Rumble Racing has outstanding graphics with little to no slowdown whatsoever. This makes for an intense racing experience whether you're taking on a friend or home alone. Textures are extremely smooth and a game like this truly shows the potential of the PS2. Some of the coolest effects are shown with smoke, fire, and my personal favorite, the tornado power-ups.

The music and sound fx in EA's Rumble Racing are very well done too. Revving engines and scraping metal bring you right into the action and keep you wanting more. Music is far from annoying, so you won't have to turn on the radio while playing. Another feature is commentary featuring Jess Harnell of TV's Animaniacs and The Tick. Some of the comments will have you busting a gut with laughter.

There are tons of gameplay modes and options in Rumble Racing. One of the coolest features is the ability to play either 1 or 2 players in Championship mode (which is a blast!). No more taking turns to unlock the items in the game. Along with Championship mode, Rumble Racing includes Single Race, a 1-on-1 showdown in which 2 players compete in a one lap race, and Stunt Challenge mode. The Stunt Challenge is a blast as you perform tricks in order to increase your speed and win the race. This is also a great way to practice for the big race, as you will need all of the help you can get to complete the game with the fastest possible time.

Rumble Racing is actually very similar to the previous NASCAR Rumble released by EA for the PSX. In fact, if the some of the courses aren't identical, they are at least very, very close. If you haven't played either game yet, they both incorporate elements of arcade street racing with the addition of power-ups for blasting your opponents off the road. There are 12 power-ups, some that help and some that hurt, including Shockwave, Nitro, Bad Gas, and the incredible Twister that destroys everything in its path (and looks awesome too)!

There is no shortage of gameplay either. Rumble Racing includes 15 tracks (with some sweet shortcuts), 36 assorted vehicles, and 3 levels gameplay (Rookie, Pro, and Elite). Rumble Racing's arcade-style gameplay will keep your attention with its speed and difficulty. After a few races, you won't want to put the controller down.

Rumble Racing has 3 levels of difficulty: Forgiving, Intense, and No Mercy. Amateurs and pros alike will be able to get a lot of enjoyment from the game. The higher in the ranks you get, the more tracks and cars you will unlock. And along with difficulty settings, there are 3 different racing divisions available: Rookie, Pro, and Elite. In order to unlock the Pro Cup, you must first play through as a Rookie. Likewise, in order to unlock the Elite Cup, you must complete Pro. This is a great way to present a game of this type because the player will get much more value out of it as well as much more play time. Put this together with the easy to use interface, and anyone should be able to jump into the driver's seat and rule the streets.

Rumble Racing's controls are quite simple to use. The basic method of controlling your vehicle is simply to put the pedal to the metal and avoid obstacles and other drivers. Then throw in some power-ups to take out the competition. To finish it off, perform a few twists and turns in the air for massive stunts and you will be cruising your way to victory. And with victory comes more competition as you unlock more levels, tracks, and cars. Rumble Racing is a very entertaining game and puts a twist toward your typical racing title, giving it a bit more replay value because you never know what will happen next. Rumble Racing is definitely worth buying whether you love racing games, or even if you typically don't play them (like me). I can't say enough good things about Rumble Racing.