- NA release: 6th September 2000
- PAL release: 17th November 2000
- JP release: N/A
- Developer: Atari, Midway
- Publisher: Midway
- N64 Magazine Score: 91%
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rush49-box-s-170x125.jpg)
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rush49-010-1024x571.jpg)
The third of the Rush games on N64, heading back to San Francisco but given a sci-fi spin with bright neon lights and fast cars with wings. It’s another arcade racer whose best mode is still the “practice” mode, where you can explore all 6 tracks and hunt down hidden coins and discover new shortcuts.
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rush49-015-1024x571.jpg)
The other new addition is the wings that you can bring out while in the air. The don’t grant the same level of control as, say, Mario Kart 7/8 gliders, but are rather much more subtle, slightly influencing your trajectory. It takes a good amount of practice to be able to use it properly, but you can reach some great shortcuts if you do.
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rush49-018-1024x571.jpg)
On top of the stunt mode returning with multiple stunt courses, there’s also a “obstacle” mode. Here you have to make it through a long series of brutal obstacles within five minutes. It’s incredibly tough, but also great.
San Francisco Rush 2049 is a really fun racing game, but it’s a shame there aren’t that many tracks.
As a complete – if ever-so-slightly-flawed – package, San Francisco Rush 2049 has emerged as an unlikely, yet very welcome member of the N64’s racing elite – the throught and effort bestowed on it really shows. Infinitely more rewarding than Ridge Racer could ever hope to be, 2049 offers a unique slant on an otherwise tired genre, while delivering more single-player replay value than any other future-racer game before it.
Geraint Evans, N64 Magazine #48
Remake or remaster?
A Rush collection would be nice.
Official ways to get the game.
There’s no official way to get San Francisco Rush 2049
Next: Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
N64 Games by Date
1997: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1998: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1999: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2000: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec