"The best Rush by far. Give it a look, weather you are a hardcore fan or a casual racer, despite minor flaws."

This has to be the best SF Rush to date. I have played them all this one defnitely has the most variety of any them. Midway has an absolute winner on their hands.

Graphics-10
The best graphics in the Rush series. The game's silky smooth frame rate never wavers. At any time. Even when there is a lot on screen at once, the game manages to hold a steady, crisp frame rate. The scenery also flies by at an incredible rate. It is beautifully designed and detail is defnitely there.

Sound/Music-10
The music is constantly pumping out and the sounds are fluid. You even have the option to shut off the music if it bothers you. The music is a techno/rock-style kind of jams. It matches the action perfectly. The jet engines to the explosions are also keyed on target. The sounds are great and it puts you right into the race.

Control-9
The control is one of the only points that the game has problems with. The control is good even at the car's top speed. With 3 levels of reality to choose from, the controls are defnitely user-friendly. However, the force-feedback steering that the Rush series is famous for is too overactive in this installment. Every jerk of the car throws you to the other wall instantly. Even on the lightest steering setting, the game's force-feedback is still quite active.

Gameplay-9 (9.5 actually)
This game has what it takes to become great. The course design is original to the Rush series. The PIN system allows you to truly get into the game. It allows you to log onto Team Rush and basically save your game. You can gain mileage and open up new stuff. My only complaints are physical. The cabinet's vibrating seat is can be a pain, especially on the highest setting. The steering wheel is also way too rubbery for my tastes. The challenge isn't too bad. It has a pick-up-style play and can be good for new players to the world of Rush. Its easy to get into, but hard to master.

Replay Value-10
With the Team Rush PIN system, you can keep coming back and log more and more miles. You get more stuff the more miles you log. The game keeps track of the miles the next time you come back. Just punch in your PIN and you're in. Even if you don't want to log onto Team Rush, the game is just fun anyway just if you want a good race.

Overall-9
Despite a few flaws, the game still holds the crown for SF title. Midway really put a lot of time and effort into the making of 2049 (and even if they didn't, I certianly can't tell). If you like any of the Rush games, Rush 2049 is one trip to San Francisco you don't want to miss.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/05/00, Updated 07/05/00