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RPM TUNING
review | XBOX
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Publisher: Wanadoo.
Developer: Babylon Software. Released: June 2005 (Europe). Genre: Racing. Other versions: PS2; PC. Posted 26th July 2026. By Shane Battams © 2026 |
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RPM Tuning seemed like a blatant attempt to cash in on the import racing craze of the early 2000s, which was triggered in part by the popularity of The Fast & the Furious in cinemas and games like Need for Speed Underground. But there’s more of a history to this game, and a convoluted one at that. Technically part of the Top Gear series which ran from the SNES up to the N64 and PS2, all traces of any series ties were removed for the European release, though in this Xbox version, Top Gear branding is still present in the menu and loading screens. If you were hoping that the game underneath this branding confusion was as interesting as its forebears, however, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
You see, upon entering your first race in RPM Tuning, you’ll likely be left feeling underwhelmed. The driving and handling are perfectly serviceable, allowing you to pull off drifts mostly with ease and navigate corners with considered driving, but it’s also lacking a real spark, or a sense of speed. The nitrous system provides intrigue, as it’s not only governed by an N20 meter but also a cooling system which means constant use causes your car to overheat and drag, while avoiding usage lets the car cool down. It’s novel in a way, but it can be circumvented easily with careful use, and besides, going full speed causes the screen to begin blurring which makes driving harder. The AI is the racing’s biggest misfire, as opponents exhibit idiotic levels of aggression that see them drive straight into walls, traffic, and sometimes cause you to spin out. It means you can either gain from their ineptitude, or end up being cost a victory as they ram you off the road. It’s all very bland.
Street racers were a common sight by the mid 2000s, and despite connections to a strong racing lineage, RPM Tuning fails to stand out
Cars are all fictional, and while you can rename them to something more accurate to the real-world models, they don’t really stand out, aside from some noticeable stat changes. One of the game’s bigger selling points is customisation, as you can tune up a car. Adding performance boosts, changing the paint job and adding exterior extras like spoilers are all possible, but in truth, the customisation is extremely restricted next to competing titles. There’s only a handful of options for each category, paint jobs are severely limited and the vinyl stickers are preset and cannot be customised or moved. It means there’s no real room for creativity, and instead, beefing up stats is the only real use you get out of tuning.
The roster of modes doesn’t inspire much enjoyment either. The main solo component is Adventure mode, around 50 missions that follow a man called Vince, whose car is stolen. He aims to track down his beloved GTSR by infiltrating street racing, meeting a cast of completely forgettable characters along the way. While Underground 2 had enough cheese to fill a dairy farm, it was at least memorable and over the top. RPM Tuning’s story is badly told, poorly written, and lacks the enthusiastic voicework to make you care. It all builds to one of the poorest, most anticlimactic endings you’ll see. It’s a racing game, sure, but the story is still there to be experienced, and it’s laughable. Elsewhere, you can set up quick races unlocked from said Adventure mode, Tune & Race which sees you buying a new car from scratch and working through races to earn cash which is just more of the same, and there is a two-player mode for the social gamers. However, none of these will likely keep you playing beyond the 10-hour mark.
The roster of modes doesn’t inspire much enjoyment either. The main solo component is Adventure mode, around 50 missions that follow a man called Vince, whose car is stolen. He aims to track down his beloved GTSR by infiltrating street racing, meeting a cast of completely forgettable characters along the way. While Underground 2 had enough cheese to fill a dairy farm, it was at least memorable and over the top. RPM Tuning’s story is badly told, poorly written, and lacks the enthusiastic voicework to make you care. It all builds to one of the poorest, most anticlimactic endings you’ll see. It’s a racing game, sure, but the story is still there to be experienced, and it’s laughable. Elsewhere, you can set up quick races unlocked from said Adventure mode, Tune & Race which sees you buying a new car from scratch and working through races to earn cash which is just more of the same, and there is a two-player mode for the social gamers. However, none of these will likely keep you playing beyond the 10-hour mark.
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RPM Tuning’s presentation is also roundly mediocre. The car models look solid enough, even if they bear little lighting or detail, though the damage modelling is really poor. If you crash or take damage, the car sometimes begins to turn a pitch-black texture, which shows a lack of care in the geometry. The city itself, which can be explored in free-roam, is completely bland and lacking anything in the way of fun secrets, distinct monuments or fun tracks. Performance holds at 30fps, at least. The sound offers rigid voice acting, weak car and crash sounds and a paltry selection of electronica tracks that grow tiring long before you’re done with this one. Considering how iconic many racing games would become in tandem with their music (both original and licensed), it’s a poor showing here.
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In fact, RPM Tuning is a pretty poor showing all-round. The amount of import racing games releasing at the time likely made it a hard sell anyway, but this effort is completely devoid of energy, excitement, or fun. While the driving is serviceable and there’s a bit of customisation to be had, most will find the bland presentation, horrendous AI, and poorly articulated story cut-scenes a turn-off. It all feels a bit half-hearted: like its commitment to the Top Gear brand. With so many superior options available throughout this generation of consoles, RPM is best left collecting dust in the garage.
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VERDICT
"Suffering bland presentation, horrendous AI, and a poorly articulated story, RPM Tuning is a poor showing all-round." OVERALL: 4/10 |
OTHER STREET RACING GAMES REVIEWED
Forza Horizon 2 (2014, Xbox One)
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Gear.Club Unlimited 2 (2018, Switch)
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