adrenaline junkie

So far this year there have a been a handful of games that I'd lay claim to as best of year material, without benefit of the year being over. Some - Resident Evil 4 and God of War - were so artistically polished that your jaw dropped from the sheer look of things before you ever got into the immensely enjoyable gameplay. Others - San Andreas for the Xbox and Mercenaries - were vast and fun and terrifically entertaining. But as of five days ago I have been immersed in the most highly-charged game I've played since...well, since the last iteration of the same series: Burnout Revenge.

Imagine yourself strapped to the nose of a bullet train careening down the streets of various cities or country roads. Add to that the sheer insanity of plowing through traffic and bouncing cars off said roads without any risk to your own hide. Burnout Revenge is all about blurred speed and the victorious travesties of auto damage.

Buy it, praise it, and remember to stop occasionally for meals, sleep and day jobs.