"Wendy, I can fly!"

About eleven months ago, I started working at a movie theater near where I live. Shortly after, I saw this game, among several others in the lobby. I decided to give it a shot. Little did I know that I'd be so drawn into it...

SF Rush 2049 is a racing game set in the streets of a future (year 2049 to be specific) San Francisco. It's also the third in the Rush series. Like its predecessors, it brings to the table insane tracks with insane shortcuts, and insane airtime.

GRAPHICS 8.8/10.0: Whoo, lava lamps!

The graphics are pretty good, as they should be for a racing game. The framerate isn't super-smooth (except for Phantom Photon Mode), but it's not bad at all. Seeing as Rush 2049 has been out for a couple years, the graphics are beginning to show their age, so it's not gonna look as good as something like Gran Turismo 3. Still, the San Francisco landmarks are done really well.

SOUND 9.6/10.0: Jammin' to Track 5's music!

A generally overlooked aspect of arcade games is music. The music in Rush 2049 is an excellent and fast paced mix of techno and rock. The sound effects are great, too--when you crash and blow up your car, you're sure to hear it.

CONTROL 8.3/10.0: Normal-handling cars correct themselves.

The steering and pedal setup is a pretty good one. The steering wheel feels just like a real one, with really good force feedback (which is adjustable). You'll have 3 pedals: gas, brake, and clutch. Along with force feedback, the car's handling is adjustable. Normal cars turn fairly well but don't get going very fast. Extreme cars have great speed but handle more realistically, so they can spin out and roll over easily. Advanced cars are a happy medium between normal and extreme.

GAMEPLAY 9.7/10.0: Traffic above the 'copter going 180 mph...!

When you start up, you can enter yourself into Team Rush. Enter a pin number (it says your phone number, but any number will do.), and a name up to 12 letters. Now when you race, your best times/mileage/coins will be saved as well as unlocked cars and tracks. How do you unlock cars and tracks? Just complete a set number of miles, collect a certain number of coins from each track or get really good times. Each of the games 5 tracks (2 have to be unlocked) has 100 coins hidden in secret areas and in shortcuts. These can be picked up again and again until you have 1000 for that track. Search everywhere! On the subject of tracks, each one has TONS of secrets and shortcuts for you to uncover. Some lead to coins, others lead to big air jumps and more...You won't master these tracks anytime soon...^_^

Well, you're still reading? Go out, cash in a $20 bill for quarters, and RUSH to your heart's content!!

Overall score:
26.7/30.0 - 89% - Gamefaqs rating: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/09/01, Updated 10/09/01