ay back when Genesis and Super NES ruled, Rock n’ Roll Racing was parked in the upper echelon of the racing genre on both systems. History repeats itself, and this GBA port brings back all the thrills and fond memories of its ancestors.

The game is presented in an isometric view, also utilized by RC Pro Am and Super Off-Road; but the weapons add another dimension to the contests. Each car has a projectile, rear attack, and defensive move. The option to upgrade your vehicle, and even buy new ones, drives you to keep playing. Tracks are plentiful, as there are several planets with a handful of courses on each. Complete a division with enough points to move on to stiffer competition.

The premise is simple, but Rock n’ Roll Racing really shines in its excellent control and revolutionary soundtrack. Before Pro Skater and Vice City, this game licensed some killer rock songs to uphold its image. "Born to be Wild," "Peter Gunn Theme," and "Bad to the Bone" are all in rotation here. This game’s formula has been duplicated before, but it’s still the king and will make the hours fly by.   

MATT HELGESON   8.25 Nearly 10 years on, this port of the SNES classic Rock n’ Roll Racing still holds up favorably to the state of the art in GBA racers. With solid control, surprising speed, and a sublimely cheesy soundtrack of digitized classic rock, this is about the best handheld racing game you’ll find that doesn’t have the words "Mario" and "Kart" in the title.