Anyone get Midnight Club Los Angeles?

[Borthcollective]

If so, is it any good?

[National Kato]

I'm tempted, because I loved the last one. However, reviews are saying it's exceptionally hard - to the point where it's rare to finish on the podium. Rubberbanding is in the game, and that's almost a deal breaker for me in racing games. I shouldn't be punished for being better than the rest of the field.

They say this doesn't really affect progression, as you get XP and Rep no matter how you finish, but that it's frustrating.

Otherwise, they say the game is great. Cops are a little bit of a harassment, as they'll chase you for speeding, and you end up having to head back to where your race starts after evading the cops...but on the way, the cops begin chasing you again for speeding. Rinse and repeat.

I'll try it as a rental, since this season is glut with great games.

[Young Al Capone]

I am interested, but will be waiting until sometime next year as there is just too much out right now. If they would have released a month ago I would have bought it day one.

[Gorvi]

The fact that it's really hard makes me happy. MC2 was brutal, but that challenge is what made me love it so much. I've heard good things about the PSP version, I think I may just go with that once WipEout HD isn't satisfying my racing itch any longer.

[Restlessavenger]

The PSP version of Dub Edition was great. I had a heck of a lot of fun with that game... rubberbanding and all. When you finally won a race, especially at the later levels it was quite a feeling of satisfaction.
Hopefully I should have this coming in from Gamefly this week and will be sure to share my thoughts on this one.

[Telefrog]

I'm tempted, because I loved the last one. However, reviews are saying it's exceptionally hard - to the point where it's rare to finish on the podium. Rubberbanding is in the game, and that's almost a deal breaker for me in racing games. I shouldn't be punished for being better than the rest of the field.

Rubberbanding in a racing game is all I need to know to avoid it.

[divinechaos]

What's rubberbanding? My brother's a huge MC fan and I'm seriously thinking about getting it.

[Young Al Capone]

What's rubberbanding? My brother's a huge MC fan and I'm seriously thinking about getting it.

Rubber band AI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubberband_effect), where the AI drivers will not get too far ahead or fall too far behind. It is supposed to keep you in the pack at all times, but often results in rewarding fuck ups and penalizing good driving.

[Restlessavenger]

Midnight Club has always been known for it's ridiculous level of rubber banding. At least the open world editions have.

[Dukefrukem]

Rubber band AI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubberband_effect), where the AI drivers will not get too far ahead or fall too far behind. It is supposed to keep you in the pack at all times, but often results in rewarding fuck ups and penalizing good driving.

Burnout has this too. So annoying.

[Fubl]

ships today from amazon i think...

[Borthcollective]

Midnight Club has always been known for it's ridiculous level of rubber banding. At least the open world editions have.

You know I had never noticed this before, but now it is apparent. I would be whooping guys in races and the slightest error and bam, 4th place.

[Restlessavenger]

So, just got done going through about a half dozen races. If you liked the last Midnight Club game, you will probably like this one, as it is virtually identical. The city looks beautiful, but as far as the progression system and such it is pretty darn similar to the last one (which isn't really a bad thing).

[RandoM51]

Can't really expect a game to offer a decent level of challenge to players of all skill levels without something like rubberbanding.

Imagine a game without rubberbanding(or similar), tailored exactly to your skill level, which gave you a great racing experience. You'd love it, right?

Well what about the guy who is better than you? He'd be bored to tears.
Well what about the guy who isn't as good as you? He'd be hopelessly outmatched and demoralized from never winning.

Rubberbanding or similar is ok in singleplayer, IMHO. Wouldn't want it in multiplayer though.

[Borthcollective]

Can't really expect a game to offer a decent level of challenge to players of all skill levels without something like rubberbanding.

Imagine a game without rubberbanding(or similar), tailored exactly to your skill level, which gave you a great racing experience. You'd love it, right?

Well what about the guy who is better than you? He'd be bored to tears.
Well what about the guy who isn't as good as you? He'd be hopelessly outmatched and demoralized from never winning.

Rubberbanding or similar is ok in singleplayer, IMHO. Wouldn't want it in multiplayer though.

Making sense makes my head hurt. Thanks for the objective post Random51, it's making me rethink not picking the game up.

[Young Al Capone]

Can't really expect a game to offer a decent level of challenge to players of all skill levels without something like rubberbanding.

...

Rubberbanding or similar is ok in singleplayer, IMHO. Wouldn't want it in multiplayer though.

I actually agree for the most part, and when it is done right it can be really good. I like the rubberbanding in Excite Truck and Burnout just fine.

Certain games though, Need For Speed Underground and Midnight Club 2 come to mind, do not implement it as well and it can often be frustrating to be ripping along only to slide to the outside of a turn and see three cars take you on the inside that were not even visible just a second ago.

[National Kato]

Can't really expect a game to offer a decent level of challenge to players of all skill levels without something like rubberbanding.

I disagree 110%. Rubberbanding isn't about challenging all levels of players. It's about unrealistically making races tighter than they should be. If you want challenges for all levels of skilled players, create a dynamic AI that adapts and gets better as you do. Don't give me some God Mode where the AI catches up because you're racing better than them.

It's bullshit and lazy. I expect more out of my racing games. There's plenty of challenge in racing games that don't use rubberbanding.

[Restlessavenger]

I think the level of rubberbanding, at least in the earlier races is just about right. As long as your not crashing your car into oncoming traffic it never seems too cheap.

[Mortis]

If you want challenges for all levels of skilled players, create a dynamic AI that adapts and gets better as you do. Don't give me some God Mode where the AI catches up because you're racing better than them.

Pure did that and it worked quite well, until the game decided I was too good and it became impossible to win a race. I don't mean "wow this is a hard race I need to try it a few times and learn the best route" I mean 100% impossible. I had to do the tutorial again poorly to reset the AI, which made it way too easy late in the game until they caught on again. Still it was better than a rubberband system.

[Young Al Capone]

How well you do in the tutorial makes a difference in Pure?

Goddammit, that would explain why that game has been so brutalis; I destroyed during the tuts.

[Psykoboy2]

How well you do in the tutorial makes a difference in Pure?

Yeah. I didn't know this either. Gonna have to give that another go. When it comes to racing games, I'm not satisfied unless I get gold across the board.

[Mortis]

How well you do in the tutorial makes a difference in Pure?

Goddammit, that would explain why that game has been so brutalis; I destroyed during the tuts.

That is what it bases the difficulty on at the start, then it adapts as you go. When I really started kicking ass is when it became impossible. It was like fuck this guy, I've had enough. But yeah you can do the tutorial again poorly and it will reset and take it easy on your for a while. After I reset it I lapped the entire field.

When I did it I failed what it asked me to do multiple times (holding a trick until I crashed, not boosting over a jump etc.) and crashed like 15 times into walls and off the cliff.

[Young Al Capone]

Yeah. I didn't know this either. Gonna have to give that another go. When it comes to racing games, I'm not satisfied unless I get gold across the board.

Yeah, that is my story too. It was really bothering me with this game because I really, really like the game but was having such a hard time doing well. I ended up putting the controller down until I get bored with the winter releases but will definitely have to give another shot this weekend.

[roguebaboon]

So, just got done going through about a half dozen races. If you liked the last Midnight Club game, you will probably like this one, as it is virtually identical. The city looks beautiful, but as far as the progression system and such it is pretty darn similar to the last one (which isn't really a bad thing).

Yup. I will say the customizing is a timesink, i spent like an hour painting a camaro to match mine. The cops are also difficult when there are more than one. All in all i like it, but its nothing jaw dropping.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm tempted, because I loved the last one. However, reviews are saying it's exceptionally hard - to the point where it's rare to finish on the podium. Rubberbanding is in the game, and that's almost a deal breaker for me in racing games.

Wow I can't believe how much this hits the nail on the head. You could be ahead the entire race, by a lot.. and lose in the last 1/4 mile. Races are way too long for this to be fun. My initial impression of this game is it's crap.

[Dukefrukem]

yeh this game is awful and filled with bugs. I didn't realize how many Best Buys there were in LA.


Couple of videos I took.

No Sound Glitch

NoQ8FnS0Itg


Graphical Glitch

jC7kO2PxyGI

[Digital Outlaw]

I loved MC2 but with SR2 and GoW2, I know it will be a waste of money at this point... Will buy MC: LA later when the price drops....

[Sirindu]

I loved MC2 but with SR2 and GoW2, I know it will be a waste of money at this point... Will buy MC: LA later when the price drops....

That's what I was going to say. I really do look forward to getting this... loved DUB Edition so much.

[National Kato]

I'll pick it up. likely, once the glut of games this season dies down. You know there's going to be a drought come the new year...might as well wait and pick it up at a discount.

[Purple Santa]

I like to try different racing games but rarely any of them stick. How is this game for the casual racing fan?

[Fubl]

I drive the yellow and white sirrocco of DOOM.... so far alot of the races have felt easy but im getitng into the harder section with the begining cars. So looks like ill have to sell one of them. Anyone a member of the social club....

[Dukefrukem]

apparently that graphic glitch is widespread? im getting comments on my youtube video of people saying they're having the same problem

[divinechaos]

apparently that graphic glitch is widespread? im getting comments on my youtube video of people saying they're having the same problem

What's the glitch in that vid? I couldn't catch it.

[Dukefrukem]

What's the glitch in that vid? I couldn't catch it.

look at the bottom right hand corner of the screen...

[JayK47]

Picked up Midnight Club: LA Complete Edition used. I know, used is evil. I picked it up along with a bunch of other racing games not sure I would like any of them. So I picked them up for as cheap as I could in case I hated any of them. Well, I am loving this game. So it would have been worth buying new. It is similar to Test Drive Unlimited, but better. TDU is too dependent on online races, which at this point do not exist. This game keeps me interested with new races constantly coming in. After getting out of my beginner car, the game really picks up. Having a blast racing with a '69 Camaro. I find it difficult, but not so much that it is impossible to progress. You need to win in most races to progress, but I barely need to redo a race. The time trial courses are the hardest, but they are single races. There are delivery missions, which are time trials with various cars you are delivering. In any time trial, the time gives little room for error. You basically need to keep it floored the whole time and make every turn perfectly. Doable, but takes a few tries.

I just like the atmosphere of the game. Games like TDU and Burnout Paradise can't keep my interest. Yet they have so many similarities, like open cities where the race happens on the streets. The game works great with my 360 wheel setup and the interior view feels right. With the lack of interest in this game, I can see why there has been no Midnight Clubs since this game. Too bad.

[Hyperglide]

Holy thread resurrection.

[divinechaos]

Picked up Midnight Club: LA Complete Edition used. I know, used is evil. I picked it up along with a bunch of other racing games not sure I would like any of them. So I picked them up for as cheap as I could in case I hated any of them. Well, I am loving this game. So it would have been worth buying new. It is similar to Test Drive Unlimited, but better. TDU is too dependent on online races, which at this point do not exist. This game keeps me interested with new races constantly coming in. After getting out of my beginner car, the game really picks up. Having a blast racing with a '69 Camaro. I find it difficult, but not so much that it is impossible to progress. You need to win in most races to progress, but I barely need to redo a race. The time trial courses are the hardest, but they are single races. There are delivery missions, which are time trials with various cars you are delivering. In any time trial, the time gives little room for error. You basically need to keep it floored the whole time and make every turn perfectly. Doable, but takes a few tries.

I just like the atmosphere of the game. Games like TDU and Burnout Paradise can't keep my interest. Yet they have so many similarities, like open cities where the race happens on the streets. The game works great with my 360 wheel setup and the interior view feels right. With the lack of interest in this game, I can see why there has been no Midnight Clubs since this game. Too bad.

Midnight Club: Dub Edition was one of my favorite racers for the Xbox but this game took a little to long to get good. I felt like I was stuck with my stock for quite some time and the races just got really boring.