Criteron and Acclaim are teaming up again for the sequel to Burnout with Burnout 2: Point of Impact. The game will offer a serious overhaul to its predecessor's structure, while still retaining the gameplay that made the original famous.

Thankfully, Criterion realized what the first game was lacking, and improved upon all the game's important aspects. Wanted more cars in Burnout? There are 14 cars to choose from in Burnout 2, and that's not counting the seven secret vehicles (which include police cars and hotrods from the 50s). More tracks? Yep, Point of Impact has got a lot of those too, with a whopping 32 new stages set in locations like Los Angeles and the Rocky Mountains, among many others. There's also new race modes, like point-to-point races, for some more track variety.

Burnout 2 will also boast new features that were missing from the first game. There will be realistic weather effects, such as rain, snow, and fog. (Foggy conditions at 170 mph? Do the math.) The game also has a Hot Pursuit mode, where you can either run from the cops, or chase down your man and ram them off the road. The championship mode has also received an overhaul, now being based on a points-scoring system, rather than a must-win scenario. There's even a driving school for newbies to learn all about Burnout.

All of this, including new traffic AI, a brand-new car crash system, the ability to customize the look of your car, and a new soundtrack, all make it look like Burnout 2: Point of Impact is going to be a serious contender for your holiday gaming dollars. The game is tentatively scheduled for an October release.