I remember buying the game even before i had my first PC, to be exactly, its prequel, the NitroPack.

2 years later i played it through and spent hours in melee mode and it was my favourite game on LAN parties. I even tried the Mapper which was also hell to handle.
Its soundtrack and cool quotes also immersed me intensely into the Interstate-verse and i liked it more than its spinoff Vigilante 8 or Twisted Metal (in terms of story, TM was fun to melee)
Also, Poem Button FTW.
Did you enjoyed the game as well? I am replaying it right now.