I’ve never really been a fan of racing games. Only one has ever really grabbed me. Of course, that game is Burnout Paradise. That game took the open world of Grand Theft Auto and mixed a driving game with it. Perfect.

Midnight Club Los Angeles tries to do something similar. The game is made by Rockstar (GTA’s developer) so it uses the same graphics engine as GTA IV. Midnight Club takes the realistic open-world setting and the driving physics of GTA IV and makes it strictly a driving game. That’s pretty much the best analogy I can think of. If Burnout is an arcade racer and Gran Turismo is a realistic simulation, Midnight Club Los Angeles is stuck somewhere between the two.

MCLA’s plot starts like many race themed movies have recently. You’re a tough, east coast kid moving to the west coast try become the best underground racer. Every kid’s dream, right? He meets a gang of underground racers and is invited to test his skills on the streets. Laughter ensues…

The game is completely open world. Much like Burnout Paradise, you’re given free reign over the city, to explore however you chose. Unlike Burnout, in which you can race any of the races whenever you want, MCLA is more limited – or, at least, you don’t get everything at once. A few races are open at the beginning, intending for you to learn the game on.

The races are comprised mostly of checkpoint driving. Smoke bombs light up instead of checkpoints and help steer you in the right direction. Again, unlike in Burnout Paradise where you’re given one point to race to, MCLA will light up a series of checkpoints, like more traditional racers. The variation in events is also very good as well.

What’s very cool about the game is the navigation system. All of your missions are coordinated through your cellphone (a la GTA). Also, your map is actually a top-down shot of the actual game world. As your driving, if you hit start, the game will pause and pull out of the world, without loading, and give you a top down shot. It’s very cool.

The inherent problem I had with MCLA, however, is the difficulty. A lot of reviews have mentioned it, and it is a huge problem. If the game got incredibly difficult later in the game, I could forgive this issue, but it doesn’t. The game is extremely hard from the second race. Within the first few races, you literally cannot make a mistake. Your opponents will shoot out in front of you, and you’ll be hard pressed to ever catch up. And that isn’t fun at all.

But the game looks good. The city is a complete replica of Los Angeles, down to individual buildings. From the cars to the light on the roads, this game is comparable to the best looking games out there. It looks better in that regard to Burnout Paradise.

For the hardcore racing fan, you’ll love this game. You can tweak your cars on the outside and on the inside – but it never gets too technical like other simulations. The customization is some of the best ever in a game. You can even sell your creations online!

If you’re looking for another great race, this game will fill your appetite. From an excellent and expansive online mode (much like Burnout’s) to the customization, the game is awesome. But the game never grabbed me or made me want to keep playing it. I’m guess that lies in the difficulty. The game is frustratingly hard way too early on. It’s also hard for me to recommend this title when Burnout Paradise is offering so many awesome free downloads.

Gameplay: 7.5
The driving mechanics are fun, but way too hard for me to enjoy. The wrecking physics also don’t feel quite right.

Graphics: 9.0
The city is photorealistic down to individual buildings.

Sound: 9.0
The soundtracks give a distinct vibe to the game that is very cool.

Difficulty: Very Hard
This game is way too hard, too early on.

Concept: 8.0 
A solid continuation of the series. Not too much different though.

Multiplayer: 9.0
Tons of options in a sleek, multiplayer experience.

Overall: 8.0
This game is extremely hard to put a number on. If you’re into customizable racing games, this one is for you. It’s hard to go wrong with the amount of options and car tweaking possible in this game. If you’re more into arcade racers, Burnout Paradise is still the king of the road. MCLA is a competent racer, however, and while flawed, offers an awesome driving experience.