Summary
Rampant fun, but little else
The Good
If you have a force-feedback steering wheel, this game is an absolute blast!
The ability to drive wherever you want. Sprawling pedestrians trying to get away from my driving. Smacking into other cars as you race through soldier field or a shopping mall. Flipping over police cars as they try to spin you out or chase you down.
Technically the game has "good" graphics, but see below for more on this topic.
The sound is really good, and the music can really put you in a mood. You can also play your own CDs (try popping in Rage Against the Machine or Nine Inch Nails while playing) just like a real car. It's a nice feature that is totally appropriate.
The challenges and races are really good at the beginning. They don't require a professional race driver, yet they aren't so easy they're boring.
There's actually some places you can interact with by driving on or through.
The Bad
Rule number one: Don't attempt this without a steering wheel. It adds a whole other dimension to the game. You can play the game without a steering wheel, but you just won't get the right amount of control over the car, and you'll wonder why it's so difficult to steer.
The graphics had some problems. Glitches and skipped frames are the norm on slower PCs, and even sometimes on faster PCs.
The later races get really tough, and the rewards you get for completing them is sometimes an after-thought.
How long can you drive around Chicago before things get a little old?
The Bottom Line
This is a blast of a game, and if you can find it at a discount, go all out for it. It's not worth $40 (the original price) because there isn't a lot of replay value, but it's always fun to sit someone down at a steering wheel for the first time and watch them struggle to go straight, let alone avoid other cars.
If you have a force-feedback steering wheel, and can't find Midtown Madness 2, this will wet your whistle until you *can* find it.
