Hands-On

Wanna Go for a Ride?

The demo itself is extremely short - there's one scenario you can play, and it lasts about a minute. In the mission, called simply "getaway," you start in an alleyway with a cop right on your tail. Your job is to ditch the cop in any way you can, so gun your 70's muscle car, and get crackin'.

The mission takes place in Miami, so I hope you know the streets of that fair city better than the cop . . . fat chance! Instead, you'd better be pretty fly when handling that car. Take a few games and learn how to corner tightly, burn out, skid with the handbrake, etc. Then you'll be ready to roll with the big boys. Or maybe just plow through a pedestrian-infested park. It may not help you get away from the cops, but it sure is fun!

Squeel?

Blammo

Not a test of skill

The demo itself isn't the most challenging test of your move-busting prowess out there. Those of you trembling in fear, terrified that you'll have to come up with some ingenious plan to avoid the boys in blue, take heart. All you have to do is remember a few lines from the (excellent and under-appriciated) film The Last Boy Scout:

Damon Wayans: Got any bright ideas?
Bruce Willis: Yeah, we're gonna go really really fast

Pick a direction, head for a big street, and weave in and out of the cars. I guarantee you'll escape, unless you manage to wrap your car around a telephone pole. (Speaking of which, when is someone going to make a racing game with true realistic damage? I want my car to get mashed into an accordion). Despite the demo's brevity, it does give you a chance to get a feel for the game, both how it looks and handles, and the environments you get to race in.

Whammo

Bash