Picking up an arcade racer is meant to be intuitive and user-friendly, but fans of the genre also know the hidden depth that is so often ignored by the casual fan. The Midnight Club series, specifically Midnight Club™ 3: DUB® Edition, epitomizes this phenomenon. It's an easy game to hand to your little brother or parents, who can navigate the turns and blazing speed with just enough skill to entertain themselves. The game changes drastically, though, when controlled by a veteran of the series, especially in online competition. The breezy nature of your standard arcade racer transforms into something tense and dramatic, as each bit of a clean line around a curve or the lining up of a slipstream boost or the perfect execution of the Zone ability shaves the precious hundredths of a second off the time needed for a victory.
Getting ready for the slipstream.
It may initially seem as if learning the tracks and the feel of the cars will get you through the day, but there's technique and strategy bursting at the seams if you care to look for it, and, even if you don't, we've got a few tidbits here so you can impress friends and family with sudden prowess.
Duped and Slipstreamed The slipstream maneuver is a no-brainer in the strategy department. Aside from an upcoming complicated set of turns, there's really no reason not to do it, but that doesn't mean you can't be crafty about it. A good strategy is to let the racer riding your tail slide on by your momentarily. Then, you can tuck behind their bumper, build up your turbo meter and fly around them at turbo speed. This little trick is especially crucial in the last stretch before the finish line.
Starting in style.
Keep an Eye on the Rearview You know that little rectangle in the bottom center of your HUD? Yeah, that's the stylized rearview mirror you've probably been ignoring. You can check the position of the nearest racer behind by glancing at it every few seconds. Keep a sharp eye on this and you'll be able to thwart your opponents' attempts at passing you without having to revert to the backwards view employed by the Y button. Also remember that the brighter the lights in the rearview, the closer your opponent is.
The Right Time … All the special abilities you earn throughout the Career mode are useful, but they must be employed at strategic times for maximum efficiency. Here are a couple ground rules you might keep in mind:
For Roar: It's always nice to clear the road of traffic in front of you, but you're missing half the point if there's not one or two competitors ahead of you. Not only will this ability clear the way, but it should also knock a car or two into your fellow drivers, helping to upset their timing.
For Zone: This is great ability to have lying in wait for that perfect "Oh $%#&" moment. You know, when you see the shortcut, but it's too late to turn into it. That's the perfect time to hit the Zone ability and slide between obstacles and cars. Leave this ability in reserve for emergencies, or you likely won't have it ready when you need it.
Need to do something about those rims.
For Agro: First, try not to hit too many cars to build up your Agro meter. It simply slows you down too much, and when you've got it built up, there's no competition to use it on since you're so far behind. Instead, aim for the little trees, lampposts, and telephone poles to quickly build Agro. Then, save it 'til you get passed up or are about to ram into a huge wall of cars. Like Zone, this is best used in emergency situations.
There is, as always, any number of other different techniques and strategies that you'll find and successfully employ, but for those that need a reminder and (even more so) for those that need a foundation, these tips will serve you well. Now go forth, young one, and embrace your inner arcade racer.
