Plot: What’s it about?
The Live Arcade is home to a wide assortment of racing games, but does Fireburst stand out from the pack? The basic premise is the same as most racers, as you need to navigate the track as fast as possible and leave your rivals in the dust. As the title might indicate however, bursting into flames is a key element in Fireburst. As you race, you build up a boost bar and when you unleash that boost, your vehicle explodes into a fiery deathtrap. If you manage the boost correctly, you’ll blaze past your enemies and leave them a burning wreck, but that doesn’t always happen. If you happen to get greedy and hold your boost too long, the fire turns on you and your racer goes up in flames. So one of the main mechanics that helps Fireburst stand out is the boost element, which makes you walk a fine balance between a victory lap and certain death. I loved this mechanic and it really plays well in the more destruction related moments of Fireburst, which were my personal favorite part of the game. But whether you’re in a destruction race or traditional one, the boost provides a nice, unique touch.
Video: How does it look?
The game’s visuals won’t light the world on fire, but it looks better than average for an arcade release. The track designs are well done and the various vehicles are detailed and fun to watch in action. There is also a good variety within the tracks, so some cool locales to cruise around and make your rivals explode into flames. The visuals are colorful and bold, which is a great fit for the overall tone of Fireburst.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is where Fireburst is going to earn some complaints, I think. The racers have very aggressive personalities and thanks to in-race taunts, those personalities are on constant showcase. This means a lot of dialogue and a lot of repeated one liners, which are bound to annoy some players. But the voice overs are well performed and aside from the repetition, I think the character work is good and enjoyable. The other elements work well, from the music to the sounds of the racetrack. So all in all, Fireburst puts on a good audio show.
