L.A. Rush

The game features free-roaming with race mechanics similar to those in Need for Speed: Underground 2. The GPS map can have a point assigned to a certain location and then the point shows up on the minimap during gameplay. It also features two mission types and two game modes. Other features include 50 vehicles, 30 different cruise missions (can be played with another player on the PSP version when connected to Wi-Fi), upgrades for cars (available from multiple top-line manufacturers and West Coast Customs) and a hip hop and rock soundtrack from various artists, such as Twista, Lil' Kim, Skinny Puppy, J-Kwon and Rock 'n Roll Soldiers. There are two modes in the game; Battle mode (which was first introduced in the home version of Rush 2049) lets the players go head-to-head with each other in a power-up-propelled race, while the Stunt Arena mode (which was featured in all other home Rush games) is only available in the PSP version of the game, where the player must launch their car off the ramp and fly through the air performing different tricks. In order to keep up with points, the player must land their car safely on all four wheels. Aside from two modes, there are two mission types available; the Reacquire missions involve the player recovering the cars that have been repossessed from the storyline and bringing them back to the garage with minimal damage, whilst avoiding enemy vehicles that try to ram the player. The Retribution missions involve property damage where the player is tasked to destroy various things that belonged to Lidell in different ways. Up to 50 playable cars are featured in the game, 30 of which are licensed cars, while the rest are Midway concept cars. == Plot ==

In Beverly Hills, street racer-turned entrepreneur Trikz Lane (Luis Da Silva) is hosting a night party at his mansion. He plans to commission West Coast Customs (Ryan Friedlinghaus, Quinton "Q" Dodson, Michael "Mad Mike" Martin and Dana "Big Dane" Florence) to modify his first racing car, a blue 1995 Nissan 240SX (S14), nicknamed the "go-kart", in able to be featured as a cover car for an upcoming issue of the Rides magazine. Trikz crosses path with racing organizer Lidell Rey (Bill Bellamy), who is despised and prevented the former from entering his organized racing series. Giving Trikz a warning that "changes are coming", Lidell drop pennies from his hat to Trikz. While Trikz was away for his two-week vacation in Saint Barthélemy, Lidell hired a mortgage broker and repossess Trikz's mansion entirely, including his car collection. Upon returning, a jealous Trikz finds out his emptied mansion and his abandoned S14. Supported by his friend, Ty Malix (Orlando Jones), Trikz heads to Hollywood and enters Lidell's racing series, the Lidell Rey Street Slam. As Trikz winning races there, Ty contracts him, informing that he has tracked down the first four repossessed cars, which Trikz recovers them despite have to outrun from Lidell's henchmen. Ty also learns about Lidell's business, Lidell Corporation, and his associated properties across L.A., which he then contracts Ryan Friedlinghaus of West Coast Customs, where the latter send Trikz to vandalize Lidell's properties. Trikz heads to Santa Monica, winning races there, recovers more of his missing cars, and torn down the Pacific Wheel in Santa Monica Pier owned by Lidell. At the first half of the stage, Lidell's girlfriend Lana secretly called Trikz and starts helping him to track down some of his repossessed cars. Trikz continues to regain fame by completing races held in South Central and South Bay. While there, he and Ty visits West Coast Customs' Carson branch for the progress of the S14 build. Trikz learns that Lidell has sent a street racer from another state (Twista) and received a shipment of high-tech luxury cars. Hired by Ryan once again, Trikz steal and destroy one of the cars by getting it smashed by a train. Trikz and Ty confront Lidell and his hired unnamed racer in Downtown Los Angeles, which after a heated argument, the two offer them a large bet, which they accept. Regardless, Trikz kept winning races across the Downtown area, recovers the last remaining cars, and vandalized Lidell's photo shoot location held in a rooftop of a parking garage. Trikz and Lidell duel in a race across the entire Downtown area with Lidell's henchmen involved, with Trikz emerging victory. After restoring his wealth and reputation, Trikz starts dating Lana and takes a one-month break from racing in favor of a vacation to Maui, Hawaii. Meanwhile, West Coast Customs unveiled the finished build of Trikz's S14, where it has been modified to resemble a coupé utility featuring a Jacuzzi hot tub and a large TV on the back. ==Reception==

The Xbox, PS2 and PSP versions received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. Many reviewers have been critical of the game. One common criticism is that the ability to customize cars was poorly realized; players cannot modify them themselves, instead, the West Coast Customs crew automatically upgrades the car. GamesRadar says: "Roll your vehicle into the garage and they'll kit it out with what they feel like". L.A. Rush has also been criticized for not including every area of Los Angeles; for example, the San Fernando Valley was excluded. Not all reactions were negative. Some welcomed the realistic handling in the game as being comparable to the handling in Juiced (2005) and Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004). Nominations == References ==