San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing (1996)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 6 minutes read

Summary

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing (1996)

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is a racing game developed by Atari Games and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64. It was released in North America on September 30, 1996, and in Europe on November 29, 1996. The game is the first in the Rush series and is known for its fast-paced gameplay, impressive graphics, and innovative track designs.

Gameplay

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is an arcade-style racing game that features six regular tracks and two hidden tracks. The regular tracks can be run in either reverse or mirrored modes and feature added collectible hidden keys throughout the track that can be used to unlock hidden vehicles. The game also contains a Practice Mode and a Death Race mode where the game ends if the player crashes.

The N64 port of Rush also includes a Circuit Mode and a save system for Fast Times, circuit progress, and hidden keys that the player can find on secret spots to unlock new cars.

Tracks

The six regular tracks in San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing are:

  • Golden Gate: A race through the streets of San Francisco, featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
  • Alcatraz: A race on the island of Alcatraz, featuring the prison and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
  • Bay Bridge: A race across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, featuring the city skyline in the background.
  • Chinatown: A race through the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown district, featuring narrow streets and tight turns.
  • Embarcadero: A race along the Embarcadero, featuring the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge in the background.
  • Presidio: A race through the Presidio National Park, featuring rolling hills and redwood trees.

The two hidden tracks in San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing are:

  • Pier 39: A race on Pier 39, featuring the sea lions and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
  • Fisherman’s Wharf: A race through Fisherman’s Wharf, featuring the shops and restaurants along the waterfront.

Cars

There are a total of 12 cars in San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing, each with different stats and handling characteristics. The cars are:

  • Rush: A well-rounded car with good speed, acceleration, and handling.
  • Specter: A fast car with good acceleration and handling, but poor top speed.
  • Dominator: A powerful car with good top speed and acceleration, but poor handling.
  • Interceptor: A police car with good speed and handling, but poor acceleration.
  • Road Warrior: A truck with good top speed and acceleration, but poor handling.
  • Dune Buggy: A dune buggy with good acceleration and handling, but poor top speed.
  • Hot Rod: A hot rod with good top speed and handling, but poor acceleration.
  • Muscle Car: A muscle car with good acceleration and handling, but poor top speed.
  • Sports Car: A sports car with good speed and handling, but poor acceleration.
  • Super Car: A super car with good speed, acceleration, and handling.
  • Hidden Car 1: A hidden car that is unlocked by collecting all of the hidden keys on the Golden Gate track.
  • Hidden Car 2: A hidden car that is unlocked by collecting all of the hidden keys on the Alcatraz track.

Graphics

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing was one of the first N64 games to use texture mapping, which gives the tracks and cars a more realistic look. The game also features impressive draw distance and detailed textures, which makes it one of the best-looking racing games on the N64.

Reception

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, impressive graphics, and innovative track designs. It was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is still considered one of the best racing games on the N64. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a lot of replay value. If you’re a fan of racing games, you need to check out San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing.

Legacy

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing spawned two sequels, San Francisco Rush 2049 (1998) and San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing 3 (2003). The game has also been ported to other platforms, including the PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Advance.

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is a classic racing game that still holds up today. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a lot of replay value. If you’re a fan of racing games, you need to check out San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Christopher has carved a niche for himself as an authority on retro pre-2000 computer games. With a passion that borders on reverence, Christopher delves deep into the pixelated past of gaming, unearthing gems and sharing insights that resonate with both nostalgic players and curious newcomers. His articles serve as a time machine, transporting readers back to an era where gameplay and creativity often trumped graphical fidelity. Cristopher's expertise isn't just in cataloging these classics; he analyzes their design, the context of their creation, and their impact on the gaming landscape, offering a comprehensive look at the evolution of digital entertainment. Beyond mere retrospectives, Christopher champions the relevance of these retro games in today's high-definition world. He skillfully draws parallels between the foundational mechanics of yesteryear's titles and the modern gaming innovations they inspired. His work goes beyond mere preservation; it's an ongoing dialogue between the past and present of gaming. Christopher's content educates, entertains, and ignites discussions within the gaming community. His dedication not only keeps the legacy of pre-2000 games alive but also highlights their importance in shaping the future of video gaming.

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