Games developers have an annoying habit of ignoring the Sony PSP. When it is given any consideration, it’s usually only as an after-thought.
And so poor PSP owners have to put up with ill-fitting hand-me-downs – stripped-down versions of console games (usually with the best bits taken out) which are clumsily crammed on to the portable format.
Cue Midnight Club: LA Remix.
The word remix in the title was enough to send a shiver down my spine as I prepared myself for yet another inferior version of a main console title.
But lo and behold Rockstar, who did such a fantastic job of putting Grand Theft Auto on the PSP, have pulled it off again with this awesome new release.
Midnight Club: LA Remix looks sensational and plays brilliantly.
It is a classy game which is set to establish itself as one of the classic driving games on the PSP.
You take on the role of a novice street racer who has the goal of becoming the fastest, baddest driver on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Should you achieve this not particularly straightforward task then you get to take your skills to Tokyo.
You climb up the street racing ladder by completing various challenges and races to improve your reputation among your rivals and to earn extra cash to buy better and faster vehicles.
This formula may sound overly familiar but three things help this game stand out from the crowd in the genre.
Firstly, the presentation (including graphics and sound) is about as slick as any racing game on the PSP could ever dream of being.
It is as stylish as any finely tuned Italian supercar.
My only minor gripe on the graphics front is it does very occasionally seem your car is passing through solid objects, and vice versa.
Secondly, the pace of the racing action is breathtaking. This is a real speed-fest, there’s a genuine feeling of heart in mouth as you zoom down the streets and screech around the corners.
Thirdly, the feel of the game and the breakneck speed of the racing would be totally wasted if it was not for the excellent control system. Unlike too many other driving games, the config is logically laid out and is easy to master. But most importantly, the responsiveness of the controls is just right. You’ve got enough control to feel like you’re in charge of your destiny but it’s not so loose as to send your car flying all over the place, which plagues many driving games.
This game definitely veers into the arcade lane, rather than the pro racer simulation, and it is all the more fun for it.
Overall, Midnight Club: LA Remix is a rip-roaring racing experience which restores my faith (at least a little bit) in reworked titles on the PSP. Well done Rockstar.
Verdict: 9 out of 10
The good
- Highly polished presentation
- Fantastic fast-paced action
- Easy-to-master control system
- Hours of fun
The bad
- Very occasional graphical flaws
- Does not add anything innovative to the car racing genre
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