L.A. Rush
Xbox- Publisher: Midway
- Release Date: Oct 11, 2005
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 2
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It's by no means a bad game, and is certainly a very admirable effort in the context of the Rush franchise, but its contemporaries ultimately outclass it.
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The dull plot and repetitive game play can get boring after you play it for a couple of hours. The only true replay value this game has is with multiplayer because it has no online support.
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But if bling is your thing and you're in need of a dire hit of nitrous oxide, then LA Rush will deliver enough of a fix to tide you over until the next 'big' racing title hits Xbox. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
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Computer Games MagazineIt's too bad Midway is so caught up in the me-too game when it's just children like the Rush series who get hurt. [Dec p.93]
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But between the high frustration factor and the frequent need to crisscross the large city (some kind of warp option would be nice), I feel Rush tries a little too hard to turn me off.
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Players looking for the Rush series they grew up on in the arcades will come away disappointed at this game's inability to offer consistent high flying races, while fans of games like "Midnight Club 3" who are looking for the next big underground racing game will no doubt find Rush's take on the subgenre amateurish at best.
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Split-screen multiplayer is in, but the game completely lacks online multiplayer, which is downright shocking for a racing title in this day and age. L.A. Rush feels like a fourth place finish in a highly competitive field.
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There were several enjoyable moments during my time in L.A. and I truly appreciate the epic scale and detail that went into this city. I could only wish for thinner traffic, smarter opponents, and craftier police. As it is, everything is just thrown at you, and the entire game seems just a bit…ahem…"rushed".
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Game InformerThe overriding feeling during my entire playtime was, "Oh no. I have to do another race." [Dec 2005, p.156]
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The concept of taking on the LA streets to get your property back or restore your good name could've really gone a long way, but the spotty race mechanics, the absurd amount of traffic and a number of useless or nonsensical features makes L.A. Rush really run out of gas.
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L.A. Rush tries to keep up with the street racing scene, but it's all show and no go. Repeating races over and over isn't exactly a draw and the lack of customization is unforgivable.
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If you love to mod cars then L.A. Rush is the game for you, its a modders dream. Unfortunately L.A. Rush is an average title at best and there isn't much to distinguish it from other similar titles.
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A pretty straightforward arcade street racing game that could have been much more with a bit more attention to customization and the inclusion online multiplayer.
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Despite the signature twitch controls, fans of previous Rush racers will be disappointed if they expect more of the same, so it's hard to understand why the name is used at all beyond mercenary marketing.
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It feels terrific and has the look and sound of a well-oiled machine, but something truly went wrong during the ride.
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games(TM)L.A. Rush isn't so much bad as uninspiring. Driving round the city is fun for a bit but after that nothing but the mediocre races, ill-conceived stunt sections and the meandering extra missions remain. [Nov 2005, p.110]
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Parts of L.A. Rush come across as competent and enjoyable, but those parts aren't enough to make it stand out amid stiff competition.
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It's the lack of spectacular leaps, jumps, and tomfoolery made famous by the series that makes this knock-off all the more embarrassing, sure to sicken fans of the original game.
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It's almost as if the developers WANT you to input the 'free cash' code: at any point during the game, press Up, Down, Left, Right, B, Left, A, Up).
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The controls for this game are really well done. What is not so well done is the enemy AI, seeing the crashing scenes a billion times, and not even getting to properly customize the cars yourself.
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The only real down side is that none of it is really original, which gives veteran racers a been-there done-that kind of feeling.
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From the unbelievably dense traffic with the inescapable crash sequences, to the poser-fest plot and the explosion of brand placement, this game is a definite multiple-offender.
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To be honest, the traffic at times was so heavy that I wondered who in their right mind would be holding a street race in the middle of it.
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If you've played any previous Rush games, you'll be sorely disappointed. It's nothing like any Rush game -- in look, feel, design, physics, or anything else.
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LA Rush isn't a bad game per se because at times it's quite fun. The problem is that there are other racers on the market that do the same thing but are much less frustrating.
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Midway and Pitbull Syndicate missed a golden opportunity to really give "Burnout Revenge" a run for it's money, knowing what I know about the series. But instead, this game goes after "Midnight Club." And it does it without online gameplay, which I can't figure out at all.
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Official Xbox MagazineThe driving itself is fun and the controls are pretty tight, but the whiz-bang cutscene crashes get tiresome after awhile. . [Holiday 2005, p.68]
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If the lack of control doesn't frustrate you enough, the simplistic AI will.
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Play MagazineIf you absolutely positively cannot get enough urban racing Rush does it well, but beware, it's pimped to the max. [Nov p.94]
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Remember how sparks and hubcaps pingponged everywhere in "Burnout Revenge" and "Midnight Club 3?" Remember how your eyes hurt because you were afraid to blink during races? Sadly, the only thing Rush made us feel was hungry for more beer nuts.
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Cinema style is slick, but not enough to save the core gameplay from dragging on after a short period.
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Where LA Rush beats the others to the winning post is in the way that it allows you to spend the money you earn - welcome to the video game equivalent of MTV's hit TV show "Pimp My Ride."
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It's still the lack of high-velocity thrills - and not necessarily the Axe body spray and iRiver billboards - that make for the biggest disappointment.
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It's just bogged down and tries too much to throw gamers into the story and then into the arcade style races. Players may enjoy this one as I did, but then may get bored and want more of a real racing game.
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But L.A. Rush strays too much from the roots of the series and instead focuses too much on a sub-culture that had lately been flogged in almost every game. It doesn't help that the main character that comes off as a bit of a tosser.
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I loved the graphics of this game, the cars were flashy and the maps were enormous. Landmarks were right on and transitions from one area to the next were seamless.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 6
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Mixed: 1 out of 6
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Negative: 3 out of 6
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Apr 22, 2021
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ZachW.Feb 28, 2006
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FredD.Oct 14, 2005