Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Cover art, featuring a Cadillac Escalade (left), and a Chrysler 300C (right) with the skyline of downtown Atlanta, Georgia in the background.
Developer(s) Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Leeds (PSP)
Publisher(s) Rockstar Games
Distributor(s) Take-Two Interactive
Series Midnight Club
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Xbox
PlayStation Portable
Release date(s) PlayStation 2[1] & Xbox[2]
NA April 11, 2005
EU April 15, 2005
AUS April 15, 2005
NA March 13, 2006 (Remix)
EU March 17, 2006 (Remix)

PlayStation Portable[3]

  • NA June 27, 2005
  • EU September 1, 2005
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Distribution Optical disc, download

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is a racing game, developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games, and is the third game in the Midnight Club series, followed by Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Like previous installments in the series, the game is an arcade-style racer and focuses on wild, high-speed racing, rather than realistic physics and driving characteristics. The name derived from a partnership between Rockstar and DUB Magazine, which features heavily in the game in the form of DUB-sponsored races and DUB-customized vehicles as prizes.

Players race through open world recreations of San Diego, Atlanta, and Detroit listening to 98 licensed music tracks that include hip-hop, rock, and more. The game features a number of graphical views after the player crashes into certain objects, or travels across particular stretches of road. There is also the ability to customize a player's vehicle. Other than modifying the external looks, the vehicle's performance can also be improved (with the exception of all 'A' Class vehicles except motorcycles).

Gameplay

There are 5 types of racing in the game. In the Ordered Race, the player must race against multiple other racers, and drive through a sprint course marked by checkpoints, represented by Yellow/Orange flares and eventually reach the finishing line (that being a red flare). The races are different because there is no ordered lines to drive, but the player can choose a specific route throughout the course of the race. Circuits are similar, except the player must complete a certain number of laps on a circuit run, but also provide unlinear type of driving. The first checkpoint is marked with a green flare except in last lap,where is marked with a red flare.

Unordered Races are essentially the same as the Ordered Races, except that (as the name implies), the checkpoints do not need to be passed in order,but they are scattered through a town,and the player must find the quickest route to finish. In the Autocross Races, the track is stripped of traffic, pedestrians, and police, and the streets are blocked in with barriers, meaning that the environment is less open that with other race types. The player must then complete the laps in the quickest time possible, having to beat a set time.

Track events are the same as Autocross, but the player competes against other racers inside the barricaded track instead of against the clock. This can mean racer-crowded, compact streets and the car will probably take more damage than a normal race as it will usually bump into the walls more than in open environment, and the type of race is only shown in Arcade mode of the game. Players can also create their own races in the Race Editor where the player places down checkpoints within the city. Players can create either a circuit or sprint and can change the racing conditions such as traffic, weather, etc. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is the first game in the series to include car modification - visual & performance. By winning races, the player unlocks new cars and options to customize them with. These options include enhancing the performance, adding vinyls and new paint jobs, and physically modifying the car, by changing parts such as wheels, bumpers, spoilers, neon, hoods, and engine components, and the cars are divided into four classes; D, C, B and A, depending on the car value and performance. There are many types of cars in the game, such as Tuners (Japanese import cars), Muscles (American old-school cars, ranging from 50's till 80's), SUV's (Sport Utility Vehicles), Luxury Cars (expensive European, Japanese and American luxury sedan cars), Sport Bikes (Japanese and Italian motorbikes) and Choppers (American motorbikes).

Multiplayer

The game includes an Online mode, where players can race with other players from all around the world. There are also many clubs available to join, but players can also start and manage their own. Most offline modes are available for play online, while in online mode it's possible to chat in-game, including a cruise mode, capture the flag, circuit racing, ordered racing, unordered racing, tag, paint and autocross. Tracks created via the Race Editor offline can be used Online.

Plot

San Diego

The player begins in San Diego by meeting Oscar, the mechanic of Six-One-Nine Customs, a tuning garage in San Diego. Oscar guides the player through the game by providing helpful tips and information about races. The player begins with a choice of six cars: a 1964 Chevrolet Impala, a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 2004 Dodge Neon SRT4, a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, a Volkswagen Golf Mk4, or a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta (Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix added the option of a Scion tC). As the player wins races new customization options and cars are unlocked for purchase.

There are 7 types of cars: Tuners, Luxury Sedans, SUVs/Trucks, Exotics, Muscle Cars, Sport Bikes, and Choppers. As the game continues, different clubs that drive a specific type of car will invite the player to race with them: American Royalty Car Club (Muscle Cars), Big Playas (SUV s/Trucks), By Invitation Only (Exotics), Chopper of America Bike Club (Choppers), Luxury Rollers (Luxury Cars), Original Riders (Sport Bikes) and Unbeatable Street Racers (Tuners). If the player beats a club in three races they unlock a special ability for that class. Tuners, Sport Bikes, Exotics, the Lexus SC430, Mercedes Benz SL500 and the Cadillac XLR in "Remix" get "Zone" (a form of bullet time which allows for more precise handling at high speed), Trucks/SUVs and Luxury Cars (except for the Lexus SC430, Mercedes Benz SL500 and Cadillac XLR in "Remix") get "Agro" (which makes the vehicle temporarily unstoppable, allowing it to plow through traffic and other obstacles more easily), and Muscle Cars and Choppers get "Roar" (the only offensive ability, it launches a sonic wave that blows away anything in its path including traffic, opponents, and police vehicles).

The street racers available to challenge at the beginning of the game are: Vanessa (Mitsubishi Eclipse), Bishop (Lexus GS430), and Carlos (1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo). Winning races against at least one of these street racers will allow the player to challenge Phil for ownership of his Hotmatch Cuevito, and an invitation to challenge the Chopper of America bike club. Once the player defeats Phil and Vanessa at least once, Vanessa will challenge them again.

After defeating all racers and tournaments in San Diego, the player is introduced to Vince, a mechanic from Detroit. Oscar mentions that the player has been building a reputation as a skilled racer, and that there are some big time races in Atlanta that the player may be interested in. He tells the player to go to the shipping company to make the trip.

Atlanta

The player arrives in a rather nice looking garage in Atlanta called "Apone Team Racing". The owner, Apone, introduces himself, but is distracted by his most prized procession: a 1964 gold painted Chevrolet Impala that he customized and is constantly tinkering with. In Atlanta, the player is challenged by three racers. There is also a tournament going on, for which the prize is a "DUB'd-Out" 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT. After defeating all racers and tournaments in Atlanta, Apone mentions that there are more races going on in Detroit and that he thinks it's a good idea for the player to check it out.

Street racers in Atlanta are: Roy (1969 Dodge Charger R/T, later a 1999 Dodge Charger R/T Concept), Dre (2005 Cadillac Escalade), Cheng (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII), Vito (Ducati Monster S4R), Lamont (Chevrolet Silverado SS) and Naomi (Hotmatch Skully).

Detroit

The player arrives in Detroit and sees a familiar face, Vince. Remembering him, he welcomes the player to town and his shop. He later points to a Lamborghini Murciélago and says it's the prize to whatever car club turns out the best street racer. Some returning faces from Atlanta come to Detroit, including Roy and Angel, who are plot-affected racers but they are never seen or mentioned. The player races them a couple of times, as wells as the car clubs. Early in the player's Detroit career, a tournament is held and a 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline (as Oscar describes it "Just the car to win in Detroit!") is the prize. Upon defeating the racers, the player scores a challenge from the By Invitation Only Exotic Car Club. Defeating them unlocks "Zone" for Exotics and a special, rare 2004 Chrysler ME Four Twelve. At this point, the player races all drivers twice, and upon defeating them, is crowned the victor of the U.S. Champion Series. Afterwards, the player returns to Vince's and is rewarded the Lamborghini Murcielago from before. Vince says "It should be driven with respect, and not by some San Diego swinger who thinks he's hot stuff or something."

Street racers in Detroit are: Roy (returning with a Dodge Viper GTS-R), Spider (Hotmatch D'Elegance), Leo (1981 Camaro Z28), Caesar (Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, later a Lamborghini Gallardo), Kioshi (Aprilla Mille Factory), and Angel (Saleen S7).

Characters

Player: An anonymous driver who seeks to be the top racer in the U.S

Oscar: A Mexican-American professional car mechanic in San Diego with a passion for muscle cars. He is the owner of the 6-1-9 Customs (his name and the 6-1-9 Customs are an allusion to a well-known WWE fighter, Rey Mysterio, whose real name is Oscar Gutierrez Rubio, also is originally from San Diego, and whose signature move is 6-1-9 finisher). He owns a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with chop top, dark gold-painted rims, gold-painted tribal vinyl and all painted in black (including the trim and exhaust). He is usually racing with muscle cars, but he says that "his baby isn't ready yet", and he is usually seen tinkering it or washing it". He also owns a red West Coast Choppers-builted Hotmatch Chingon (which only is playable in the ‘‘Remix‘‘ version) He first meets the player when the latter visits him in his shop after getting a call from the player's friend. He is also Vince's close friend, who visits hin on one occasion. He wears black trousers with pockets outside and a white tank top, and he is filled with tattoos and a 6-1-9 logo tattooed on his chest. He has a buzzcut and spots a goatee.

Apone: An African-American professional car mechanic in Atlanta with a passion for low riders. He is the owner of the Apone Team Racing Customs. He owns a yellow 1964 Chevrolet Impala and it is obsessed with it, also noting that he got divorced because of the car. He is always seen tinkering it, fixing it or changing wheels on it to achieve a perfect vision of the car. He is usually racing with muscle cars. He first meets the player when the latter visits him in his shop at Atlanta after getting a call from Oscar. He is bald, wears a white tank top and red trousers and a tool belt around his waist. He also has luxury sedans and SUVs in his garage.

Vince: A professional car mechanic in Detroit with a passion for exotics. He first meets the player in San Diego while discussing choppers with Oscar. He later meets the player in Detroit and instructs him for racing. He keeps a green Lamborghini Murcielago as a prize for the U.S Champion Series in street racing, which he presents to the player at the end. He has a beard, wears a black bandana over his head, has a grey shirt, black gloves and black track pants. He is good friends with Oscar but also is highly competitive with him, having a bit lower respect for him. He also likes vintage hot-rods and chooses them over some later versions of muscle cars and low riders.

Ryo: A professional car mechanic in Tokyo, and he appears only in the Remix version of the game as part of the Tokyo Challenge series. He has an apprentice who is shown to have poor experience with engines, as Ryo is seen berating him for badly tunning an Infiniti G35. He owns the Speedway Garage and helps the player around the city.

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix

Cover art for Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix is an update to Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition. It is available as a Greatest Hits release on PlayStation 2 and a Platinum Hits release on Xbox, the remix edition of the game is not available for the PSP. It was released on March 12, 2006 or exactly eleven months after the original version's release. It was released on December 19, 2012 on Playstation Network.

The game features all of the cities, vehicles, and music from Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition. This version of the game also allows the player to import the Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition data on their memory card to Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix to make up for lost progress, thus saving the player from starting all over again. The following features were added in Remix:


Soundtrack

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Reception

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS2) 86.21%[4]
(Xbox) 85.78%[5]
(PSP) 74.50%[6]
Metacritic(PS2) 84/100[7]
(Xbox) 84/100[8]
(PSP) 74/100[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge6/10[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly8.67/10[11]
(PSP) 7.67/10[12]
Eurogamer(Xbox) 7/10[13]
(PSP) 5/10[14]
Game Informer9.5/10[15]
(PSP) 8/10[16]
GamePro[17]
Game RevolutionB+[18]
(PSP) C[19]
GameSpot8.3/10[20]
(PSP) 7.3/10[21]
GameSpy[22][23]
(PSP) [24]
GameTrailers9.1/10[25]
(PSP) 7.3/10[26]
GameZone(Xbox) 9.4/10[27]
(PS2) 9.3/10[28]
(PSP) 8/10[29]
IGN9.2/10[30]
(PSP) 7.1/10[31]
Official PlayStation Magazine (US)[32][33]
Official Xbox Magazine9/10[34]
Detroit Free Press(Xbox) [35]
(PSP) [36]
The Sydney Morning Herald[37]

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition was met with positive to average reception. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 86.21% and 84 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version;[4][7] 85.78% and 84 out of 100 for the Xbox version;[5][8] and 74.50% and 74 out of 100 for the PSP version.[6][9]

The game has sold at least 1.1 million copies worldwide on the PS2 version, and 1.3 million copies worldwide on the PSP version.

DUB Edition Remix

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(Xbox) 87.14%[38]
(PS2) 85.57%[39]
Metacritic(Xbox) 87/100[40]
(PS2) 85/100[41]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1UP.comA[42]
Eurogamer7/10[43]
Game Informer9.5/10[44]
GameSpot8.2/10[45]
GameSpy[46][47]
GameZone8.6/10[48]
IGN8.8/10[49]
Official Xbox Magazine8.5/10[50]
PALGN7.5/10[51]
VideoGamer.com8/10[52]

The DUB Edition Remix was met with a little more positive reception than the original. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 87.14% and 87 out of 100 for the Xbox version,[38][40] and 85.57% and 85 out of 100 for the PS2 version.[39][41]

References

  1. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Release Information for PlayStation 2". GameFAQs. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Release Information for Xbox". GameFAQs. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Release Information for PSP". GameFAQs. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PSP". GameRankings. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ Edge staff (June 2005). "Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition review (PS2, Xbox)". Edge (150): 92. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ EGM staff (June 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (192).
  12. ↑ EGM staff (September 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PSP)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (195).
  13. ↑ Reed, Kristan (April 26, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ Reed, Kristan (July 21, 2005). "Midnight Club 3 (PSP)". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  15. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (May 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition". Game Informer (145): 106. Archived from the original on January 11, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  16. ↑ McNamara, Andy (August 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PSP)". Game Informer (148): 106. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  17. ↑ Atomic Dawg (May 9, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on May 11, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  18. ↑ Sanders, Shawn (April 22, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review (PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  19. ↑ Gee, Brian (July 13, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition - psp Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  20. ↑ Navarro, Alex (April 13, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review". GameSpot. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  21. ↑ Navarro, Alex (June 30, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review (PSP)". GameSpot. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  22. ↑ Williams, Bryn (April 14, 2005). "GameSpy: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  23. ↑ Williams, Bryn (April 14, 2005). "GameSpy: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  24. ↑ Turner, Benjamin (June 30, 2005). "GameSpy: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PSP)". GameSpy. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review". GameTrailers. April 16, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Review (PSP)". GameTrailers. July 11, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  27. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (April 21, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  28. ↑ Romano, Natalie (April 21, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  29. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (July 5, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  30. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (April 11, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  31. ↑ Nix, Marc (June 28, 2005). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PSP)". IGN. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. June 2005. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PSP)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. September 2005.
  34. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition". Official Xbox Magazine: 72. June 2005.
  35. ↑ Schaefer, Jim (April 24, 2005). "MIDNIGHT IN THE MOTOR CITY: Racer set in a virtual Detroit has plenty of vrrooom". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  36. ↑ Newman, Heather (July 16, 2005). "'Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition' (PSP)". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 17, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  37. ↑ Hill, Jason (May 12, 2005). "Instant fun". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  42. ↑ Leone, Matt (March 16, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  43. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (March 22, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  44. ↑ Mason, Lisa (May 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix". Game Informer (157): 97. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  45. ↑ Navarro, Alex (March 22, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix Review". GameSpot. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  46. ↑ Williams, Bryn (March 20, 2006). "GameSpy: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  47. ↑ Williams, Bryn (March 20, 2006). "GameSpy: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  48. ↑ Grabowski, Dakota (June 27, 2006). "Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition Remix - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  49. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (March 13, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix". IGN. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix". Official Xbox Magazine: 81. June 2006.
  51. ↑ Leigh, Chris (April 25, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Review - PlayStation 2 Review". PALGN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  52. ↑ Orry, Tom (March 29, 2006). "Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved September 6, 2014.

External links