These days, Rockstar Games is known for their love of open-world action, but twenty-four years ago they were known for something a little different – open-world racing games. Back in 2000, when the PlayStation 2 launched, Rockstar introduced the world to a couple of very different racers – Midnight Club: Street Racing and Smuggler's Run. Unfortunately, the Grand Theft Auto company has seemingly forgotten about these classic franchises, but I haven't, and lately I've been wondering what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought of these Rockstar racers. Did they have a strong preference between these two series?
As it turns out, EGM reviewed a total of nine games in the Midnight Club and Smuggler's Run franchises. While that may not sound like much, they managed to cover pretty much all of the major releases across both series. This includes all three of the Smuggler's Run titles, as well as all of the Midnight Club titles, including the PSP port. Just about the only things missing are a couple of questionable Game Boy Advance ports and the various Remixes. Thankfully, they covered everything else, ensuring that we'll have a fun (and surprisingly competitive) list. What we're going to do today is count down the best and worst Rockstar racers using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're just going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. You better put on your seatbelts, because it's going to be a speedy episode when EGM Ranks Rockstar racers.
Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory (PlayStation 2)
#9
“The original Smuggler's Run was famous for its sprawling, go-anywhere environments; however, a second-generation PS2 game needs more than that to earn a thumbs-up. Fortunately, Rockstar added just enough to Smuggler's Run 2 to hold my interest. Nitro boosts and offensive weapons make it a little easier to shake the game's pitbull-like enemies. The environments, filled with landmines, rockslides and the like, are more interactive than before and as dangerous as your actual enemies. Lastly, the new head-to-head turf wars and checkpoint races greatly enhance the game's replay value.” (7.5 out of 10)
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PlayStation Portable)
#8
“This ambitious PSP game has got all the original console game's pimped-out cars with strange special powers, like slowing down time or shooting out sonic booms. But I would've just been happy with stronger headlights, as I had to use the brightness on my PSP, wishing it wasn't Midnight Club but Mid-Afternoon Club. There's less oncoming traffic to compensate for the smaller screen, and I didn't quite feel the classic Midnight Club sense of speed. But thankfully, all the races from the console are here, so whether you're new or old to the series, Dub for PSP has plenty to keep you busy for a long time.” (7.7 out of 10)
Smuggler's Run (PlayStation 2)
#7
“Smuggler's Run is a subtle example of how a smidgen of the PS2's power can immediately change gaming. The beautiful expanses of terrain make for a great backdrop in this adrenaline-pumping race-chase game, where plotting the best course is as important as your reflexes. I was hooked for the first set of missions, but afterward they got a little repetitious. Don't get me wrong, running from the cop cars and droppin' off contraband is fun, but I got frustrated and bored when I never got any firepower to fight back. The overall lack of depth and variety makes this feel like it was rushed, which is unfortunate, since it had great potential.” (7.7 out of 10)
Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3)
#6
“It's a testament to the level of detail in Midnight Club: Los Angeles that I can search for a real-world L.A. landmark on Google Maps and find it, in approximately the same spot, in-game – give or take a few blocks. But the most impressive technical aspect of the latest Midnight Club is how well this massive world seamlessly serves its purpose as a hub for races. One major sticking point for all this, though: The difficulty curve. After spending hours leveling up, purchasing new cars and enhancing their performance, main missions tied to story elements are still difficult. Opponent A.I. rarely even makes mistakes in these races ... and any attempt to forcibly make them screw up is useless. Thankfully, the game's got plenty of side races that offer challenges but won't leave you feeling nearly as frustrated.” (B out of A+)
Midnight Club: Street Racing (PlayStation 2)
#5
“From the folks bringing you Smuggler's Run comes an equally colorful title with the same law-breaking, high-speed action. It's hard to find things to complain about in a game where you can drive onto center court of Madison Square Garden in a low-rider you just won from a trash-talking street punk, but I'll mention a couple. 1 found the backgrounds a little basic and stale at times, and a tad more variety in the car designs would edge out some of the monotony. Otherwise, Midnight Club is a fantastic realization of a street racer's dream, and will provide tons of fun for-any reckless driver who wants a little more than your average racer can offer.” (8.2 out of 10)
Midnight Club II (Xbox)
#4
“I'd like this game a bit more if it weren't so friggin' hard! Luckily, the gameplay is so solid and polished that it's easy to keep playing the same races over and over again. The Xbox Live gameplay adds infinite replay value. Breakneck speed, creative online modes and the ability to talk trash with Live's headset will make you an addict in no time” (8.5 out of 10)
Smuggler's Run: Warzone (GameCube)
#3
“I'm a simple guy, so a game that offers little more than a trumped-up version of capture the flag can still appeal to me. Sure, it's one-dimensional, but for anyone who loves the thrills of the chase, Warzone is likely a bottomless glass. Mission after mission, you're pursuing opponents or running your all-terrain vehicle through a vast and seemingly endless landscape of open desert, hills and even snow. To sum it up, for children of the ‘Cube who've never smuggled, Warzone is a great deal. All others should rent first.” (8.5 out of 10)
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (PlayStation 2 & Xbox)
#2
“I love tricked-out cars so much, sometimes I think maybe I was conceived in the backseat of a souped-up Honda Civic. Unsurprisingly, I was a big-time Midnight Club II fan, and with DUB, the days of itchy nitrous trigger fingers and high-beaming drivers to race are back. DUB redlines on the gorgeous meter. Everything blurs and tunnels to help convey a giddy feeling of speed – and then you hit the nitrous. The new zone feature helps keep it all in check, though, slowing down time so you can slice through traffic or just have a second to blink. The competition does fast and flashy, but squeezing between cars in slow-mo and then reentering traffic (and time) at full tilt? Need For Speed Underground 2 can't catch that.” (8.7 out of 10)
Midnight Club II (PlayStation 2)
#1
“Midnight Club II is hardcore, high-speed craziness that appeals to gearheads like us as well as those who just crave a quick race. The gameplay dynamics change dramatically online thanks to entertaining and combative power-ups that promote strong rivalries between players. For pure entertainment, it's significantly more fun than Auto Modellista and consequently, infinitely more addictive. It also bests Capcom's effort by boasting sublime control that mixes the visceral grip and feel you want from a sports-car game with the twitchy controls you want from an arcade experience. Overall, the best racer since Hot Pursuit 2.” (8.8 out of 10)
