Retro Lookback: Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA

Developer: Atari Games
Publisher: Midway Games
Platforms and Release Dates (US): Nintendo 64 (November 10, 1998)
Genre: Racing

Rush 2 is the sequel to San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing, released exclusively for the N64, does it hold up to the previous game's extremeness?

The gameplay continues in the line of the first game, arcade like physics and fast, checkpoint to checkpoint racing. No realism here. The objective is to race from checkpoint to checkpoint without running out of time and completing the number of laps in 1st place. That's all, simple. Instead of taking place in San Francisco like in the games before and after, the racing takes place in cities and locations across the USA, like New York, Seattle, and Hawaii. This is also the first Rush game to have a proper stunt track, where you have 5 minutes to land as many flips, rolls, and other stunts for points. All the cars from the first game are included, as well as all new cars, both default and unlockable. You can also customize your cars to affect performance, like the tires. You can also collect Keys and Mountain Dew cans throughout the tracks to unlock more cars and tracks. One such bonus track includes racing through the offices of Midway Games. You can also play 2 players via splitscreen, both on the race tracks and the stunt track. You can also toggle a special mode as the countdown starts in 2 player mode, Tag mode. In this mode, one player is designated "IT", and he/she has to tag the other player. Each player has a timer, which counts while they are "IT", the player who is "IT" for the least amount of time wins. There is also a circuit mode, which takes all the tracks and the variants (Mirrored, Reverse, Mirrored-Reverse) and race them all one after another, gaining points for placement on each race. The one with the highest point total at the end wins. There is also a free Practice mode where you can drive around on any track, look for secrets or collectibles, and get familiar with the track. There is also the "Death Race" option, where if you blow up once, you are out of the race, which can make for more careful driving. The physics can be a bit wonky at times, as you may find yourself spinning and flipping just by not going off a jump flat out or hitting a small bump, but it is part of what makes the games fun, and you will get used to it. The Rush series is always better with a friend (or friends in 2049's case), and this is no exception, you can play this for hours with a friend.

The graphics are fairly good, as they fairly accurately depict the various cities and locales the races take place in.

Bottom Line: Rush 2 is just as good as the other San Francisco Rush games, and is a blast to play with a 2nd player. This is a definite Play.