LA Rush

Going forward - fast - sometimes requires a little reverse. At least, that's what Midway are banking on with in-production customisable street racer (heard that before somewhere?), LA Rush.

It's been a while since we've seen any Rush titles, the classic arcade racers set in places as diverse as San Francisco and The Future. In fact, it's been so long that they'll turn up soon on a new Midway Arcade Treasures compilation. Really.

But if you're going to jump into an already saturated genre why not pin it on a fondly (if slightly dimly) remembered franchise? According to the boffins at Midway though, there's more than lip-service being paid to the title's history - and a good thing too.

In a similar vein to Outrun 2 the overarching philosophy is to catch the old-school arcade feel of driving without particularly caring about the consequences.

Expect huge power-slides, plenty of jumps and shed-loads of handbrake turns. You'll have to provide the smell of candyfloss for yourselves, though.

Beyond this, LA Rush is a melting pot of the driving genre's ideas. Five areas of Los Angeles have been laid open for you to free-roam: Hollywood, Santa Monica, Southbay, South Central and Downtown.

Each will feature distinctive landmarks so you can expect to burn it down the Santa Monica Pier and (as we saw to great satisfaction and an unashamed whoop or two), jump through the Hollywood sign with reassuringly destructible results.

In fact, over 350 miles of road contribute to around 50 specific tracks for you to burn up. Saves you a plane ticket.

There is the free-roaming option of course, but the main crux centres upon a Campaign mode where races comprise around 70% of the action.

The remaining action is a series of missions and challenges relating to the game's story (think Wacky Races 'N Da Hood), such as stealing missions or trashing rival hoods' property.

Aiming for a 'GTA but without getting out of the car and beating up whores with a baseball bat' structure, you play the hottest street racer in LA when your arch-nemesis steals all of your phat rides.

Through racing and completing missions you steal them back, and unlock tracks and points to upgrade your fine-ass motors.

Promised are 36 licensed cars (although manufacturers are yet to be confirmed) and a number of uniquely designed concept cars, really dreamed up by bona fide car designers.

As is becoming standard, you'll be able to pimp your ride with licensed aftermarket parts from the likes of ProCharger, Yokohama and Mopar whilst you chill to the hottest 'joints' from Tista and Lil' Kim. Sweetness.

So it's Project Gotham meets GTA meets Outrun 2 meets NFS Underground 2 meets Burnout 3 with a drop of pretty much every other driving game since time began. The pulse quickened when we saw the Ferrari hammering down Santa Monica beachfront - whether the rest of the game can live up to the premise remains to be seen.

LA Rush is out for Xbox and PS2 this autumn

CATEGORIES
Latest in Racing
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo knows you're waiting for Mario Kart 9, but it still wants you to run a million laps in Mario Kart 8 first
Wheel World
The spirit of Burnout Paradise lives on in this fabulous bicycle racing game from the makers of my favorite indie fighting game – a true Steam Next Fest gem
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds announcement trailer proves Sega is coming for Mario Kart 9's throne with transforming cars and a closed beta this month
Need For Speed Unbound
The Need For Speed series is pumping the brakes as "Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield" instead of tuning more cars
Forza Horizon 5 the real deal reasonably priced car seasonal championship volvo 850 R racing
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox game to make the leap to PS5, and it's launching this spring with all of the same content and DLC
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Cult classic racing series returns 18 years after its once-final entry on Xbox 360 to 95% overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews
Latest in Features
Monster Hunter Wilds characters share a meal
Oh no, Monster Hunter Wilds is so good that I'm already counting the days until its inevitable Master Rank expansion
Kai and Giatta battle Xaurip in Avowed
I get why Obsidian doesn't like The Elder Scrolls comparisons, but Avowed is the first RPG to have its hooks in me this deep since Skyrim took over my life 14 years ago
Photo taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe of the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Nintendo Switch handheld, with the Super Mario Nendoroid figure standing in front of it.
My PC is screaming for an update, but the Switch 2 will be taking all my money this year
GoDice in their RPG case beside Pixels dice
I put two electronic d20s head-to-head and the bad news for your wallet is the discount D&D dice failed its saving throw
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread in play
This board game TRPG hybrid delivers something D&D hasn't quite managed to capture for me
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again killing off a fan-favorite character is controversial, but it might prove to be the right choice for the new Marvel show