High frame rate + accurate city models = FAST and FUN!!

This is the game I bought with my Playstation 2 when I got it. At first I didn't like the game because it seemed pointless. But after playing the career mode some, I started to really like it.

What it's about

In the game, you start as a taxi cab driver who meets some guy named Emilio. He challenges you to a race. If you win, you can race other cars in the city (New York in the beginning, London later). If you beat any of those cars (one is Emilio) you get to use that car for future races. Each car has 3 different "types", each being better.

Whats so good about it?

The thing about this game that makes it so fun, is the high frame rate, and arcade-like controls. The graphics are terrific, complete with reflections, and virtually no pop-up and no slow-down. The buildings in New York are very detailed, and many of them can actually be entered, or used for short cuts. The city is modeled very accurately to how the Manhattan section of New York looks like. The street lights work correctly, and the cars, and pedestrians almost seem life-like. If you hit a car, it doesn't really show damage, unless you hit it really hard, or hit it a bunch of times. If you hit a pedestrian, they just yell "Somebody get me an ambulance" and fly up in the air like ragdolls. The music isn't anything special, but the sound effects are pretty well done.

During the actual races, you have to pass through certain checkpoints, that can be driven through in any order. Once you drive through them all, you have to drive through the green checkpoint which concludes the race. Since the checkpoints, most of the time, are spread out, you are given much freedom to experiment with which way is fastest. Keeping up with the cars you are dragging becomes extremely fun, expecially at high speeds. Sometimes the cops will start to chase you and you competition, but they don't do anything besides try to knock you off course.

Recommendations

If you liked driver, or midtown madness (this game is the sequel ya know) then you should try to rent this game (once blockbuster starts renting out ps2 games). If your looking for a fun arcade style racer, you should check this one out. It has great graphics, a steady 60 frames per second framerate, and very detailed city models. I've played Ridge Racer V and I'd prefer this over that game any day.