Amazon.com Review: Does tearing down the streets of San Francisco at death-inducing speeds appeal to you? If so, San Francisco Rush 2049 is your game. However, in 2049, the legendary hills and hairpin turns of the City by the Bay have been modified for extreme racing action, if not exactly deep gameplay. Still, it's the blazing speeds and colors that'll keep arcade racing fans applying the pedal to the proverbial metal.
If you're a fan of the Rush series, you'll be happy to see that the basic gameplay hasn't changed much. All of the races take place on tracks that feature wild colors and many twists and turns. This time, however, the setting is a futuristic San Francisco that resembles our present-day one only vaguely. As usual, the secret to winning Rush's races isn't so much driving ability as it is finding all of the shortcuts on a given track. This time around, you actually can make your car glide (by activating hidden wings) whenever it catches some air--a cool feature that feels somewhat underutilized. In addition to standard racing, Rush also offers five other play modes, including ghost (in which you race against an image of your previous best lap time), circuit, battle, and stunt modes.
In battle, you and up to three other friends drive around huge arenas furiously while trying to blast each other to kingdom come. Your cars can carry a host of odd weapons including chain guns, mines, and mortar. All in all, fans of Twisted Metal or Vigilante 8 should have fun with battle mode, as the arenas are cleverly designed, and the action is fast and furious. It's almost worth price of admission alone.
As in previous Rush editions, the stunt mode offers arenas that'll test your control of the cars' already ludicrously exaggerated physics. You'll perform impossible maneuvers in arenas that defy even fundamental laws of architecture. The more flips, spins, and death-defying landings that you pull off, the higher your score.
I was a little surprised at the lack of aggression that was shown by computer-controlled racers, which seemed a bit lax in their efforts to stop you from passing them, and instead almost behaved as if they were on rails, and oblivious to you stealing the lead.
Also, while the graphics show amazing amounts of detail and color, at times they'll show a definite slowdown. No, it's not quite bad enough to ruin a race, but it's noticeable and does show some sloppiness on Midway's part.
After the race has been won, you'll find, for near-mindless arcade racing/gliding/blasting/stunts, that San Francisco Rush 2049 is a highly playable arcade racer that'll make fans of the series, both old and new, happy that they own a Dreamcast. If you've never played a Rush game, this is an excellent intro to the series. --Mark Brooks
Pros:
Bright, colorful, and highly detailed graphics
Many different gameplay modes
Four-player battle mode
Cons:
Irritating slowdown during races
Computer-controlled racers are not aggressive
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Awesome game!
I've been playing this game for years and I LOVE it! Whether you race, battle or stunt, all aspects are great! Get this game!
Rating: - Funnest multiplayer game ever
If you can get 4 people to play at once - brilliant. Battle mode never gets old and the weapons are equally balanced. The obstacle course is so fun even when you beat it over and over again, getting the best time makes you legend. I don't even like racing games but this game is multifaceted and well-rounded. I BOUGHT A DREAMCAST AFTER 5 YEARS JUST TO PLAY THIS GAME ALONE. Well and also for Marvel vs. Capcom 2. What a geek. BUY THE GAME AND <3 IT.
Rating: - RUSH ONE
It doesn't matter if you are black... or white. This is the most exciting, challenging, strategimus oriented multiplayer in the history of games. It requires supreme tactimus to execute a long-distance greening, or aggressive lime-maying. There is an obvious advantage if you can gain control of tubesticks and limes, but the tables can turn if you get bubble and regain the limes. That is of course unless someone does the deed!
Rating: - Good
This game you should buy. Its like crash team racing but this is better.It good graphics and gameplay
Rating: - hands down the best multiplayer game EVER
OK, so you like racing games....thats great, I don't really. But there is this battle mode in this San Francisco Rush 2049 game that is wicked ru. I have been playing nonstop for close to 2 years and I never get tired of it. The physics are excellent, and well are the courses. You keep discovering new jumps and possiblities with each play. The weapons are perfectly designed. There are limes, tube stick, pews, green gun, machinis, emp, balls, and assram. Of course these are the names we came up for the warpens, but you can make an argument that any one of these is the best weapon in the game. they are complement each other perfectly. This game is absolutely perfect, the only downside is you have to play the racing and stunt mode to unlock all the cars! stoop.