So why is everyone excited about DUB coming to PSP? The console versions left quite an impression on gamers. By applying the same principles of open city gameplay that made Grand Theft Auto 3 so popular, the first Midnight Club gave you an enormous playground to burn through. Midnight Club II added motorcycles to the mix, including an 8 player online experience. And finally Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition re-imagined the whole series by making everything bigger and better. The cities grew, the cars were licensed (import, muscle and luxury cars), the destructible environments got more insane, the customization got deeper and all the racing was fast as hell with a ton of interactive traffic to contend with. The game was jammed with content, plus a slumpin' soundtrack that set the whole game on fire. By teaming up with DUB magazine, a publication that's dedicated to profiling the latest and most expensive trends in the automotive world, Rockstar was able to bring a sense of style rarely seen in a racer. Now we learn that we'll be able to take the experience wherever we want on PSP, and the imagination runs wild. Wi-fi Midnight Club anyone?
You'll travel to three locations in DUB PSP: San Diego, Detroit, and Atlanta. The cities are meant to reflect open-ended design of their console counterparts. There are all kinds of secrets and goodies to find that benefit you in racing. There's a cruise mode that allows you to just drive and explore the city, looking for hidden routes that you can use for shortcuts in the real race. There are also "free for alls" where there's no specific track and your just trying to find the ultimate route to the almighty goal line.
All the intensity everyone enjoyed in DUB is on the console versions is expected to translate to PSP. With various unlockable upgrades available, your car will go up and past 220 mph. And the depth of that customization doesn't skimp in the least. You can pick out new guts to improve the performance of your suspension, and then blow out the engine with a top tier supercharger that blazes the competition. Once you got you car running in tip-top competition, you'll have the luxury of styling it up with treats like a new paint job, body kit, and set of rims. This is where the DUB magazine element comes into play. With shows like Pimp My Ride on MTV that have increased public awareness about automotive customization, DUB magazine has skyrocketed in popularity within the past year. DUB PSP is meant to bring the essence and attitude of DUB magazine to a handheld format, and blow our minds in the process.
The package of modes is promises a hefty selection along with all the other features. There are different races that Rockstar is going to add that they say will, "complement the on-the-go play style of the PSP." They haven't revealed exactly what they are, but we're hoping they're as impressive as what was offered on consoles. But one particular mode they have managed to speak on is multiplayer and it will support up to 6 players over Wi-fi. We're still waiting to see if that includes online infrastructure mode.
This is sounding like a pretty amazing port. You travel to all cities you did in the console version and you have all the licensed cars and parts as well. And with Rockstar Leeds heading the project, the result of this port should give us a pretty good idea of what to expect from Grand Theft Auto PSP. Stay tuned for details. In the mean time, treat yourself to these screenshots. Enjoy.
