I don't understand why this game is so brutally chastised; for $10 this game will give you exactly what you bargain for.
To begin, I am now starting to consider myself a music snob. That being said, most people find the repetition of "All I Want" by the Offspring annoying after around fifty times. I had never thought of how this was a bad thing, because it's a very high-energy song that really fits with the mood of the game: drive fast, smash cars and get the money. So simple, yet so addictive!
The controls are pretty standard; nothing new here. However, if you spend a bit more time on the game, you can learn to pull off more advanced moves. All is said in two sentences, here.
What this game has that the arcade lacks is the Challenge mode, in which you compete against a time-trial like timer for a higher-ranking license. The license has no affect in the game other than the fact you get to flaunt it. The challenges range from a breeze in the air to a kick in the head; I never had a particular taste for this, so I found it a rather worthless addition to the port from the arcade.
Finally, the gameplay, as previously described, is fast and exhilarating. You can pull off insane stunts, such as flying over a bridge that is drawn to driving underwater while your character releases bubbles from his/her mouth. As a last point, what good is a classic game that doesn't include codes? Obviously, none! If you mash on the analog stick in random directions before you select a driver, you will get to ride a bike (which gets increased tips and, surprisingly, goes faster--go fig). There is also one that is activated by holding the L+R bumpers as you select a character, and it makes you start at a new location than you normally would... Nothing big or game-altering.
All in all, this game really does stand the test of time for it's fast gameplay and fun controls. You can waste a lot of time with this, and it's a steal in most GameStop's used games bin at (or less than) $5-6. Sure, it may be simplistic and not have any lingering gameplay longer than the arcade mode's 10 minutes, but you'll be hooked from the "YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH!" of Dexter Holland from The Offspring screaming at you when you start the game up.