MIDNIGHT CLUB 3: DUB EDITION for Sony's PSP is an immersive, deep, and wildly fun arcade-style racer.
But the truth is that one's opinion of a racing game depends greatly on the style of racing one prefers! I find that the pros tend to prefer the "realistic" simulation racing games such as the Gran Turismo series. Therefore, many of the more "arcadey" racers tend to get lower ratings than they deserve. Unlike the pros though, I think a majority of gamers enjoy games that are easy to get into but have enough depth to keep you coming back. Daytona USA was instantly addictive but simply didn't offer enough tracks, car selections, customizations, and other unlockables to keep you hooked for months on end. Like many a highschool cheerleader, it was a pretty but ultimately shallow game! The Burnout series, on the other hand, is an example of how arcade racing games ought to be done! There are so many loads of objectives, cool vehicles, and ways to upgrade your ride, it would take one person MONTHS to discover all the possibilities! I haven't played any of the previous Midnight Club titles, but this one certainly seems to follow the Burnout formula and even improves on it in certain regards.
Gameplay: The gameplay is fast, easy to pick up, and difficult to master. Once you have the controls memorized the cars, motorcycles, and trucks really become an extension of your hand. The learning curve is excellent. Just about the time you've got your car customized to the point where no one else on the road can compete, you unlock another mode which offers all NEW challenges using a completely different kind of vehicle.
Graphics: This is definitely one of the prettiest games on the PSP. Perhaps, there isn't the variety that you see in Burnout or some of the other titles, but you won't find more realistic looking nighttime environments elsewhere in a handheld game. The water and reflection effects are especially spectacular! There is a minor amount of framerate slowdown at some points, but the races are usually so fast that this is actually a GOOD thing since there's absolutely no stuttering of the animations.
Sound: Midnight Club also offers a large assortment of recent urban hits. With pair of headphones the sounds really help make the game even more immersive. I often find myself getting into that "zone" where the world around me seems to fade out as I wander around the streets of San Diego or some other well-known city!
Value: I personally feel that ALL the PSP games right now are overpriced by $20 or so. If every title started at under $30, I'd be a happy camper. The fact that UMDs simply aren't as sturdy as carts means that your discs PROBABLY won't last for decades the way Game Boy games do. For that reason, I don't think it's fair for manufacturers to charge $40 to $50. Nonetheless, I've spent many more hours playing Midnight Club than I have most of my other PSP games, so at least I feel like I'm getting more bang for my buck!
Overall: In the end, Midnight Club is any arcade-racing fan's dream come true! It may not have the collisions or other gimmicks that make Burnout stand out, but the gameplay certainly holds up with any other racing game on the market for the PSP right now! The only warning I'll offer is about the load-times. One level can take anywhere between 1 to 2.5 minutes to load! While that really doesn't bother me these days because I'm not often playing my PSP on the go, I can see how this would be a major gripe for a lot of people out there! I used to have to ride the bus to work and take the train each week. If I'd had to spend this much time waiting for a game to load rather than PLAYING the game back then, I would've been really pissed! In any case, I can say quite sincerely that Midnight Club is one the best purchases I've made since I bought my PSP at launch last year! To put it succinctly, it simply keeps me coming back for more!