Review Based On PS3 Version – Also available on the Xbox360

The Midnight Club racing game franchise’s entry into the PS3 market is visually stunning and difficult to master. Clearly the developers were keen to take advantage of the Playstation 3′s graphical capabilities and they did so very well. The cars look fantastic, the backdrops are jaw-dropping, and the sometimes grimy-looking streets make you really feel like you are speeding through the city of angels.

With a few cut-scenes and some brief back-story, the game manages to ease you into the game world quickly and doesn’t waste too much time before you find yourself behind the wheel. Not long after that you’ll begin to notice the dynamic environment: Time marches on and day turns into night, which eventually becomes day again. Sun is blocked out by clouds, which occasionally turn dark and pour sheets of glistening rain down onto the pavement, only to clear up a bit later and let the sun shine through again. It’s street racing gone-virtual-reality and it is one of the most immersive experiences ever offered for racing game fans. You’ll even see familiar brands like Pizza Hut and Holiday Inn while driving around the city.

Immersion can sometimes conflict with the ultimate purpose of a game though, and to some extent that happens with the map system in Midnight Club: Los Angeles. You have a minimap on your screen while racing but you can also zoom out seamlessly to an overhead view like a blimp camera or satellite photo of the area. It’s a gorgeous system but it completely lacks one thing: route information. You can set waypoints, but there is no easy way to keep track of which streets you need to take in order to get to each waypoint. It’s like having a fantastic GPS mounted to your dashboard that does everything except give you directions. This can mean making wrong turns during a race, and that wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that the drivers you are up against (the AI ones at least) don’t make those mistakes.

Drive around for a bit and it won’t be long before you run into other drivers who are spoiling for a race. Flash your lights and pull up to the starting line to get going, earn respect and cold hard cash for doing well. There are several racing modes to keep things interesting and earning respect unlocks new vehicles and customization options. Unfortunately, while cash doesn’t often become a problem in this game you may find gaining enough respect to unlock your next intended purchase can sometimes be a frustrating endeavor.

This is in part due to the fact that Midnight Club: Los Angeles has some of the most flawless AI drivers you’ve ever been up against. The programmers did a great job teaching their computer drivers how to maneuver each hairpin turn but seemingly forgot to teach the computer to drop the ball every once in a while so you have a fighting chance. Ultimately this means a single error can cost you any given race. Although races are rated for difficulty, those ratings seem to be based on the course and not the AI drivers — so a course that’s easier for you is also easier for your competitor, making it not-easier-at-all to win.

Multiplayer is where this game really shines, primarily because you’re not racing against the computer anymore. There are several racing modes and the game supports up to 16 players at once, either on the internet or by system link. Midnight Club: Los Angeles is a very good game overall, but the one major flaw (flawless AI drivers) ends up making the single-player game less fun than it could have been. Still, you’ll have a blast and if you’re the type of racer who loves a challenge then this might become your new favorite game.

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