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PS2 | Driving | L.A. Rush

Boxart for L.A. Rush
L.A. Rush 48 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.5
  • SOUND: 3.0
  • CONTROL: 4.0
  • FUN FACTOR 3.5
  • AVG USER SCORE n/a
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 2.5

Review: L.A. Rush

Review by Ouroboros | 01/25/2006 | 14:31:19 PM PST

L.A. Rush is a departure for the series, as it forsakes branching tracks for a free-roaming cityscape, and arcade purity for a street-racing storyline.

San Francisco Rush 2049 was one of the most intense and enjoyable arcade racers ever created. L.A. Rush, however, is a departure for the series, as it forsakes branching tracks for a free-roaming cityscape, and arcade purity for a street-racing storyline.

Paradise Lost
Stripped of your extensive car collection, you go hell-bent for leather to win back or trash over 50 rides. L.A. Rush's relatively snazzy game time is split between rough-and-tumble illegal street races, complete with pursuing cops; revenge missions that take your nemesis down a notch at a time; and reacquisition free-for-alls where you must outrun a swarm of angry pursuers. A decent hip-hop soundtrack keeps the tunes pumping, and helps alleviate the pain induced by poorly directed cop, pedestrian, and commentator vocals.

The Fast and the Spurious
Ultimately L.A. Rush comes off as an amalgam of good ideas that have already been done better elsewhere. Other racing titles offer your ride a wide selection of parts, paint jobs, and decals, while Rush presents no more than a simple one-step upgrade path-your car's either pimped, or it isn't. The shaky-cam sense of speed, insane stunts, and slo-mo metal-confetti crashes are alright, but they're no match for Burnout Revenge's stylish wake. The races themselves are fun enough, once you know your way around a given track, but an irritating entry fee system serves only to make you think twice before experimenting with alternate routes.

Despite the signature twitch controls, fans of previous Rush racers will be disappointed if they expect more of the same, so it's hard to understand why the name is used at all beyond mercenary marketing. While it does offer some thrills as you explore a liberally recreated virtual Los Angeles in a variety of rides, and the free-roaming spirit of the tracks is uniquely challenging, the racing field is so crowded with engaging contenders that L.A. Rush can't truly be recommended.

KEY MOMENT: Getting revenge by ramping your ride through your nemesis's billboards


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