L.A. Rush - PC

Also known as: Rush

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L.A. Rush (PC)
Also for: PS2, PSP, Xbox
Viewed: 3D First-person / Third-person Genre:
Racing: Car
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Midway Soft. Co.: Midway
Publishers: Zoo Digital (GB)
Released: 17 Nov 2006 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 12+
No Accessories: No Accessories

Summary

The Rush - Extreme Racing series of games has been rolling these streets for many a year, travelling in that time from Nintendo 64, through San Francisco and the Dreamcast and PlayStation, until today, where it roars to a tyre-squealing stop in Los Angeles on the PC.

This may be a welcome turn of events for PC racing fans, because while the consoles have had their pick of free-roaming driving games like Grand Theft Auto, mission-based car games like Driver, modding racing games like Gran Turismo and arcade racers like Burnout, PC gamers have been given the short end of the stick by publishers who probably presume they favour FPSs and flight sims. Although they get PC owners get their fair share of track and rally racing games, they have had to make do with the Need for Speed series, and the worst of the Driver series - number 3 - to get their street racing thrills.

LA Rush aims to correct all this by bringing high-octane mission based street racing thrills to the PC. Playing the role of Trikz, an LA street racer, and using the facilities at 'Pimp My Ride' mainstay West Coast Customs shop, you can max and slam your ride before taking to the streets to take part in a series of Fast and Furious-style street races. Win races, earn money (and respec') and pimp some more. All the while trying your damndest to avoid the attention of the cops, who will be on your tail performing pitt manoeuvres if they see you commiting moving voilations. We're sure you've all see the pitt manouevre in Cops - it's where the officer in pursuit brings your car to spinning halt (often involving running into a lamp post or railing) by slamming the front fender of his tank-like Ford Crown Victoria into the $20,000 flick paint job of your tricked out Mitsubishi Evo IX. Actually you only get to drive an Evo V in LA Rush!

As well as racing, you can steal your opponent's cars, or steal your own car back if you've 'lost' it, or take part in retribution damage missions in which you aim to damage your enemy's property.

The cars in Rush are real models you'll see on the real streets of LA, and the aftermarket modding parts are real too. So it's remarkably satisfying seeing your car get smashed to pieces when you overcook it on a hairpin. The streets of LA themselves are created in stunningly realistic approxivision, so if you're familar with the smoggy city, you'll be able to find your way around the game world, while never being able to count on any given road or geographical feature being included.

This game is co-promoted with MTV so there's a banging hip-hop soundtrack booming from your iRiver sound system, which is also shamelessly pimped throughout the game via in-game advertising. Word!

Artwork

L.A. Rush - PC Artwork

News & Editorial

Credits

Narrator/Voice Actor