MC:LA offers a robust selection of open-ended races and challenges as well as a plethora of customisation options, wrapped around a story/career mode. However, rather than being forced to troll through menus to get through the different races, MC:LA aims to consistently keep the player in the game, either in races or just cruising around a fairly faithfully recreated Los Angeles. While we didn’t get to see it, we’re told that a similar philosophy will apply to the multiplayer. That is, less menus and more action.
We started the game off from the very beginning, where you’ll have the entirety of LA open to you but only a limited number of challenges. As you play through and unlock more challenges, you can tackle any that is currently available, though be wary that you may not have the right machine for the given level of difficulty. Unlocking challenges is done through the earning of reputation points. Every time you race, you will unlock reputation points, just not as many if you finish fifth instead of first. Theoretically, this means that you can complete all the challenges in the game without ever winning a race. However, it will take you a while.
Looks familiar...
There were three different races modes that we were exposed to. Well, in a way it was four, but the inconsequential ‘Race to the Starting Line” doesn’t really count or affect you in any real way. First, you have a checkpoint race. Obviously, you race through the yellow coloured checkpoints until the finish. At first, these are very straight forward, though latter races will reward you for exploiting the numerous shortcuts. Secondly, you have the freeway race. It’s like a checkpoint race, only you never leave the LA freeways and need to deal with tight spaces at very high speeds. It’s particularly exhilarating, especially as you weave through the tight knit traffic and deal with not taking a wrong exit.
The final race mode we saw was red light race. Basically, you race from point A to point B by taking whatever route you like. We were quite amused when our opponent was slanging us for taking a bad direction, only for us to beat him by a country mile. Racing a high speeds and through shopping mall shortcuts is all good and well, but players will have to deal with the fact that there are some police in the game as well. And damn, they were persistent.
As well as reputation points, races will earn you cash. This cash will then go towards buying new cars and upgrades. There are a ridiculous amount of upgrades that are available, and a player can spend as little or as much time they want sprucing up their dream ride. Despite a huge number of paint and decal options, we were not told whether players would be able to bring their own designs or whatnot into the game (like in Forza) but that doesn’t take away from the options that are currently available.
Dynamic camera angles? No problem.
Burnout Paradise was a great game and one of the few open-ended racers of the generation so far, but it ruffled a few feathers with the design choice that forced players to drive all the way back to the starting point if they failed a race or challenge. While still giving you the option to drive back, MC:LA also gives you the option to try again if you are unhappy with your result (even though you’ll earn some points and money either way) or jump straight into another race. That little touch just gave a comfort that was missing from Burnout Paradise, and gamers are likely to be grateful for the addition.
In terms of gameplay, there was quite a contrast between how a muscle car performs and handles to how a sports car performs and handles. This isn’t a bad thing, as one is not worse than the other. However, one is more appropriate for some situations while the other is more appropriate for other situations. The controls in general aren’t quite as loose as an arcade racer, but still more accessible then your average simulation racer. Graphically, the game is quite ambitious with the scope that it’s aiming for and things seem to be coming along nicely. Some obvious polish is still needed but it’s the sort of thing we’re expecting to see cleaned up before the final release.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles is definitely heading in the right direction. With only a few months left till its release, those who have been waiting for some street racing action on the HD consoles will need not look any further then Rockstar’s latest. By treading a fine line between arcade and sim, between open-ended and traditional, MC: LA looks to take the best of both worlds and a slick coat of paint to create a racer worth looking out for.
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