High-speed, daredevil racing fans should buckle themselves in and get ready to rocket through office buildings, to soar across rooftops, and to barrel over street signs in this sequel to 1997's San Francisco Rush Extreme Racing on N64. Rush 2 takes the fast-paced action out of San Francisco and into such locales as New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Alcatraz Island. The racing once again involves mastering each course's shortcuts and catching air by driving up ramps. Play modes include the One Race, a single event that has players choosing from any of the unlocked courses, and the Circuit Mode, which offers a more in-depth series of competitive races.
Circuit Mode consists of 28 races on randomly ordered tracks, all of which feature variable weather conditions as well as mirrored, reverse, and "normal" layout options. A total of 16 cars are available, ranging from traditional sports cars to more offbeat selections. New to Rush 2 is the ability to upgrade each vehicle's performance between events, including torque, suspension, tires, and durability. As in the original game, players can perform various stunts while attempting to locate hidden items needed to unlock some of the more exotic cars. Each track has 12 keys and four soda cans, often requiring skillful driving and a few outlandish maneuvers to reach. Players can also challenge a friend to a simultaneous race via split-screen display.