NASCAR Rumble

For a goofy racing game aimed at kids, NASCAR Rumble packs a lot of depth and universal appeal. You get a heap of familiar NASCAR drivers and cars (trucks too) plus wacky hidden vehicles. If that weren't enough, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Benny Parsons and several other legends are included. So you have all the brand recognition and licenses you could dream about plus dump trucks, buses and tractors. This game has it all. Before you get too excited however, remember it's still primarily a kid's game. Forget about realistic physics and life-like racing, these cars bounce around the tracks like pinballs. High-velocity roll-overs, spin-outs and hardcore demolition-style racing are par for the course. Adding to the combat action are a host of weather-related weapons including: Storm Cloud, Freeze, Lighting, Twister and a bunch more. In the end, Rumble has a nice balance of NASCAR appeal and combat racing excitement. It doesn't take much skill to drive so most of the fun comes from grabbing power-ups and cutting down the competition. Shortcuts and other tricky stuff add to the carnival atmosphere as well. And, while kids should like this game, racing fans in general will appreciate the great frame-rate. car selection and two-player action. It's a nice departure from the serious NASCAR sim.

If Daytona USA on the Saturn had been like NASCAR Rumble here, I think I would have been quite content. Rumble is fun, over-the-top arcade racing that kept me coming back for more. Why? Well, the game's physics aren't much to speak of, but its single-player mode is loaded with bonus cars, tracks and power-ups. I found the steering to be a tad touchy when it came to some of the harder tracks. If you're looking for mindless fun, here it is.

This is a game designed for all of you who don't like the idea of taking your thumb off the gas button. I was very pleasantly surprised by this, and while it's not the greatest racer to grace the PlayStation, it's certainly a bit different from the licensed car, GT-rip-offs that we're seeing all the time. The car dynamics are arcadey but cool, there are plenty of shortcuts, loads of weapons and there's a ton of stuff to open up. Well worth looking at.

I think Rumble is a lot of fun, so I guess that means I'm a child...according to Dean anyway. Yeah, it may be on the superficial side, and it may not have the realistic physics and control sim-driving junkies crave, but it's fun. I like Rumble's to-the-point style (you're racing and having a good time in a matter of seconds). The incredible graphics help, too. But I could've done without the annoying quips, and the wailing guitar solos--that stuff is lame.