One good thing has come out of the post-holiday release slump: I’ve had plenty of time to play “Burnout Paradise.” The arcade racer definitely calls for a lot of time, as developer Criterion ...

As another racing game that allows its players to freely roam an open world, Burnout Paradise could help inspire Mario Kart World to add an extra layer of gameplay when unlocking new vehicles.

But what was it about Burnout Paradise that made the franchise so beloved? It starts strong with the introduction, the opening bars of Guns N Roses classic ‘Paradise City’ playing each time ...