Acclaim X-Box Games

Despite the Baldur's Gate name Dark Alliance II, with its real-time combat and simplified stats and rules, is more Gauntlet (or Diablo if you're too young to recognise that reference) than the Baldur's Gate PC games. This is not to imply that it's a simplistic button-basher, though; the combat is highly involved, with different styles of melee, distance and magic attacks depending on which character you choose to control. When you're not fighting (which isn't often) you can take part in those other stalwart features of the RPG genre, shopping and levelling up--both of which are made as easy and interesting as possible.

If you're wondering what has changed or been improved for the sequel, the simple answer is not much. Even the graphics seem the same and the few gameplay features that have been altered are entirely minor. To be fair, though, there wasn't much wrong with the original. --David Jenkins

After a simple driving test you open the championship mode. The aim, which hasn't changed from the original, is to race three other cars in a series of circuits, avoiding all forms of road traffic. Notch up winning gold medals and unlock the next level; get gold in each race and not only unlock more tracks, but also the chance to race for another car in a pursuit race. Test your skills, beat the car and add it to your collection. Burnout 2 is brimming with new tracks and challenges. One addition is the crash mode, which lets you cause mayhem and destruction at various road junctions. Cause as much carnage as possible and unlock even more junctions. Watch your mayhem and destruction in glorious replays again and again.

Open the multi-player games and the pursuit mode alone will keep you racing for months. Be the cop and try to run your fellow gamer off the road before he escapes the long arm of the law. Race through the streets and highways improving your lap times, and you have the added bonus of seeing just how good you are on Xbox live. Are you the best in the world or just a Sunday driver? Throw down the gauntlet and see if you have what it takes.

Burnout 2 is a prime example of simplicity at its best; Acclaim have concentrated on pure gameplay and this game has it in abundance. A complete masterpiece of great arcade action, all rendered in glorious crisp graphics and presented in Dolby 5.1, Burnout 2 is a high-octane, heart-stopping, intense driving experience. --Robert Holliday