Arcade Racer Tips

The Madness (Midtown, that is) is finally on store shelves and ready for your greedy little hands to snatch it up, take it home, and do with it what you will.

But, let's get one big strategic misconception out of the way first. While Midtown Madness 3 is a racing game, it is not, in any way, a driving simulation. An arcade racer and a driving simulation require opposing mindsets, and if you try to apply one to the other, you're in for a junkyard full of trouble. Get it? Got it? Good! Now, let's move on.

Well, that was unexpected.

Midtown Madness 3 presents a strategic element that defies many standards generally applicable to racing games. The game, by its very nature, is wide open. There's no one way to reach an objective, and not every race takes place on a different track. All aspects, whether in a single or multiplayer game, will play out in either Paris or Washington D.C., and none will require a predetermined path (literally) to success. As such, there can be no one tip that will grant you instantaneous victory in an individual scenario. Instead, we'll break down some general advice that, hopefully, will help you refine your skills and allow you take your speed-freak abilities to the next level.

Stick It
Automatic transmission is for pansies! Well, at least, that's what my driving instructor told me. At any rate, when it comes to individual control, you can't beat going manual. Yes, choosing automatic is easier, and you'll almost definitely do better in the short run, but in the end, having say-so on when you switch gears will definitely give you more control, which you can use to suit your individual driving style.

Now that's a truck.

Bust Out the Map
When you have two entire cities full of side-roads, main arterials, back-alleys, and other unconventional routes (such as motoring through a park), it becomes decidedly important to actually know your way around town. Following the arrow pointing to your next destination just isn't going to cut it in later levels or against stiff competition. The arrow only points to where the next objective is; it does not, however, point to the quickest route to get there. Luckily, you can take advantage of Cruise mode, which offers unlimited time to explore the city and learn every nook, cranny, and shortcut you'll need.

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo
… Catch a car by the … never mind. Bad jokes aside, choosing the right car for the appropriate task is crucial. Checkpoint races provide an excellent example of this. For instance, if you're about to take part in the Checkpoint race Grass and Asphalt with a bunch of friends, you might be well advised to take a muscle car like the 67 Mustang. Grass and Asphalt contains many gentle curves and long stretches of straight road. This matches perfectly with the Mustang's overwhelming top-speed (all that speed doesn't translate well to tight cornering, though). On the other hand, you might consider taking the Renault R5, circa 1985, if you plan on tackling the Chinamaze race. The Chinamaze doesn't give you time to reach maximum speed, and it's full of tight 90-degree turns, which fits nicely with the quick-off-the-line, tight-cornering Renault hatchback.

Wanna go for a spin?

The Environmental Advantage
Causing environmental mayhem around every corner is a wonderfully gratifying way to frustrate your pursuers. Whether it's a lamppost, a table outside a trendy bistro, or a freakin' semi-truck, if you can knock it in front of your competition, do so. This tactic is especially useful if you're leading the pack with a larger vehicle. The bigger the car or truck you're driving, the less impact knocking something over will have. Likewise, if the car crawling up your bumper is smaller (like the economically sized and previously mentioned Renault, R5), this tactic will be that much more useful.

There are many. many more little tips, hints, and tricks you can use in Midtown Madness 3, but half the fun is figuring them out on your own. Use the tips above as groundwork for your overall strategy, and you'll be on your way to leaving your friends behind in an oddly sweet-smelling cloud of burnt rubber in

By Alex McLain