Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA

{{Infobox video game

| title = Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA

| image = rush2box.jpg

| caption = North American Nintendo 64 cover art

| developer = Atari Games

| publisher = Midway
GT Interactive (Europe)

| designer = Ed Logg

| programmer = Ed Logg
Mike Kelly
Mike Alexander

| artist = Jose Erazo

| composer = Barry Leitch

| series = Rush

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 11, 1998{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=December 3, 1998 |title=Five to Five |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/04/five-to-five |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521014805/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/04/five-to-five |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2023}}|PAL|February 4, 1999}}

| genre = Racing

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = Nintendo 64

}}

Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA is a racing video game developed by Atari Games and published by Midway exclusively for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released on November 11, 1998, in North America, and February 4, 1999, in Europe. Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA is a sequel to San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing, and the second game in the Rush series.

Gameplay

The game is notable for the high level of detail in the recreations of the various cities and states used, and for its fast arcade-style physics. The game also features a two-player mode and rumble pack support. Hidden shortcuts and jumps add to the replay value of the game.

Mountain Dew soda cans appear in the game and can be collected to unlock content.{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=September 24, 1998 |title=Rush 2 Does the Dew |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/25/rush-2-does-the-dew |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721160506/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/25/rush-2-does-the-dew |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 78%{{cite web |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA for Nintendo 64 |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/198527-rush-2-extreme-racing-usa/index.html |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512175055/https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/198527-rush-2-extreme-racing-usa/index.html |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

| CNG = 7/10{{cite web |last=Broderick |first=Glen |date=December 29, 1998 |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing [USA] |url=http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Nintendo/Rush2/ |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823205713/http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Nintendo/Rush2/ |archive-date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

| CP = 83%{{cite magazine |author=Gia |title=Rush 2 [Extreme Racing USA] |url=https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-233-122.jpg |language=fr |magazine=Consoles + |issue=84 |date=January 1999 |page=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406223405/https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-233-122.jpg |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

| EGM = 6.875/10{{cite magazine |last1=Hager |first1=Dean |last2=Smith |first2=Shawn |last3=Davison |first3=John |last4=Hsu |first4=Dan |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3e/EGM_US_113.pdf |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=113 |date=December 1998 |page=253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521231141/https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3e/EGM_US_113.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}{{efn|Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8/10, 4.5/10, 6.5/10, and 8.5/10.}}

| EPD = 9/10{{cite web |last=Lucas |first=Victor |date=December 3, 1998 |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=134&full=1#mr_toppy |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704201444/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=134&full=1#mr_toppy |archive-date=July 4, 2003 |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

| GI = 8.75/10{{cite magazine |last1=McNamara |first1=Andy |last2=Storm |first2=Jon |last3=Reiner |first3=Andrew |title=Rush 2 [Extreme Racing USA] |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=n64&path=dec98&doc=rush |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=68 |date=December 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990908185254/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=n64&path=dec98&doc=rush |archive-date=September 8, 1999 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

| GameRev = C−{{cite web |last=Hsu |first=Tim |date=November 1998 |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA Review |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32624-rush-2-extreme-racing-usa-review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926121737/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

| GSpot = 5.1/10{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=November 20, 1998 |title=Rush 2 Extreme Racing USA Review [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"] |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa-review/1900-2543708/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050105053924/http://www.gamespot.com/n64/driving/rush2extremeracing/review.html |archive-date=January 5, 2005 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

| Hyper = 85%{{cite magazine |last=Shea |first=Cam |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |magazine=Hyper |publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd |issue=65 |date=March 1999 |pages=54–55}}

| IGN = 8.9/10{{cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=November 11, 1998 |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/12/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821042343/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/12/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

| N64 = 75%{{cite magazine |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |magazine=N64 Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=24 |date=January 1999}}

| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_49/page/n109/mode/2up |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=49 |date=January 1999 |page=109 |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

| NP = 7.3/10{{cite magazine |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-357-127.jpg |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=115 |date=December 1998 |page=127 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026155637/https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-357-127.jpg |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2023}}

}}

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. IGN called the game "a bit on the cheesy side" despite criticism with the presentation and stated that it had "generic menus and the same overall front-end" as San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing. Next Generation called it "a worthy successor to the original." GamePro said that the game "packs in enough quality racing to satisfy even the most jaded gamer. All the changes and updates seem minor when taken individually, but they add up to a satisfying new whole. Rush 2 is well worth its price."{{cite magazine |author=Dan Elektro |title=Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_113_December_1998/page/n143/mode/2up |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |issue=123 |date=December 1998 |pages=140–41 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040911183047/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/226.shtml |archive-date=September 11, 2004 |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2020}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound.}}