The game's concept is very unique and instantly appealing: as the title implies, you ride rockets (yes, real rockets) and face off against other rocket jockeys in three different (all entertaining) types of competition. As the CGW review points out: "[T]here's Rocket Race, an obstacle course emphasizing piloting skills; Rocket War, a gladiatorial free-for-all; and Rocket Ball, a demented soccer game where jockeys use their cables to hurl different kinds of balls into goals. Tight time limits and point spreads ensure that the gameplay never drops below an appropriate level of mayhem.

Along with dizzying speed and gleeful brutality, this game sports some devious arena designs, with a new twist or obstacle in each successive arena. For example, just when you've gotten the hang of flinging tires and wrecking balls in Rocket Ball, Proximity Park asks you to score goals with cycle-blasting proximity bombs. And one Rocket War arena makes getting at your opponents particularly daunting by carving up the playing area in quarters with only narrow passageways between them.

If there's a knock against the gameplay in Rocket Jockey, it's that some of the arenas can be very unforgiving. Failure to score within the first thirty seconds on some Rocket Ball stadiums can doom you to failure, while some Rocket Race courses demand nothing less than perfection.

There is something else about Rocket Jockey: It has the coolest music in a game ever, featuring the fat-stringed sound of surf guitar legend Dick Dale (he's the Pulp Fiction guy). The psychotic toreador riffs and manic drums complement the action perfectly."

A unique premise, addictive gameplay, and great graphics combined makes Rocket Jockey a true underdog. Make sure to get the latest patch version for the opportunity to go against up to five of your friends. Two thumbs up, way up!