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Wreckreation 2 Preview: The Closest We Might Ever Get to Burnout Paradise 2
IGN journalist Ryan McCaffrey has previewed Wreckreation 2, an early-development racing game he describes as the closest thing fans may get to a spiritual successor to Burnout Paradise. The title is being made by studio When Tides Turn, led by Fiona Sperry, a veteran of original Burnout developer Criterion Games, and follows several previous attempts by ex-Burnout staff to revive the arcade racing series' spirit, including Danger Zone, Dangerous Driving and the original Wreckreation, the last of which received a poor review from IGN.
Despite being a very early preview build, McCaffrey found the demo's slice of the fictional Heartbreak City to run smoothly on PC, with no framerate issues, and praised the aggressive AI opponents, weighty crashes and arcade-style handling, including a Burnout-style "aftertouch" feature for nudging wrecked cars into rivals. The build featured over a dozen events and a couple of upgradeable cars, with Road Rage takedown challenges – lifted directly from Burnout – among the highlights, though Sperry stressed the game remains far from finished.
In short
- IGN previews early build of Wreckreation 2, from ex-Burnout developer Fiona Sperry
- Game closely echoes Burnout Paradise in style, handling and events
- Preview build ran smoothly despite being very early in development
Explained simply
Burnout was an arcade racing series made by Criterion Games, known for fast driving, crashes and events that rewarded taking down rivals. Its best-known open-world entry, Burnout Paradise, let players race around a city rather than follow only fixed tracks.
Former Criterion staff have since made several games that draw on Burnout’s style, including the first Wreckreation. Wreckreation 2 is being developed by When Tides Turn, led by Fiona Sperry, who worked at Criterion; it is set in the fictional Heartbreak City.
The series’ history gives fans a point of comparison, while the first Wreckreation received a poor review from IGN. The new game is still in early development, so its preview offers an initial look at how it handles familiar arcade racing ideas, rather than a picture of the finished release.