Boost is a major gameplay element in the Burnout series that allows the player to temporarily increase the acceleration and top speed of their vehicle.
It is represented by an horizontal flame-filled bar in the bottom left corner of the display. The flames inside the bar represent the amount of boost a vehicle has. The amount of flames decrease as more boost is used and increases the amount of boost made available.
Players can earn Boost by driving recklessly throughout a location by successfully executing Driving Skills including driving in oncoming traffic, drifting, shunting other drivers, jumping, taking down rivals, and performing Stunts.
The means in which players can increase the total amount of Boost is different between each Burnout game.
Burnout & Burnout 2: Point of Impact[]
In Burnout and Burnout 2: Point of Impact, Boost cannot be activated until the player has filled their Boost bar.
If a player manages to use all of their Boost and perform enough driving skills to effectively refill their Boost bar in a single activation, they will perform a "Burnout", which will refill their boost bar and allow for the process to be repeated for another Burnout to create a "Burnout Chain".
A Burnout Chain is the amount of times the player has refilled their Boost bar without deactivating it or crashing.
Burnout 3: Takedown, Burnout Revenge, and Burnout Legends[]
In Burnout 3: Takedown, Burnout Revenge, and Burnout Legends, Boost can be activated at any time so long as there is Boost available in the Boost bar to be used.
The Boost bar is broken into four chunks with a multiplier accompanying it to identify the total amount of Boost a player can withhold for use: 1x, 2x, 3x, and 4x. Players will start events - with a 1x Boost bar with the exception of Burning Lap events which give players a full 4x Boost bar - and can gain an additional chunks by performing Takedowns against opponents.
As players perform Takedowns against their opponents, they will earn an additional chunk to their Boost bar, up to the full 4x - and also fill the bar alongside gaining a chunk. However, crashing will remove a chunk of the Boost bar and remove a small amount of Boost, but it cannot drop below a 1x multiplier.
Participants in events can steal Boost from opponents by ramming, shunting, and rubbing them against walls.
Crashbreaker[]
In Burnout Revenge, a selection of events are highlighted as Crashbreaker Events. These events allow the player to activate a Crashbreaker after they've crashed as a means to earn Takedowns against opponents.
Burnout Dominator[]
- Main article: Dominator boost
In Burnout Dominator, Boost can be activated at any time so long as there is Boost available in the Boost bar to be used, but can also be activated once filled to potentially start a "Burnout Chain".
If a player manages to use all of their Boost and perform enough driving skills to effectively refill their Boost bar in a single activation, they will perform a "Burnout", which will refill their boost bar and allow for the process to be repeated for another Burnout to create a "Burnout Chain".
Aa selection of events are highlighted as Crashbreaker Events. These events allow the player to activate a Crashbreaker after they've crashed as a means to earn Takedowns against opponents.
Burnout Paradise[]
In Burnout Paradise, Boost is type-orientated with each type offering different mechanics.
Speed Boost[]
- Main article: Speed boost
Speed Boost, shown in yellow, cannot be activated until the player has filled their Boost bar, and generally favors reckless driving.
If a player manages to use all of their Boost and perform enough driving skills to effectively refill their Boost bar in a single activation, they will perform a "Burnout", which will refill their boost bar and allow for the process to be repeated for another Burnout to create a "Burnout Chain".
Aggression Boost[]
- Main article: Aggression boost
Aggression Boost, shown in red, can be activated at any time so long as there is Boost available in the Boost bar to be used, and generally favors aggressive driving.
The Boost bar is broken into three chunks with a multiplier accompanying it to identify the total amount of Boost a player can withhold for use: 1x, 2x, and 3x.
Stunt Boost[]
- Main article: Stunt boost
Stunt Boost, shown in green, can be activated at any time so long as there is Boost available in the Boost bar to be used, and generally favors performative driving.
The Boost bar is long and not broken up into chunks, allowing players to maintain more Boost without the need to be aggressive to gain additional reserves.
Boostless[]
- Main article: Boostless
Boostless, shown in grey, cannot be activated as their is no Boost system fitted to the vehicle, and there is no Boost bar.
Locked Boost[]
- Main article: Locked boost
Locked Boost, shown in blue, can be activated at any time but cannot be deactivated without intervention.
The Boost bar, once activated, is constantly replenished and does not run out.
Switchable Boost[]
- Main article: Switchable boost
Switchable Boost, shown in multiple colors, can be activated depending on the active Boost type.
The active Boost type can be switched between Speed, Aggression, and Stunt by pressing the L3/LS/P button. With either of the Boost types active, the vehicle follows the mechanics of that Boost type and may drain its Boost bar between switches.
Driving Skills | |
---|---|
Jumping | Air Time • Jump Distance |
Vehicle | Boost • Draft • Drift • E-Brake • Takedown |
Traffic | Near Miss • Oncoming • Traffic Check |