Review
Release Date: 10.10.2005
Platform:
XboxDeveloper:
Pitbull SyndicatePublisher:
Midway Home EntertainmentReviewed by
Mikey Dowling on 6.13.2006
| Review Rating: 3/10 | User Rating: 1/10 |
When
San Francisco Rush came out for the Nintendo 64, it sold relatively well. Everyone looked past the poor car designs, levels that just went downhill most of the time, and the pea soup fog that wouldn't let you see more than 20 feet in front of you. They did this because, quite frankly, there was nothing else on the system. Games came out at what seemed to be a snail's pace, and N64 owners clamored for anything they could. So
Midway had a new franchise on their hands, and they're adamant about reviving it with
LA Rush.
While having one fairly decent entry in the series with
Rush 2049--a game that actually worked rather well as a party game--Midway has decided that they should try something a little bit different with the newest entry into the
Rush series,
LA Rush, and change the pace of the game altogether.
There is a problem here, though. Although it is admirable that Midway wants to take the
Rush franchise into bold new directions, they really shouldn't have done what they did.
LA Rush is what
Midnight Club 3 would be if it were ripped of its stylish graphics, fairly decent soundtrack, and
Rockstar appeal and was forced to whore itself out as a cheap race thrill to those in need of a fix. At least it gets to keep the radar!
LA Rush puts you in a "story" mode that has you winning races to get the money you need to buy the cars and house that was taken from you. Seriously.
Bad Dudes had a more compelling story and it was just some guy trying to make light of your badness.
LA Rush is a
racing game. Stories aren't needed. There isn't one in
Gran Turismo, and look how well that series does. The way the story works is that your claim to fame is that you got the palatial house and fast cars all from street racing with one beat up junker. The junker, fortunately enough, is the car you get to start off with to get it all back. Right.
Third graders have written more compelling stories.
Graphically the game looks like a PlayStation 1.5 game. All the cars are nice and shiny, but that doesn't change the fact they are all pretty ugly. It also doesn't change the fact that when you crash your car, giant triangles that look nothing like car parts fly off, while your character just tosses his hands up like he's about to avoid the splash of water that is coming at him after a drop on a log ride.
Races--which should be the main focus of the game--are horribly implemented. You race from checkpoint to checkpoint trying to beat out the computer-controlled racers that are also vying for the number one spot; but good luck ever really knowing where they are. There were several races when I would go from being in 4th to 1st, and I had no idea how. Maybe I'm just the baddest dude to ever play
LA Rush... yeah, I highly doubt that.
Honestly, stay away from
LA Rush. Unless you really hate someone and want to see them torture themselves while playing it. Then it might be good for some laughs. Maybe.
