I’ve never really been a fan of
racing games. Only one has ever really grabbed me. Of course, that game is
Burnout Paradise. That game took the open world of Grand Theft Auto and mixed a
driving game with it. Perfect.
Midnight Club Los Angeles tries to
do something similar. The game is made by Rockstar (GTA’s developer) so it uses
the same graphics engine as GTA IV. Midnight Club takes the realistic open-world
setting and the driving physics of GTA IV and makes it strictly a driving game.
That’s pretty much the best analogy I can think of. If Burnout is an arcade
racer and Gran Turismo is a realistic simulation, Midnight Club Los Angeles is
stuck somewhere between the two.
MCLA’s plot starts like many race
themed movies have recently. You’re a tough, east coast kid moving to the west
coast try become the best underground racer. Every kid’s dream, right? He meets
a gang of underground racers and is invited to test his skills on the streets.
Laughter ensues…
The game is completely open world.
Much like Burnout Paradise, you’re given free reign over the city, to explore
however you chose. Unlike Burnout, in which you can race any of the races
whenever you want, MCLA is more limited – or, at least, you don’t get everything
at once. A few races are open at the beginning, intending for you to learn the
game on.
The races are comprised mostly of
checkpoint driving. Smoke bombs light up instead of checkpoints and help steer
you in the right direction. Again, unlike in Burnout Paradise where you’re given
one point to race to, MCLA will light up a series of checkpoints, like more
traditional racers. The variation in events is also very good as well.
What’s very cool about the game is
the navigation system. All of your missions are coordinated through your
cellphone (a la GTA). Also, your map is actually a top-down shot of the actual
game world. As your driving, if you hit start, the game will pause and pull out
of the world, without loading, and give you a top down shot. It’s very cool.
The inherent problem I had with MCLA,
however, is the difficulty. A lot of reviews have mentioned it, and it is a huge
problem. If the game got incredibly difficult later in the game, I could forgive
this issue, but it doesn’t. The game is extremely hard from the second race.
Within the first few races, you literally cannot make a mistake. Your opponents
will shoot out in front of you, and you’ll be hard pressed to ever catch up. And
that isn’t fun at all.
But the game looks good. The city is
a complete replica of Los Angeles, down to individual buildings. From the cars
to the light on the roads, this game is comparable to the best looking games out
there. It looks better in that regard to Burnout Paradise.
For the hardcore racing fan, you’ll
love this game. You can tweak your cars on the outside and on the inside – but
it never gets too technical like other simulations. The customization is some of
the best ever in a game. You can even sell your creations online!
If you’re looking for another great
race, this game will fill your appetite. From an excellent and expansive online
mode (much like Burnout’s) to the customization, the game is awesome. But the
game never grabbed me or made me want to keep playing it. I’m guess that lies in
the difficulty. The game is frustratingly hard way too early on. It’s also hard
for me to recommend this title when Burnout Paradise is offering so many awesome
free downloads.
|
|
Gameplay: 7.5
The driving
mechanics are fun, but way too hard for me to enjoy. The wrecking physics also
don’t feel quite right.
Graphics: 9.0
The city is
photorealistic down to individual buildings.
Sound: 9.0
The soundtracks
give a distinct vibe to the game that is very cool.
Difficulty: Very Hard
This game is way
too hard, too early on.
Concept: 8.0
A solid
continuation of the series. Not too much different though.
Multiplayer: 9.0
Tons of options
in a sleek, multiplayer experience.
Overall: 8.0
This game is
extremely hard to put a number on. If you’re into customizable racing games,
this one is for you. It’s hard to go wrong with the amount of options and car
tweaking possible in this game. If you’re more into arcade racers, Burnout
Paradise is still the king of the road. MCLA is a competent racer, however, and
while flawed, offers an awesome driving experience.
