The first thing players are apt to notice about Burnout CRASH! is its perspective. Yes, as previously reported, the game takes place from a top down perspective. And, yes, there are lobster monsters. But it’s not just the game’s perspective and opponents that have changed. The team behind CRASH! took inspiration from a number of unlikely sources, according to Creative Director Richard Franke.

Currently slated to release this Fall on both Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, Burnout CRASH! may just be the most accessible Burnout yet. From the official Criterion Games website:

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Electronic Arts offers a slightly more detailed description of the game in its press release.

In the spirit of bringing the game to the widest possible audience, Burnout CRASH! will support Microsoft’s Kinect for a mode, “in which two teams use gestural controls to play on one television in a party battle!” The game will also feature the now ubiquitous Autolog feature that debuted in Criterion’s Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Bottom line: more Burnout is always good news, and though it represents a pretty radical departure for the series, there is no reason to believe Burnout CRASH! will sully the sterling record of Criterion Games. Still, after the epic Burnout: Paradise (which, it must be pointed out, is available at the must-have price of just $7.99 right now on PSN), an arcade title seems a little small-scale for Burnout.

We know that Black Box is handling the next Need for Speed game, The Run, so when is Criterion going to get around to releasing another full retail Burnout game? Let’s hope that with this smaller release, the mad scientists at Criterion have cleared their minds and readied themselves for even more outrageous virtual destruction in the future.

Ranters, what are your first impressions of Burnout CRASH!? Let it all out in the comments below.

Burnout CRASH! is due this Fall for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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Source: Edge, Criterion Games