LA Rush Review (no fat)

Game Description

The latest in the Rush series may not be the greatest developed by Midway games, but it doesn’t do too badly of a job in the racing genre. This time around, the homiest at West Coast Customs are available to trick out dull rides, and there’s enough variety of races to keep even the most hardcore gamer satisfied. But things do get a bit repetitive, especially when you lose all your money and have to start all over again. However, LA Rush does boast a unique soundtrack and over 35 customizable cars. The latest from Midway awaits gamers who read on.

LA Rush Gameplay

Gamers live through the life of Treks Lane, a well-known underground racer who has climbed to the top of the ranks. A big money-making racing gig is supposed to start in a few days, but where are all Treks’ tricked out cars? One of Treks enemies has stolen them all and hid them around LA. In order to get them all back, Treks has to start from the bottom of the totem pole in the underground racing circuit and win them as prizes.

Two modes make up LA Rush, the usual story mode takes gamers through the trials and tribulations of Treks Lane, the Quick Race, where you can have a quick in-your-face racing experience with five different types of racing. You will spend most of your time in the story mode searching for the stolen cars, upgrading and customizing rides and making lots of moolah winning races.

The Quick Race mode features 5 types of racing. Basic races from one point to another, cruise races where your speed can’t drop below a certain point before you reach your destination and even a low-rider mode, where you can see who produces the most bounce from their ride. As a break from all the racing, you can switch to Roam mode and just drive around the city getting a feel for the environments and the ton of traffic that seems to be everywhere blocking the way.

The game’s beauty, and the most annoying aspect, come from the same crash cut scenes. These play every time a crash takes place and, while they are well choreographed with great graphics, they will more than likely put your barber out of a job since you’ll pull your hair out trying to find the non existent option to turn them off.

If you don’t think that this is as serious a problem as we put it out to be? Think again! The city is filled with tons of traffic. The developers over did it on this one. Most of the time there isn’t enough room to get around it during the race, and you end up crashing or losing the race. Either way, players will get frustrated many times during gameplay either by watching the crash scene over and over again or by losing all their money by losing the race and having to start over (…again) from the first free race just to win back money to enter higher races.

While the cops are nothing to write home about either, The big draw card was the feature of having West Coast Customs involved in the gameplay. However, would you be half as interested if you knew that there can be no customization according to your choice? they decide what is to be included and what not. No interaction in this regard really kills the thrill for some…others might still have tougher skins.

LA Rush Graphics

Where the gameplay of LA Rush frustrates, however, the sharp graphics will not. The expansive city of LA looks exactly like the real city, almost every street and building is re-created in mini form just for the game. Annoying as they may be, the crashes look realistic as well, with particles flying at just the right angles. The sunlight in the city changes as the view changes, and popular sites in LA will make those familiar with the area feel right at home.

The special effects of speed within the game are done nicely, and make the gamer feel as if they are careening down the streets at break-neck paces. Also, the details in the cars of the game are extraordinary, right down to every speckle of freshly applied paint.

LA Rush Audio

It features an original soundtrack filled to the brim with hip-hop beats. Gamers can bob their heads to the music of the game or cringe through the entire story wishing for better tracks. It also features high quality voice acting, even though most of the time it’s just smack talk from other racers. The announcer may get on your nerves though. His voice just isn’t a right fit for the game.

LA Rush Final Verdict

Even as there is a lot of stuff here for gamers to sink their teeth into, the frustration aspect of gameplay may turn a lot of gamers off. If this was the only racing game available on the planet you’d feel blessed playing a game with such high quality graphics, but with the sort of competition in the racing/driving genre, its unlikely that many will favor LA Rush instead of the Need For Speeds and GTAs. A rental would be a better option if you really want to try it for yourself.

LA Rush Cost

You can get the game for $39.99.