This is one of those games that can't really brag about its graphics or sound or any technical innovation whatsoever. Not that it matters worth a damn, because this one is all about some good, clean, unadulterated racing fun.

The story is set in--story? Wait. There is no story. None to speak of. You're racing cars through various thoroughfares set in the real world, with cops occasionally trying to run you down. You win a race, you get to move on to the next race. Better races award medals that will unlock new tracks, different versions of existing tracks, more cars, and so on.

The game's graphics, of course, are nothing to be proud of. The cars manage not to look totally blocky and textureless. The tracks also pull off a detailed and expansive look, but there is a definite edge that you can't drive past. In an interesting little glitch, this border can be exploited, with a carefully-executed sideswipe manuever, to bring an opponent's car to a dead stop without sacrificing more than five or ten miles per hour yourself. Most tracks also feature side roads, alternate routes that aren't marked and are sometimes difficult to follow but can almost always result in you gaining an easy ten seconds on your opponents. The cops are more than capable of raising the bar in a race, from calling in backup to a helicopter that drops little bombs in front of you.

Now for the game's true redeeming factor: control. The controls are simple and intuitive, nothing ultra-complex like you see in so many racers. You gas, you brake, you e-brake, and you turn around in very large circles. Similarly, the physics are tight without being too tight. It's tight enough to have great control over your vehicle and keep things relatively realistic, but just a bit loose--you know, so you can have some fun while you're at it (see aforementioned collision glitch for great fun times).

I'm of the mind that no racing game should in any way be complex, and this is the gold standard as far as that rule goes. There is nothing to muddy things up, no special turbo-boost you have to use right when the Power Meter is maxed out after doing five Special Moves, or whatever the nonsense is the kids talk about these days. This is the pinnacle of racing--simple, pure, pick-up-and-play fun.