When I first heard that Criterion would get the chance to breathe life back into the Need for Speed franchise I was very excited. As a huge fan of the past three Burnouts I thought nothing could go wrong if that type of gameplay was applied to the real cars from the Need for Speed series. Seeing gameplay footage has brought down my hopes. This doesn't look like Burnout it just looks like Need for Speed. What is the point of Criterion making this game if they are not playing to their strengths?

Like you said, it's doesn't look like Burnout, it looks like Need For Speed. They're different games with different approaches, and they appeal to different people.

Watching it on YouTube does look slow, play and see how it looks and feelss very different to the passive YouTube experience.
 
I've just played 2.5hrs almost non stop (a man has to pee you know!) and have been really impressed. Had a few multiplayer races with my nepher, hope to online proper tomorrow, but going to bed right now.

" Watching it on YouTube does look slow, play and see how it looks and feelss very different to the passive YouTube experience.  I've just played 2.5hrs almost non stop (a man has to pee you know!) and have been really impressed. Had a few multiplayer races with my nepher, hope to online proper tomorrow, but going to bed right now. "

It's because of how wide and open and straight many of the roads are.  The view distance is pretty crazy, and most racing games don't even come remotely close to doing that.
 
The action taking place around your car gets plenty fast.

" When I first heard that Criterion would get the chance to breathe life back into the Need for Speed franchise I was very excited. As a huge fan of the past three Burnouts I thought nothing could go wrong if that type of gameplay was applied to the real cars from the Need for Speed series. Seeing gameplay footage has brought down my hopes. This doesn't look like Burnout it just looks like Need for Speed. What is the point of Criterion making this game if they are not playing to their strengths? "

Zombies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After playing the demo, I felt the same way. Also the handling is really... odd. The cars felt really unresponsive and bulky (for lack of a better word).

" After playing the demo, I felt the same way. Also the handling is really... odd. The cars felt really unresponsive and bulky (for lack of a better word). "

Criterion doesn't even know how to pronounce the word "slow", nonetheless know what it means. You people are all effing crazy.

I will admit burnout feels faster but when i did the previw events in the campaign with some of the super crazy cars. Things are woshing by crazy fast. There is a great sense of speed online when u drive properly and just zoom past all your competitors, even if ur car isnt the fastest.

" After playing the demo, I felt the same way. Also the handling is really... odd. The cars felt really unresponsive and bulky (for lack of a better word). "

well to be fair the game is called need for speed so i would think their first job would to make it more closer to need for speed then anything else. I think you do see some burnout within this game but it should feel more like a need for speed game. If you want a burn out can you just have to wait for another one. Also i think the game is running 30fps  rather then 60fps like burnout.