I actually though was good, barring John
Williams stuff in Lucas Arts games.  So I don't think it is below
average.   8/10

Interface:  Well there's no FMV (oh well :) ).  There's no fancy screens
or drawings as you move through the menus.  The menus are somewhat
poorly set up.    There are fairly few options (which can be both a
blessing and a curse).
I wish you could setup controller with different button assignments, but
the stock ones work well (although not the way I would do it).   The
replay feature is the best I've seen.  No options to control it, but
it's just fun to watch.  7/10
(would be 4/10 without the replay)

Gameplay:  This is the big one, and I'm sure I'll get some arguments on
this one.  I think the game play is right on.  This game plays like a
cross between Sega Rally and Daytona (arcade versions).  It looks a lot
like them too.  Although this game tips its hat to about twenty previous
racing games.  I would say that it is basically a tribute to sega race
games.  It really works.  I'm a big fan of Rally and I play daytona when
my freinds want to.  This game captures the excitement that makes these
games fun.  It could stand to work a little on the feel of heaviness
that is missing (ie the cars feel like they all way 1500lbs.  But the
physics don't ruin the game, like Ridge Racer.  The crashing the flying
objects (ala Ridge Racer) also add to the fun if not the realism of the
game. 
This game makes a good compromise between realism and fun.  Some people
will hate this game however, as is the case with most racers, I can see
some people not likeing the control.  I however really like it.  9/10

Logevity/Value:  Well the game's linkable, so in that sense it will
never get boring.  However, there are only 3 tracks and they aren't all
that long.  There are only 4 cars also.  This game probably won't take a
good gamer that long to beat.  But I think it would be fun to race with
freinds for quite some time, but I don't see it being a long term value
as a 1 player game.  More tracks would have really helped.  Similar to
ridge racer in that it doesn't take long to see all there is to see, but
with no secrets.  You can race the tracks backwards.  9/10 (5/10 with no
link)  

Overall:  I really like this game.  My friend came over last night and
he really liked the game.  It's just fun.  I picked up this one when I
returned DD2.  I am  not dissappointed.  This one will be a big hit once
I get my second copy for link at parties (one player is fun too and
stands on its own).  For me It's a must have.                           
       **9/10**