I approached 2002 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars with a bit of caution. I've never seen a racing game that has sprint cars slinging mud across the tracks. I wondered: 'How good can these graphics be?' The answer is 'superb.' You really get the feel for Saturday night racing from the looks of things. There are three different views to choose from, but the most fun is the view from inside your sprint car. The crowds are so realistic, you can see the mullets on a few of them. The track is as muddy as any slip and slide I've ever been on. Try to get in a rival sprint car's slipstream, and you'll end up with a windshield full of freshly splattered mud. I love the perfect plops of mud smattering your windshield until they resemble a messed up version of the ink blot test. Another great thing is that Ratbag threw wreck physics to the wind creating the greatest wrecks I've ever seen in a video game. When I got frustrated, I would go around the track backwards, plow into an unsuspecting leader car, and send that car almost in the crowd while I would careen around the track uncontrollably. Not only is it fun, but it looks dang good too.

The sound is every bit as good as the looks. The engines revving sounded like a whole flock of hogs grunting their way at the local watering whole. The crowd swells with delight as you make a muddy, but daring pass to first place. Tires wail a different kind of wail as they barter with the mud for a good grip. Of course, the mud hitting your windshield sounds like any insect I've ever hit on a road trip to New Orleans. The music is provided by The Living End , a group from Australia, that I will try to get their CD. Everything look and sound-wise fits together to make 2002 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars a highly 'smack dab in the middle of the environment' type of game.

There are a few things you can try. Arcade Mode has you trying a Single Race against the computer or friend, while Championship Season has you get behind the wheel of your favorite driver's sprint car to compete for the championship. Arcade Mode is good for a fast-paced racer, but I had the most fun in Career Mode. Career Mode has you start out as a young driver racing in local leagues. As you win, you gain money here and there, and eventually draw the attention of sponsors. With your newfound love and real sponsors (yep, people like K&N Filters , Pennzoil , Mopar , etc.) you can afford bigger engines, better tires, and anything that makes a sprint car the best in the business. Granted, you couldn't buy things like fuzzy dice and air fresheners, but even 2002 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars has its limits.

There are options that you can set as to how difficult you want it. Easy is as simple as hitting the gas pedal, as you car doesn't slip that much, and you blow by the competition. Medium is good for fairly challenging with great rewards. Hard is the epitome of sprint car racing. Everyone comes to race. Slipping is guaranteed, and you really have to know how to lay off the gas in the corners, and just slosh around the turns. Cars are more aggressive than ever and one wrong move on your part, and you'll end up face first in the mud. I like that the controller gives you a good feel for the 'weight' of the car, which is pivotal when you're trying to get the car to react just perfectly to go around the curves. The computer wrecks on its own as well, so that is always a plus.

The game takes up little memory card space, with its controls being top notch. They are very fluid and not cumbersome at all. You can change the control scheme if you like, but it's seemingly perfect the way it is. The manual is a wonderful read, providing a lot of insight to a facet of a sport that I didn't know a lot about. The load times are very good, and well worth coming out of because of the great music. The menus are easy to navigate, and 2002 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars deservingly gets its 'Everyone' rating, as this game would be fun from toddler to farmer alike.

Riot Rundown: Wow oh wow, was I surprised. A game so simple, yet complex. It is so fun to play, and they did an excellent job. I wish a little more paint customization was there, or driver creation, but on the most part Ratbag really outdid themselves this time. A wonderful game that makes a perfect rental, or a keeper if you're into racing at all.