Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

"One of the best Arcade Racers ever? Yes indeed."

Welcome one and all to my review of Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition for the Sony Playstation 2. This game is also available for the Xbox but I dont own one, so I cant review it for both consoles. Anyway, MC3 is a continuation of the Midnight Club series, which started with Midnight Club, (duh) and then MC2. Does MC3 live up to the hype, and the legacy of the games that came before it? Yes, and no.

Controls 8/10
The Controls in MC3 are fairly simple. Within 10 minutes you'll know what every button does. The controls are not overly complicated and can be configured for your playstyle. Every car in MC3 handles differently, and this will be noticeable as you progress through the game unlocking new cars.

Graphics 9/10
The Graphics in MC3 are stunning. The cities look and feel very realistic, and the speed and blur effects are impressive. There is almost no lag time at all, and I never once saw this game drop framerate. The maps,roads,cars,buildings etc all look very real, and if you live in any of the 3 cities in the game, you will see a ton of famous landmarks. (Like the Varsity in Atlanta, and the Big Chicken also in Atlanta, both are really in Atlanta.)

Music 7/10
Music is important in any game, and MC3 has alot of music in it. Mostly rap, but there is also some rock and pop mixed in. The songs can be skipped forward and backward, so you never have to listen to a song you dont like. The sound quality is as always with Rockstar, top notch.

Sound Effects 10/10
Sound Effects are ungodly important in a racing game, and Rockstar has once again gone above and beyond the call to make the sound effects in MC3 very real. The sounds of smoking tires and rattling exahust pipes will fill your ears as you roar down streets in races. In traffic, the sound effects never miss a beat, and sound like they would if you were actually there watching.

Gameplay 10/10
Gameplay is ALWAYS the most important aspect of a game. If it isnt fun to play, why are people going to play it? MC3 has a ton of features, a bajillion races (well okay, maybe not that many) and so much customatizon to your car, it's staggering. MC3 will keep any race junkie pleased for quite a long time due simply to the massive amount of cars and things you can do to said cars. Adding the 3 massive cities, with full free-roam and you have one of the best racing games ever made.

Replayability 5/10
Like all racing games, MC3 suffers from replayability. Once you've beaten the game once, it isnt likely you'll want to do it again. So most people will head to the multiplayer aspects of the game. For those of you who cannot use multiplayer, You can always beat all the races, unlock new cars and parts, etc etc, the game offers alot to do, but dont expect it to take over your life like an RPG.

Final Word
For those of you looking for a Gran Turismo clone, this game isnt it. For those of you looking for a great arcade racer, this is it. As always, you should rent before you buy unless your positive you'll enjoy the game.

Final Score
9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/20/05