&&& && &&&& &&&& && &&&&& &&&& :&: && :&&&: && && &&&&&&& :&:&& :&:&: :&: :&: &&: :&:&& && :&: && :&: :&: :&: && &&&& && && && && && &&:&: && :&:&&& &&&&&& && :&: &&& :&: :&: :&: &&: :&: &&&& :&: && &: :&: :&: :&: && &&& && && &&&&& && &&&: && &&&&& && && && :&&&: && && && &&&&&: &&&&&&&&& && && :&: :&: :&: :&: && :&: :&: :&: && && && &&&&&& && && && && :&: :&: :&: :&: &: :&: :&: &&&&: &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&& &&&&&&&&& -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- :: :: :: FAQ/Walkthrough v. 5.2 :: :: :: :: Midnight Club II :: :: Platform: XBOX :: :: Original Guide Date: August 22, 2003 :: :: Last Revised: October 09, 2003 :: :: :: :: Created by: PeaceNLove :: :: E-mail: peacenlove08@yahoo.com :: :: :: :: This file is Copyright 2003 Jeremy Groover. All rights reserved. :: :: It may not be reproduced without my consent. Thank you. :: :: :: -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction a. Updates b. Author's Note II. Game Basics a. The History of The Midnight Club b. Heads-Up Display c. Game Controls d. Racing Maneuvers III. Career Races a. Los Angeles b. Paris c. Tokyo d. Savo IV. Circuit Races a. Los Angeles b. Paris c. Tokyo V. Arcade Modes a. Cruise b. Circuit c. Battle d. Race Editor e. Career f. Power-ups VI. Cars a. Los Angeles b. Paris c. Tokyo d. Special VII. Tips and Tricks a. Racings Tips b. Cheat Codes VIII. Conclusion a. Legal Stuff b. Credits -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=- I . I N T R O D U C T I O N -=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- /==================\ --< a. Updates >-- \==================/ - 08/22/03 - v. 1.0 First version of the FAQ. History of The Midnight Club and game controls added. All cars and statistics added. - 08/26/03 - v. 2.0 All Los Angeles career races added except for the city champion races. Many racing maneuvers added. Racing tips and some cheats added as well. - 08/31/03 - v. 2.1 Minor format changes made. Los Angeles city champion races added as well as Two-Wheel Driving maneuver. Arcade Modes section completed. - 09/07/03 - v. 3.1 All Paris career races added as well as all Paris car notes added. A few more racing tips added and other minor changes made. - 09/21/03 - v. 3.2 Ricky, Shing, and Haley Tokyo races added and car notes completed. Some car resemblances changed. - 09/27/03 - v. 4.2 Revamped the format of the FAQ, making it look a lot spiffier. Finished the rest of Tokyo career races. - 10/09/03 - v. 5.2 All of Savo's races added, completing the career races. Added a small Heads-Up Display section. /========================\ --< b. Author's Note >-- \========================/ Hello and thanks to everyone that reads my Walkthrough/FAQ. This is the second FAQ that I have created and I hope it is to your liking and provides some needed help in Midnight Club II as I put a lot of time and effort into making it. I, personally, love the street-racing scene and so I naturally bought this game early when it first came out. I loved this game, but I admit that it is very frustrating at times. But overall it is a wonderful experience and the game has so much quality that it is fun to play over and over. I decided to make a step-by-step, checkpoint-by-checkpoint walkthrough of each race to help those frustrated racers. If you have any questions, information, or feedback for me, you can email me at peacenlove08@yahoo.com. Enjoy. -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=- I I . G A M E B A S I C S -=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- /===========================================\ --< a. The History of The Midnight Club >-- \===========================================/ In secret gatherings around the world a mysterious group of urban street racers - known as the Midnight Club - race for pride, power and glory in sleekly customized tricked-out sports cars. Racing through the crowded streets, running red lights, terrorizing pedestrians, driving on sidewalks and outrunning the cops are just the basics for the Midnight Club. Or so you've heard. While you're cruising through the dark streets, you spot a tricked out low- rider speeding and weaving through traffic. Intrigued and looking for thrills, you make your presence known to him with a few of your own daring maneuvers. After introducing himself with a sneer, he throws down the gauntlet and speeds off. Determined to get in the club, you race off after him with reckless abandon. Once you've followed and matched your new adversary move for move on a mad chase through the city, finally he pulls over. He dares you to meet him and his friends at midnight. You've got your shot. Victory will earn you membership in the club, which comes with pride, thrills and glory. You're on your way... /===========================\ --< b. Heads-Up Display >-- \===========================/ +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | # : # # : # # Current Lap | | Position (1) # : # # : # # | | # / # Lap | | ______ (3) # / # | | \_\ | | | / / _| (2) | | / / / | | \/__/ __ (9) | | | | | | _____________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | / |[] | | (4) | | / |[](8) | | .---N---. | Car Picture | .*******. __|[] | | // \\ | | ** 5 6 7 / # \ | | | | | | * 4 8\___/ (7) | | | A | | | * 3 # # # * | | | | |_____________________| * 2 * | | \\ // ___________________ **. 1 0 .** (6) | | '-------' (___________________) ******* | | (5) | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ (1) RACE TIME/POSITION - This is the current time for the entire race and your current race position. (2) ARROW - The arrow directs you to the nearest checkpoint or racer that you must follow. (3) CURRENT LAP - This is the time for your current lap and the lap number you are on. (4) MAP - This map shows your position in the city. The A (a yellow triangle in the game) represents your car. The N represents North on the map. Green triangles represent your other opponents while a red triangle is your main opponent. A light blue circle is an immediate checkpoint and a darker blue circle represents the next checkpoint. If the perimeter of your map is flashing, there are police on your tail. (5) REARVIEW MIRROR - This shows the position and distance of the players behind you. Bigger, brighter headlights mean a closer opponent. (6) TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER - Shows the vehicle speed in the center in MPH and an PRM redline around the perimeter. (7) GEAR - The gear that you are currently in. (8) NITROUS GAUGE - Displays the number of nitrous shots remaining in the tank (up to five). (9) TURBO GAUGE - Measures the level of boost you'll get from a slipstream turbo or a burnout. Your turbo gauge must be full in order to turbo, but you may burnout with the gauge at any level above zero. /========================\ --< c. Game Controls >-- \========================/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Default Configuration --------------------- A Button ............ Gas B Button ............ Look Back X Button ............ Brake/Reverse Y Button ............ Change Camera White Button ........ Horn Black Button ........ Nitro/Slip Stream Turbo Start Button ........ Pause Back Button ........ Unused Left Thumbstick ..... Steering . click in for Headlights/Powerups Right Thumbstick .... Gas/Brake/Reverse . click in for Nitro/Slip Stream Turbo D-Pad ............... Up - City Map . Left - Previous Song . Right - Next Song . Down - Map Zoom Left Trigger ........ Weight Transfer Right Trigger ....... Handbrake =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MANUAL TRANSMISSION =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Configuration A - My Preference ------------------------------- A Button ............ Handbrake B Button ............ Look Back X Button ............ Weight Transfer Y Button ............ Change Camera White Button ........ Horn Black Button ........ Nitro/Slip Stream Turbo Start Button ........ Pause Back Button ......... Unused Left Thumbstick ..... Steering . click for Headlights/Powerups Right Thumbstick .... Shift Up/Shift Down . click for Nitro/Slip Stream Turbo D-Pad ............... Up - City Map . Left - Previous Song . Right - Next Song . Down - Map Zoom Left Trigger ........ Brake/Reverse (pressure sensitive) Right Trigger ....... Gas (pressure sensitive) /===========================\ --< d. Racing Maneuvers >-- \===========================/ As you progress through the game, you will unlock certain racing maneuvers that will drastically aid you in races. Nitrous ------- In my opinion, this is one of the best features in the game. It is essentially a short burst of speed but it can take you from last to first in no time. When used strategically, nitrous can win you races. To activate it, press the Black button or press in the Right Thumbstick. Your nitrous gauge is to the upper right of your tachometer and shows you how much nitrous you have. One use will drain one bar of nitrous. This maneuver is unlocked after defeating Moses in Los Angeles. In-Air Controls --------------- These maneuvers are very effective when landing jumps or dropping from higher places. In-Air Controls lets you transfer the weight of your car in mid-air allowing you to tilt the car a certain way or level it off. To use In-Air Controls, hold the Left Trigger (X Button in Manual) and move the car with the Left Thumbstick, while in air. By default, holding the weight transfer button in mid-air will correct any sideways flipping movement (barrel rolling), but any front, back, left, and right corrections must be done with the thumbstick. This maneuver is unlocked after following Maria to the race point. Burnout ------- The burnout maneuver is a highly used maneuver that can get you from 0 to 60 in about half the time of normal acceleration. This maneuver is very beneficial at the start of races as well as whenever you come to a near stop e.g. if you run into something or must pull a 180. To execute a Burnout, hold the Handbrake (Right Trigger, A Button in Manual), and the Gas (A Button, Right Trigger in Manual) and when the boost gauge is full, let go of the Handbrake. This maneuver is unlocked after defeating Angel in the Hollywood Hysteria race. Slipstream Turbo ---------------- This is a good maneuver to use at the start of the race as well as anywhere you have the opportunity. It is essentially a free nitrous boost, though not quite so good. At the beginning of the race, it can help you gain a slight lead over the competition or catch up to your opponents. To use slipstream turbo, be within a few car lengths of a car ahead of you and draft them until your boost meter fills up and flashes red. Then press a Nitrous button (Black Button or push in the Right Thumbstick) to shoot ahead of your opponent with a nice blur effect. This maneuver is unlocked after defeating Hector in the Block Party race. Two-Wheel Driving ----------------- I really never used this maneuver as I race in the first person camera view and driving on two wheels is very distorting and disorienting. It may prove of some use to you though. The maneuver pops your car on two wheels, allowing you to squeeze through tight spaces. It can be especially useful in Paris as there are many tight alleys and traffic is cramped. Turning is very hard, much like turning on a motorcycle without Leaning, so use sparingly. It seems that this maneuver can also only be performed when your car is going at least 40 mph. To execute Two-Wheel Driving, hold the weight transfer button (Left Trigger, X Button in Manual) and hold left or right on the Left Thumbstick to pop up on two wheels. This maneuver is unlocked after defeating Dice in the Droppin' Knowledge race. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- MOTORCYCLE MANEUVERS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Motorcycles can utilize both the Burnout and In-Air Controls maneuvers (they cannot have nitrous) and some other motorcycle-specific maneuvers. These maneuvers are unlocked after defeating the your opponent bikers in the Showdown race. Weight Transfer --------------- Motorcycles can use weight transfer while racing to greatly improve the handling, acceleration, and speed of the vehicle. Duck - By holding Weight Transfer (Left Trigger, X Button in Manual) and Up on the Left Thumbstick, the rider will lean forward, reducing drag and increasing your speed. Wheelie - To do a wheelie, hold Weight Transfer and Down on the Left Thumbstick. Your front will pop up, putting more weight on the back wheels, greatly increasing your acceleration and speed. However, if you pull back too far, you will crash. Lean - Hold Weight Transfer and Left or Right on the Left Thumbstick to lean your motorcycle, allowing for much sharper turns with little loss of speed. Endo - To do an Endo (also called a Nosie or Front Stand), hold Weight Transfer while pressing Up on the Left Thumbstick and applying the brake (X Button, Left Trigger in Manual). You will pop up on your front wheel and come to a stop. It looks very cool and also is an effective braking maneuver. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= OTHER MANEUVERS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= These maneuvers are either fun but useless maneuvers or apply to only certain cars. Boost ----- The Veloci and the SLF450x have another special maneuver, which greatly increases their already extremely rapid acceleration. When the car is going at least 60 mph, hold down the Handbrake (Right Trigger, A Button in Manual) to get an extra boost in acceleration. If the Handbrake is held before 60 mph, the car will slowly decelerate. Steering is very loose while doing this maneuver so only use on straightaways. Flips ----- In effect, flipping is a useless maneuver, but is fun to perform on huge jumps. To do a front or back flip, hold the weight transfer button (Left Trigger, X Button in Manual) and hold down or up (respectively) on the Left Thumbstick when going off a large jump. You can find some good jumps in Paris and Tokyo. Some cars flip faster than others for some reason. I found that the best cars for flipping are the Saikou, Saikou XS, and the Tokyo Cop Car. Barrel Rolls ------------ Another useless maneuver, barrel rolls are pretty hard to do. Upon going off a large jump, execute the Two-Wheel Driving maneuver, but let go of the weight transfer button immediately, so that you do not correct yourself in air. If done right and with enough hang time, you will do a complete barrel roll. -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=- I I I . C A R E E R R A C E S -=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*-^*- | __ __ /\ __ __ __ __ | | | |__ /__\ |\ | | _ |_ | |_ |__ |___ |__| __| / \ | \| |__| |__ |__ |__ __| Street Report: A balance of remote winding hills, expansive open highways, and thoroughfares. Arid, drought-plagued climate results in optimal traction. Precipitation is a relatively null race variable. Traffic Study: Over-populated and with a poor mass-transit system, Los Angeles is notorious for its traffic congestion. Although such traffic is much less of a concern late at night, local nightlife restrictions result in above average recreational cruising. =-=-=-=-=-=-= MOSES =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Citi As you start a new career, you will be introduced to Moses, a white, 280-pound, wannabe gansta street racer. He will tell you to follow him. Flash your headlights by clicking in the Left Thumbstick and follow him to the racing point. If you lose him or any other racer while following him for a period of time, you will fail and be forced to start over. Whenever tailing another racer, you distance affects how fast they will go. If you are right up on the racer's tail, he/she will floor it, but if you are pretty far behind, the racer will stay at a low speed so that you may catch up. Stay at least five car lengths behind to give yourself time to react to sharp turns. Moses doesn't make any drastic direction changes so just follow him to the race point and prepare to race. ---------- Initiation ---------- Recommended Vehicle: Cocotte Opponent Vehicle(s): Citi, Torrida Strategy: Being the first race in the game it is also the easiest. It is pretty much a straight shot to the finish line from the start. Like any good drag race, a lovely lady gives you the go call. There is no countdown, so just be prepared for the start. All of the opponents' cars are better and faster than your car, statistically, but they don't seem to be racing at their full potential. So while you will not be first off the line, you will catch up pretty quickly. The objective is to race through all the points in order. This is not hard at all because you can pretty much see the next point after hitting one and, as aforementioned, it is pretty much a straight shot to the finish. Beware of the vehicles that pull in front of you. As you go over the canal, a large semi- truck pulls in front of you, but you can safely drive under it's cab (Fast and the Furious anyone?). The only shortcut in this race comes shortly after this. Once you hit the next point, veer off to the right instead of staying on the road. You will hit a ramp leading to a rooftop and then another ramp back down to the next point. This isn't a very large shortcut but it might take a second off your time. ------------------- Welcome to the Club ------------------- Recommended Vehicle: Cocotte Opponent Vehicle(s): Citi (just Moses) Strategy: The last (usually second) race against your opponent is for his/her car. Don't worry about yours, however, because if you lose, you just race again until you win. In this race, you are introduced to the cops. Basically they just follow you and hit your car a lot, trying to run you off the road. There is no way to get arrested by them but they can slow you down. Luckily, they don't really bother you in this race. At the beginning of the race, bust open the gate and head right, then take the first right. You should be on Moses' tail. Follow the road to a construction site and ride up the ramp onto the freeway. Try to veer a little left off the ramp as the freeway goes slightly to the left. You will be going against light traffic so avoid oncoming any oncoming cars and hit all the points on the freeway. As you leave the freeway, stay to the left and look for a small alley for a shortcut leading to the next point. Avoid the dumpster and take a hard right out of the alley. Follow the points to another alley shortcut and take a left out of the alley to the finish. Reward(s): Citi, Nitrous maneuver =-=-=-=-=-=-=- STEVEN =-=-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Emu Each time you defeat a racer, you are placed in the cruise map of the city and must find another racer to beat. Once you find that racer, flash your headlights, follow him/her to the race point, and beat them in the races. To find a racer, press up on the D-Pad to bring up the city map with the locations of a couple racers. I suggest racing Steven first, as he has a slow car and his races are good for beginners. He's a young, obsessive-compulsive teenager who spends too much time with cars. Find him and follow him to the race point. He pulls some nasty turns and tries to fake you out. Just keep at a far distance but close enough so you don't lose him. ------------ Takeoff Time ------------ Recommended Vehicle: Citi Opponent Vehicles(s): None Strategy: This is a race against the clock, rather than against other opponents. You start out with 35 seconds and each time you pass through a checkpoint, more time is added to the clock. From the start go forward to the first checkpoint and right before you get to the second checkpoint, slow down. Hit the checkpoint and make a hard left into the gate. An SUV should bust in there ahead of you because he's running from the cops (don't you love LA?). Anyways, maneuver around the cone thingies and head right back onto the road. Take a right at the first side street you come to and a left right before the construction site. Hit the checkpoint and veer off to the right, bust through the gate and go up the ramp for a little shortcut. Drop down the other side and bust out of the gate back onto the road. Keep along this curved road and avoid the cop. For another shortcut, drive through the large building to your right as you enter the intersection. There is an entrance in the middle of the building. Head to the right and go straight through there and it should take you right to the finish where Steven and his friends are waiting for you. Use your nitrous at the end here if you are short on time. ------------- Triple Threat ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Citi Opponent Vehicle(s): Emu, Torrida Strategy: This is another different type of race where all the checkpoints are spread out and you may get them in any order. This race has its benefits because there will always be a shortest route. But as the races get increasingly difficult and number of checkpoints grows, finding the shortest route can be very tedious. The route that I choose may not necessarily be the shortest, but it works for me. There are four checkpoints in this race, excluding the finish, and they are all relatively far apart. Start out by going straight and nabbing the checkpoint ahead. Immediately make a hard right and then a left at the second intersection. Drive through the checkpoint ahead and take a right from it. Follow this road around the long curve, weave around traffic, and check your map for where the next checkpoint is. Once the curve sort of straightens out after the overpass take a right at the second intersection. Head through the checkpoint and then take a right where the road comes to a T. Head past the first intersection and take a left at the next one. Pass under the semi that crosses your path and head straight to the finish line. Again, use your nitrous here if you are shortly behind. Reward(s): Emu =-=-=-=-=-=-= MARIA =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Torrida Once back on the cruise map, locate Maria, the feisty Latina, and her Torrida next and follow her to the race point. She doesn't really pull anything on you, but she likes to run into stuff. Reward(s): In-Air Controls ------------- Freeway Rally ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Emu Opponent Vehicle(s): Torrida, Emu Strategy: This is pretty much a straightforward race on the freeway. The reason I chose the Emu over the Citi is because this race has few sharp turns and many straightaways. The Emu's high top speed will benefit you in this race. At the start, head forward, bust through the fence and drop down to the road below. You will enter the freeway shortly. Just follow it along, passing through the checkpoints and avoiding traffic. You should start to take a lead and pull away from your opponents. You can use your nitrous at any point here in the race to gain more of the race. The only real variations in the race before the end are the loop and the little dip where you go off the exit ramp and back on the entrance ramp on the other side. You do this twice in the race, and the second time, you pass under a semi truck that crosses in front of you...again. Later on, you will leave the freeway again, but instead of getting back on, slow up and take a hard left onto the road. Follow it to the finish (ignore the police), but beware the gasoline truck (you can pass under it too). ------------- Corner Cutter ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Citi Opponent Vehicle(s): Torrida (just Maria) Strategy: This race is similar to the Takeoff Time race where each checkpoint gives you more time, but instead, each checkpoint gives you a certain amount of time to reach the next checkpoint. The number of seconds you have will flash on the screen each time you hit a checkpoint. Your only opponent in this race is Maria, but your other opponent is the clock...well, and the cops. An effective strategy would actually be to just tail Maria the whole time, as she makes it to all the checkpoints on time, and then pass her near the end, but I know you really want to beat her. Head straight along the road from the start and you will pass under an overpass. Keep going a little ways past the side street immediately after the overpass and take a right at the next intersection. The cops will spot you now, but keep going past them and take a left at the T. Make another sharp left immediately after you hit the checkpoint onto another street heading almost back where you were. Take the first left and you should see the next checkpoint over to the right a bit. Turn right onto this road, drive through the checkpoint and then take the first right shortly ahead. For a shorter route, slow up when approaching this checkpoint and turn back left onto the road you were previously on after hitting it. Head straight on this road all the way to the next checkpoint. After driving through it, take the first right, and then another right while hitting the next checkpoint. There will be a barrier in front of you, so turn right to avoid it, then make a hard left across the bridge over the huge canal. Do not take the ramp shortcut here like you did in the first race with Moses, or you will miss the checkpoint. Instead, take a right immediately after the bridge and then the first left to the checkpoint. Then take a right and then another hard right and go back across the giant canal. Hit the checkpoint ahead and take the left onto the large street while doing so. You will be on a long straightaway, perfect for a nitrous boost, but beware the heavy traffic. Head straight and then take the second right after the road bends to the right a little. Head straight past the police roadblock into the construction site and veer a little left and drive through the wide opening. Bust through the gate straight ahead and veer a little right onto the road as you hit the checkpoint. Follow this street along the curve and take a right where it ends. You will come to another roadblock. Maneuver around it and keep heading straight. Veer off to the left a bit, towards the next checkpoint, and drop down to the road below. Hit the checkpoint and follow the curve around. Pass the intersection and take a right at the small P sign and the palm trees for a shortcut right to the finish. Reward(s): Torrida =-=-=-=-=-=-= ANGEL =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Interna Your next opponent is Angel, a rich, cocky, trust fund kid who likes to call you "friend" (though it sounds like Fred). You know what to do. Locate him on your map, flash you high beams, and follow him to the race point. ------------------ Hollywood Hysteria ------------------ Recommended Vehicle: Torrida Opponent Vehicles(s): Interna, Citi Turbo, Monstruo Strategy: This can be a pretty difficult race, as all of your opponents' cars are much better than yours. Use the Torrida for this race because it is a nice balance of acceleration and speed, which will benefit you in this race. This is another scattered checkpoints race where you can get them in any order. Again, I will give you what I found to be the shortest route. From the start, go straight and follow the road to a checkpoint and take a right. Follow this curved road hit the next couple checkpoints on it. At the second, take a right, and then take another hard right at the checkpoint. You should be at the start of a very long, curvy road with many checkpoints on it. At the sixth and final checkpoint, slow up and make a hard left. Follow this road around a little curve and make a left at the first side street you see. Then take the first right to the finish. Reward(s): Burnout maneuver ---- Drag ---- Recommended Vehicle: Torrida Opponent Vehicle(s): 1971 Bestia Strategy: This is a really short race against Angel's father, Diego, and his 1971 Bestia. At the start, head forward to the first checkpoint and veer to the right about 45 degrees or so. Watch out for the bus, drop down into the huge canal, and hit the next checkpoint. Remember to use your In-Air Controls for a nice landing. Follow the canal and use the left ramp to get over the wall. As you go off, try and veer a little to the right, as that is the way the canal goes. Fly through the checkpoint and then ride up along the bank to your left. Drive through the checkpoint on the bank and keep on it for the next checkpoint. Upon getting it, you will also hit a jump that will send you flying off the wall. Steady your car and follow the canal to the left. This straightaway is perfect for a nitrous boost. Hit the final checkpoint and fly up out of the right side of the canal to the finish. ------------------ Cheaters Never Win ------------------ Recommended Vehicle: 1971 Bestia Opponent Vehicle(s): Interna, Citi Turbo Strategy: At the start, you find out that Angel's no angel as he pulls ahead of you before the go call. Oh well, at least you'll strip his family of their tricked-out vehicles. Go forward to the checkpoint and take a left, then take the first right. Drive through the checkpoint and take the first left, then another left to hit a checkpoint. Keep going straight, watch out for the truck that crosses your path, pass the police, and take a right. Follow this road straight to the next checkpoint. Shortly after, veer to the left and hit a small conic ramp to the left for a small shortcut. After you land take the first right and follow this road straight to two checkpoints. Right before the second one, use your handbrake to pull a 180 and burnout back the other way. If you want an extra boost to your acceleration here, use you nitrous. Either avoid or drive under the semi-truck that turns in front of you and continue heading straight to the next checkpoint. Keep heading straight still, bust through the glass and out the other end of the building. Veer to the right and drive through the next checkpoint. After hitting it, veer left to go around the building and head back onto the road. Take a hard right at the checkpoint ahead and keep on this road until the next checkpoint. You could go through the construction site for a shortcut but it is dangerous and may actually slow you down. At the checkpoint, keep going straight around the curve and take a right at the T, where the last checkpoint is. Follow this road down and take the first right to the finish. Reward(s): Interna =-=-=-=-=-=- GINA =-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Citi Turbo Next find and follow Gina, a tomboyish street racer girl that has an eye for you. ----------------- Unexpected Guests ----------------- Recommended Vehicle: Interna Opponent Vehicle(s): Citi Turbo Strategy: This race isn't very difficult and the points are fairly easy to locate. Right from the start, a group of bikers rush past you. At the go call head straight forward to the first checkpoint. Your Interna should give you an initial edge in acceleration. After the checkpoint take a right and then a left at the next checkpoint. Follow the curve around to the right and take the first left, right before the bridge over the canal. Hit the checkpoint and immediately take another hard left. Hit the checkpoint ahead and take a left onto another street, avoiding the parker trailer. Now, at the first intersection come to, veer left a bit and hit the ramp of stairs, right to the next checkpoint. Hit it and then take a right onto that road. Take the second left and hit the next checkpoint and then continue straight to another one in the distance. You may want to use your nitrous here, as it is a long straightaway. You'll be in a parking garage. Hit the checkpoint and then veer right to get outside and hit the next two. When you are about to hit the next one, slow up and take a hard left onto the street. Shortly after, veer left and bust through the glass for another shortcut right to the next checkpoint. Hit it and veer left again onto the road. Take the first right onto another street with the final checkpoint. Hit it and take a left to the finish where the bikers await you. -------- Showdown -------- Recommended Vehicle: Interna Opponent Vehicle(s): Cohete Strategy: This race can be pretty tough as your opponents are fairly skilled motorcyclists. They have also have a great edge over you in acceleration. At the start, head forward to the first checkpoint and take a right at it. Follow this road as it curves to the right, hit the checkpoint and keep your eye out for a street to your left after the road curves to the right a second time. Hit this turn and take a right at the checkpoint. For a small shortcut, keep heading forward through a small alley right to the checkpoint. Make a hard left afterwards, then a right, and then another right to the next checkpoint. This checkpoint is the beginning of a large figure 8 shown simply in this diagram: ,->--(3)->--. +-------------------+ | | | KEY | | V +-------------------+ A | | (#) = checkpoint | | | | A = up | ;-<-(2&4)--<: | V = down | | | | < = left | V | | > = right | | A +-------------------+ | | Start by hitting 1-3 and then loop your way back '>--(1&5)->-' around to hit 4 and 5 the using the same directions. After hitting the fifth checkpoint, take the first right and then another right to the next checkpoint. While hitting this, make a hard left back into the alley you once came out of for a slight shortcut. Hit the checkpoint in the distance and take a left. Make a right at the T and follow this road to the last checkpoint. You may want to use your nitrous on this straightaway. After hitting it, keep on this road, which will lead you right to the finish. Reward(s): Cohete --------------- Weight Training --------------- Recommended Vehicle: Cohete Opponent Vehicle(s): None Strategy: This isn't much of a race rather than a crash course in motorcycle racing. Basically, you start near the northwest corner of the map and you must get to a checkpoint near the southeast corner and back in under 4:20. This isn't hard at all and requires no strategy. Just get familiar with the bike and its maneuvers because you will need them for the next race. -------------------- Flight to the Finish -------------------- Recommended Vehicle: Cohete Opponent Vehicle(s): Monstruo, Citi Turbo Strategy: Personally, I hate using motorcycles and this is the only race that I did use one because it is extremely hard to with the cars you have now. Anyway, from the start, head forward to the first checkpoint and enter the right side of the highway. Follow it until the next checkpoint, which leads off the highway and back on again. Keep following the highway until to another checkpoint, which leads to the exit ramp. Slow up and take a hard right when to get on the road leading to another checkpoint at the entrance to the airport. Follow the road as it makes two left turns, avoiding the number of cars that pull in front of you, hit the checkpoints, and then drive through the checkpoint up ahead. Shortly after, veer left at the fork and follow the curve to another checkpoint. You will end up going around the airport again, but this time on the lower level. Hit the checkpoint at the top and continue on the road leading out to another checkpoint at the entrance. Follow this road as it curves to the left and take the first right after the curve onto a road leading to the next checkpoint. The cops will spot you now, so be aware of their presence. Take a left at the checkpoint and then the first right. Veer to the left and bust through the glass for a shortcut through a building. Veer left again onto the road and hit the checkpoint in front of you. Follow the road a bit and look out for a little alley to the right after the road bends left. Go through there for a little shortcut to the next checkpoint. Veer right back onto the road and follow the road as it goes around a curve. Slow up and take the curve a little sharply and go into the grass where the checkpoint is. Head back onto the road on the other side and follow it down to the final checkpoint. Keep on this road as it bends left and take the first right you come to. Continue forward but veer to the left a bit to enter the construction site, and drive up the large ramp in front of you. Reward(s): Citi Turbo =-=-=-=-=-=-=- HECTOR =-=-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Monstruo Finally, find Hector and his phat Monstruo on the city map, the last available racer. He is another stereotypical angry Mexican (like Maria) looking for a fight. Follow him to the race point and get ready to flee from the fuzz. ------------- Lose the Cops ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Citi Turbo Opponent Vehicle(s): Monstruo (just Hector), LA Cop Car Strategy: For some reason it just started raining in Los Angeles. Anyways, this isn't really a race. You virtually have no opponents save for the LAPD, who are all over you. Your objective is to lose the cops before you reach the finish and you have 5 minutes to do so (actually a really long time). You actually aren't required to lose the cops, as if you don't, you just have to deal with them in the next race. I picked the Citi Turbo for this "race" for no real reason, as you can easily lose the cops with the Cocotte. The route I chose, which worked nearly all the time, starts off by going straight at the start and taking a right at the end of the road. Continue forward and hit the little ramp shortcut over the canal. You usually have lost the cops by now. Continue down this road and take a right at the end right before the canal. Another cop will spot you but he is going the opposite way, so if you hurry, you can lose him. Take the first left and head over the bridge across the canal. You may want to nitrous now to ensure losing the cop. After you cross the bridge, veer off to the right and take the ramp up for another shortcut right to the finish. ----------- Block Party ----------- Recommended Vehicle: Citi Turbo Opponent Vehicle(s): Monstruo Strategy: This scattered checkpoint race can be very difficult as it is in the rain and your opponents' Monstruos are very good cars. Choose the Citi Turbo for this race to have an edge in handling, as the Citi Turbo is FWD and FWD cars tend to handle better in the rain. From the start head right out of the area that you are in and take the first left. Head all the way down to the checkpoint and take a right. Hit the next checkpoint in front of you and take a hard left at it. Follow this road to the next checkpoint then veer off to the right, cutting through the parking lot to another road. Instead of following this road down to a checkpoint ahead of you, take the first left, cutting the corner, to another checkpoint. Hit it and take a right to yet another checkpoint, and then a right at that to hit the checkpoint that was once ahead of you. After driving through it, keep heading forward to a checkpoint in the distance. This straightaway is good for a nitrous boost. Hit the checkpoint and take a hard right. Follow the road as it curves to the left and take a right where it ends before at the canal. Hit the checkpoint in front of you and make another right, follow this road as it curves around, and hit another checkpoint. Hit it and take a right (cutting through the glass may make you miss it). Keep heading straight on this road, go in and out of the canal, and hi the checkpoint at the end of the road. Make a right at it, hit the next checkpoint and make another right. Hit the final checkpoint ahead of you and the finish should appear shortly afterwards. Reward(s): Slipstream Turbo maneuver ------------------- Slipstream Chicanes ------------------- Recommended Vehicle: Citi Turbo Opponent Vehicle(s): Monstruo Strategy: This race isn't too bad, but it can be hard. It's fairly long but the checkpoints are fairly easy to find and the race is pretty straightforward. If you know the map pretty well you shouldn't have much trouble once you get a feel for the race, but your opponents are good and have much better cars. The Citi Turbo is a good choice here as the race contains fairly decent straightaways throughout, and the Slipstream Turbo maneuver you just unlocked is very helpful. At the start, head straight to the first checkpoint. Utilize the Slipstream Turbo technique right at the start to get and early lead. Some other racers will join from the right. Drive through the checkpoint and continue heading forward. Take the next right to a checkpoint and continue to head straight after hitting this one. Take the next left to the next checkpoint, which you should turn right at. Follow this road for a while as it bends left then right, and take the first left after it bends to the right. Hit the checkpoint in front of you and take the next right after it, cutting through the little parking lot on the corner. Drive through the checkpoint up ahead and follow the road as it curves around and down, hitting the next two checkpoints. After the curve, veer left and take the road heading up to get to another checkpoint. Hit it and slightly veer right onto that side street. Follow the road as it curves to a checkpoint and take a left at the gas station a little ways down. Hit the checkpoint in front of you and continue down on this road, taking the first right after the overpass. Take a left where the road comes to a T and follow this street to the final checkpoint. Continue on this road as you cross a bridge over the canal. After the bridge, veer left to take the ramp to rooftop shortcut right to the finish. Reward(s): Monstruo **--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--** L o s A n g e l e s C i t y C h a m p i o n **--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--** =-=-=-=-=-=- DICE =-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Jersey XS After beating Hector and winning his car, choose to Continue Career with New Vehicle and you will be throw into the last set of races to become the Los Angeles city champion. Dice is your main opponent in these races and he's a mean, hardcore Japanese racer with his import (which looks like a Dodge Viper). --------- Crossover --------- Recommended Vehicle: Monstruo Opponent Vehicle(s): Jersey XS Strategy: This is one of my favorite races because it is a good test of skill and reflexes. I often replay this race in Arcade Mode just because it is so fun and is an overall great race. The race isn't too hard, and, while your opponents' cars have better acceleration, the Monstruo beats it in top speed, which is a good benefit to have. Just be wary of the close checkpoints near the beginning, and use your map a lot, and you shouldn't have very much trouble once you learn the race. This race is quite long, compared to any other race you have done so far, but try not to get frustrated and keep racing. From the start, head forward to the first checkpoint and take a right soon after. At this turn, either make a rather wide right or a fairly tight one because there are little buildings in the middle of the road. But then again, don't take the turn too tight or wide because of the palm trees that line the sides of the road. Hit the checkpoint ahead and make a left to the next one. Hit it and go up hill as the road curves to the right and hit the next checkpoint. The next six checkpoints are very close together and you must weave across the median and between trees a few times to hit each one. The first one is to the left, second to the right, third to the left, etc. At the third checkpoint, watch out for the police chopper spotlight. The sixth checkpoint us at the end of the straightaway and is positioned in the center of the road. Hit it and follow the road as it goes down and curves right to another checkpoint. After hitting it, keep on this road to hit another checkpoint. The cops will start to chase you at this checkpoint, so be wary of their presence. Follow the road as it curves around to the right to spot another checkpoint. Slow up when you are about to hit it and make a hard right onto the exit ramp up to the freeway. Notice I said exit ramp, rather than entrance ramp. You will be going against a little high-speed traffic so rely on your reflexes and be prepared to weave. Hit the checkpoint ahead once you are on the freeway and then continue on it to another checkpoint. Hit it and veer to the right, crossing over to the other side of the freeway when there is no barrier. Drive through the checkpoint and hit the next one right in front of you, leading you onto a redirecting road. Hit the checkpoint at the end of it and continue forward to the next checkpoint at another redirecting road. Follow the curve to the next checkpoint at the end of it, and when you get back onto the freeway, veer to the left, crossing over the freeway again to yet another checkpoint at a redirecting road. Drive through the checkpoint at the end and continue forward to the last checkpoint leading to a redirecting road. Hit the checkpoint at the end, and once you are back on the freeway, slow up and avoid the orange barrier thing. But once you are past it, veer left sharply to fly off the freeway and through the checkpoint. Use Weight Transfer in mid- air to straighten your car before you land. Head out the gate up ahead and veer left onto a road with the next checkpoint. Hit it and make a left and follow this road as it curves left to another checkpoint. After getting it, veer left off the road and bust through the glass into a building for a shortcut. Once you bust through the other side, veer right, past the stairs and head through parking area to the next checkpoint. Hit it and veer right back onto the road. Continue down this road for a little and take the second left to a checkpoint. Hit it and take a hard right into an alley to get another checkpoint. Keep heading forward, through a little parking area and jump through the glass to the checkpoint ahead. Head to the next checkpoint as you land, hit it and veer right, cutting a corner to the road ahead. Stay on this road as it curves to the right. Hit the checkpoint on the bridge over the canal and then hit the next checkpoint on this road shortly ahead. Take a left at it and continue along this road to another checkpoint, at which you should slow up and take a hard left up onto the freeway. Hit the three checkpoints on the freeway, weaving through traffic, and the fourth should lead you off the freeway. Slow down a bit and make a hard left onto the street, hitting the checkpoint ahead. Keep on this road to get to the next checkpoint after the bridge over the canal. Make a hard left at it and drop down into the canal. Hit the checkpoint down in there and use one of the ramps to get to the next part of the canal. Hit the checkpoint ahead and follow the canal around to the right. At the final checkpoint, slow up and make a right into a little tunnel to the finish. ------------------ Droppin' Knowledge ------------------ Recommended Vehicle: Monstruo Opponent Vehicle(s): Jersey XS Strategy: I also enjoy this race. It can be pretty confusing at times but again, once you learn and get a feel for the race. You shouldn't have too much trouble. There are some long straightaways in this race, and the Monstruo should be your car of choice again, with the highest top speed. This is another rather long race so just stick with it to learn its ins and outs. You start in the tunnel area where you finished the previous race. At the start, go forward a block and veer left to hit a ramp shortcut to another street. Every other racer also takes this shortcut so try and get a Slipstream Turbo off in there somewhere. Veer a little right onto the street in front of you and stay on it for a long time. It seems as if it won't lead to the first checkpoint but it curves left three times and leads almost directly to the checkpoint. After the third curve, the road will head down and a little right. Take the second right after this to the first checkpoint. Hit it and take a right. The cops will be all over you now. Keep heading forward onto the really curvy, hilly road and keep on it for a while, avoiding any cops that you come across. Eventually, you will come to a checkpoint. Hit it and continue further on the road. You will want to take a right at the stop sign, but continue forward and the road will curve around to the right. When you get to a T intersection, veer slightly to the right and bust through the gate for a shortcut to the other side. Once out of the alley, head to the left, through the grass, trees, and rocks and get back onto the road. Hit the checkpoint ahead and make a left onto another street. Take the first left and then the first right you come to. Follow this road and make a left right before the canal. Then take the first right to the bridge over the canal, hitting the checkpoint. Take the first right after the bridge and follow this road, making a right at the T intersection. Now follow this road a bit and take the first right after the overpass to the next checkpoint. Make another right after hitting it and keep on this road for a very long time. Eventually you will reach the canal. Drop down into it but veer to the right to get onto the street to the right of the one ahead of you after you get out of the canal. Hit the checkpoint at the end of this street and make a left. Then make another left and head straight across the canal to a long straightaway leading to the next checkpoint. Either of these long straightaways is perfect for a nitrous boost. Hit the checkpoint and continue straight to the final checkpoint. At it, veer to the right and bust through the glass into the building at the corner of the intersection. Drive straight through it to a construction ramp and fly through the finish. Reward(s): Jersey XS, Two-Wheel Driving maneuver, Los Angeles City Champion ---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::--- ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::--- ___ |___| _ __ __ | /_\ |__| | |__ | / \ | \ | __| Street Report: Old-world cobblestone streets are well preserved, but still don't provide the traction afforded by modern day pavement. Like much of urban Europe, city streets are a network of avenues, circles, and narrow alleyways - helpful when in need of shortcuts. Traffic Study: Known for their etiquette and enduring nationalism, Parisians are resentful reckless Yankee scofflaws. Commuter traffic is not at all accommodating to street racing. Congestion is mostly limited to daytime, however, nightlife crowds causing foot and vehicle traffic are a predictable constant. =-=-=-=-=-=- BLOG =-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Boost Blog is the only available racer on the Paris city map at this time. Find the trendy British racer, who sounds like he was taken right from the movie Snatch, and follow him to the race point. -------------- Eiffel Visions -------------- Recommended Vehicle: Jersey XS Opponent Vehicle(s): Boost, Stadt Strategy: This is your first Paris race, and it can be a tough one. You may notice that the handling in Paris is a bit looser than Los Angeles. Also, traffic can be a major bitch. There are many narrow alleyways and roads in the city so your driving skills need to be keen. Every car, excluding the city champion's car, has two nitrous available. This might change your strategy a little, but you now have an extra boost. I always recommend saving at least one for near the finish. At the start, you should see the first checkpoint in front of you a ways and your competitors spread out amongst you. At the go call, head straight forward to the first checkpoint. I do not recommend using Slipstream Turbo here at the beginning, as you need to pull a 180 at the first checkpoint. Slow up before getting the checkpoint and try to be turning while grabbing it. Start heading straight back from where you came towards the next checkpoint. You may want to use a nitro here or try and pull off a Slipstream Turbo to get back up to speed. Hit the checkpoint ahead and make a right to another checkpoint, which you should make a left at. Stay on this road as it goes into an alley and make a veer left once you get out to hit the checkpoint. Now make a sharp left onto the street near the alley. Follow this road as it goes up and at the intersection, veer to the right to hit the next checkpoint. Get on the road to the right of the previous checkpoint and stay on it for a long time, avoid the many vehicles on the road. I find that it helps to stay on the little pinkish orange medians in the road to avoid traffic. No one drives there so it is a straight shot through traffic. Anyways, the road will bend to the left after a while and come to a circle area (very common in Paris). Veer to the right to grab the checkpoint and keep heading left around the circle to grab another. Keep heading left a little more and leave the circle on the road you came in on. Head straight forward to another checkpoint and veer to the right a little after hitting it to enter a ramp shortcut. When you are about to go off the ramp, do not aim straight for the checkpoint. Instead, aim to the left a bit so that you land on the road level to the checkpoint (aiming at the checkpoint will land you on a road lower than the checkpoint). On this road, make the first right to the checkpoint and then another right. You should be heading for the Eiffel Tower now. A little before you get to it, veer off to the right to get onto a road leading to the final checkpoint. Hit it and stay on the road as it curves to the left straight to the finish. -------------- Rooftop Vistas -------------- Recommended Vehicle: Jersey XS Opponent Vehicle(s): Boost, Stadt Strategy: This race can also cause you some problems, but it gives you a good feel for Paris. This race is very long, longer than either of Dice's races. I find that it is best to hang back a little, let your opponents make their mistakes, and run a solid race to claim the victory. Again, traffic can be a pain, but it also hinders your opponents. From the start, head straight and follow the road as it bends to the left to the first checkpoint. Stay on this road for a while longer, past the church, and you will come to a bridge. Take the first right after the bridge to the checkpoint. Slow up upon hitting it and make a left, busting the gate into a little tunnel for a shortcut right to the next checkpoint. Take the large red ramp in front of you and head left when you land to another checkpoint. Veer left again and make a left when you get back onto the road. Veer to the left slightly to hit the next checkpoint leading to a ramp up to a building. Hit the checkpoint up ahead, then slow down and make a U-turn to a path leading down and out of the building. Drop down out of the building and make a right at the checkpoint ahead. Continue on this road and veer slightly to the right at the Y intersection to hit the next checkpoint. Continue in this area to another checkpoint and then take the right path where it splits to a third checkpoint. You will go off a little ramp to another rooftop. Drop down off this rooftop, fly through the next checkpoint, and get out of the area through one of the arches, making a left onto the road. Follow this road as it bends to the right and hit the checkpoint. Continue a little further after hitting the checkpoint and make a sharp left where the road ends. The narrow road will curve around to the left straight to another checkpoint. Stay on the road as it bends to the left and you will come to another circle area. Make a right at the circle to get onto another road and hit the checkpoint all the way down near the end of it. Continue after hitting it and make a left at the Y intersection. Then make the first left and hit the checkpoint ahead. Continue on this road to hit another checkpoint further off. At this checkpoint veer left, staying to the right of the columns, and follow this area as it curves around to the left. You should see another checkpoint leading to an alley as you are coming back onto a street. Hit it and enter the alley. Follow it as it bends left and right to another checkpoint and make a right. You should see another checkpoint ahead at the entrance of an alleyway. Grab it and again enter the alley, but slow down as it bends to the right. Look for a red P sign and a tunnel to the right of it. Veer right and go down into the tunnel and make a right on the checkpoint. You are now on the Paris mini- freeway (there is another, bigger freeway). Stay on it for a while until you see a checkpoint on a bridge over the water. Slow up and take the exit ramp to the right, and then make a left to the final checkpoint. Stay on this road past the intersection and make a left into an alleyway marked with another red P sign. Follow this alley and veer to the right as you come to a clearing with the large church. Head up the ramp into the church and bust out the doors on the other end where the finish lies. Reward(s): Boost =-=-=-=-=-=-= JULIE =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Bryanston V Now find Julie, a hot French chick (I'd tap it) with a sexy accent, and her twin sister, Jewel, who seems a bit more rugged. Follow their Bryanston V to the race point. ---------- Twin Turbo ---------- Recommended Vehicle: Boost Opponent Vehicle(s): Bryanston V, Alarde Strategy: This is a relatively short and easy race, thankfully. It is the first of the scattered checkpoint races in Paris but it isn't too hard to come away the victor, if you go the shortest route. At the start, all the Alardes seem to go the left path, while Julie and her Bryanston Vs take the right path, which is faster. Take the right path at the start, following the Bryanston Vs, and hopefully getting off a Slipstream Turbo. Follow this path and hit the three checkpoints on it before the road bends to the right. Continue on this road and after you cross the bridge, veer left and take a diagonal route to a checkpoint in an alleyway. Hit it and make a left at the one ahead of it to a new alleyway with another checkpoint. Hit it and veer left to another alley and veer right onto the street once you are out of it. Make a hard left at the checkpoint in front of you onto a two-lane street. Hit the four checkpoints along this street, avoiding the construction barriers near the end, and once you are back to the circle area you started at, head to the ramp in front of you to the finish. ------------- Rollercoaster ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Boost Opponent Vehicle(s): Bryanston V, Fripon X Strategy: This race really isn't very hard nor is it long like Blog's second race; it's actually quite fun. You start off staring at the back end of a Fripon X. At the go call, accelerate quickly and get a Slipstream Turbo off before the first checkpoint. Hit it and make a sharp right onto a little two- lane side street. Make a right at the next checkpoint and head straight towards the one ahead. Veer to the right slightly while hitting it and take the ramp up to the building, but instead of making a U-turn, follow the curve around to a ramp shortcut leading to the next checkpoint. Fly through it and once you get out of the alley, veer to the right sharply to get on a cobblestone road. The road will soon come to a clearing where you should swing out to the left to grab the checkpoint and then turn back and take the first right to another cobblestone alleyway. Follow it to another checkpoint and then veer left, busting through the gate to get onto the freeway. Hit the checkpoint ahead and then pull U-turn, entering the area where the gas pumps are. Take the ramp over to the right and hit the checkpoint. Make a sharp right to another checkpoint and then another right, into the alley you were once in. It will lead you to the clearing you were also at once before. You should see the blue column of a checkpoint off in the distance. Time for a MASSIVE jump. Notice the large set of stairs and the steep grass hill leading up to the basilica? They act as a major ramp. Hit it with all you've got, including nitrous and launch up to the checkpoint. You won't actually hit it but you'll be close. I recommend aiming to the right a little and landing on the little street there, then heading left to the checkpoint, but you may land wherever. Hit the checkpoint and get onto the diagonal street leading downwards. Once you come to a road, veer left a little and get on another street. Pass through the arches and veer left to hit a ramp straight to the finish. Reward(s): Bryanston V =-=-=-=-=-=-= PRIMO =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicles: Vortex 5, Schneller V8 Now locate Primo, the Italian, slick-haired, daytime business man/nighttime street racer, and flash your lights at him. Follow his Vortex 5 to the race point and get ready to race. ------------ Seine Insane ------------ Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Vortex 5 Strategy: Yet another scattered points race, this race can be quite difficult due to the heavy traffic on the Paris mini-freeway, where the majority of the points lie in this race, and the fact that your opponent's cars are Tokyo level cars. Luckily, they don't seem to be racing to their fullest potential, but I could be wrong. Remember to take this race fairly slow along the mini-freeway and avoid as much traffic as possible to ensure your victory. Start off by going straight forward to the checkpoint ahead in the alleyway. Follow the alley a little to the left and hit another checkpoint under and arch. You should come to a little clearing with the church to you right. Keep heading straight to a checkpoint ahead and continue further on this street to another checkpoint. Hit it and make a sharp right onto another street, which you should follow as it curves a little left to a checkpoint. Make a hard right just after it to another checkpoint leading down to the mini-freeway. Again, be wary of the traffic that litters this two-lane freeway, as well as the other racers you cross paths with at different times. Stay on the mini- freeway for a LONG time and you should hit the remaining 14 checkpoints (though the 14th is actually just off the mini-freeway). Some of the checkpoints require you to use exit ramps as jumps to get checkpoints while maintaining speed. Here is a little diagram of the mini-freeway, plotting the remaining checkpoints in the race: ,-(8)---.----------,--o(11)-. / '(9)-(10)' o +-------------------+ / (12) | KEY | (7) ,-(2)-------. \ +-------------------+ / / (1) \ | (#) = checkpoint | / o \ \ | *** = entrance/ | (6) (3) | \ | exit point | / / | o | o = exit ramp | | / \ (13) | jump | | (4) \ \ +-------------------+ (5)----' \ | \ *** <----- Where you exit \ (14) Where you enter -------> *** Look out for checkpoints 9 and 10 as you can easily pass them up. Shortly after grabbing eight, look for a little area off the left right after an overpass and before a little tunnel. Veer to the right into that area, nab the two checkpoints, and veer left back onto the freeway. Exit the freeway to hit checkpoint 14 and make a left where the road ends shortly after. This narrow road will curve around to the left twice. Soon after the second curve, make a right into an open area, right before the long pink ramp, and head straight towards the finish. ------ Swerve ------ Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Schneller V8, Boost Strategy: Primo decides to switch to his Schneller V8 instead of cheating with that Vortex 5 again. It is a lot slower off the line, but it has a much better top speed, which is needed in this race. It isn't too entirely hard but it can be a bit tricky at times. A majority of the race is on the freeway, so your best bet here is to go with the Bryanston V, which has the highest top speed. From the start, you will notice on your map that the first checkpoint is a little behind you and to your right. You could turn your car around while burning out and head the other way for a slightly faster route, but it really isn't necessary. Simply head straight and make a right onto the road. You will come to a circle where you should head right at onto another road with the first checkpoint. Hit it and continue forward, veering to the right when you come to the Y intersection at the end, which takes you to the real Paris freeway. Either head down the far left entrance ramp or bust through the gate down to the freeway (making sure you land on the right side), and hit the checkpoint ahead. Look out for the next checkpoint just as the freeway bends to the left. Veer sharply left to hit it at the entrance to the gas pump area, and head out the other side, and veer back to the right to hit another checkpoint. You will soon come to another checkpoint on the freeway, but notice the little arches under the overpass. The next five checkpoints will require you to weave in and out of these arches to hit the checkpoints like so: +-------------------+ ----<-----(2)-----<-------(4)-----<-- | KEY | ====/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\==== +-------------------+ --(1)----->-------(3)------>---(5)--- | (#) = checkpoint | | === = highway | | divider | | /\ = arch | | <,> = flow of | | traffic | +-------------------+ Checkpoints 4 and 5 are closer together than the rest of them so slow down if necessary. After hitting those five checkpoints, continue on freeway and hit another checkpoint just ahead. The next checkpoint will be on an overpass, so slow up and take the exit ramp off and make a left at the top to the checkpoint. Continue forward to another, smaller circle and veer right about 45 degrees to another road with the next checkpoint. Hit it and make a right. Grab the checkpoint ahead and take the little alley it leads to off to the right. Keep on this fairly straight alley and you will be brought to another checkpoint just on the freeway again. Bust through the gate and fly through it, landing on the freeway (or in the gas pump area). You should be against oncoming traffic now. It seems to be relatively light so avoid all of it if possible. Hit the checkpoint shortly after the freeway bends left. You will soon come to another checkpoint to the upper left. Take the entrance ramp up, slowing down to gain control, and make a left at the checkpoint. You should be heading straight towards a massive arch thing. Look out for a little narrow, diagonal alleyway to the right after the first intersection you come to. It may be hard to spot so look closely. Veer to the right into it for a little shortcut right to the next checkpoint. Notice the light brownish building to your right while entering the road. Veer of to the right and take the tiny ramp up into the building. It will take you to a large ramp, sending you flying through the last checkpoint and in the direction of the finish. You will land on or just before another ramp, which you should use a nitrous boost on to shoot to the finish. Reward(s): Schneller V8 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- STEPHANE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Vehicle: Alarde Your next opponent is Stephane, the French nationalist, Johnny Depp look-a- like. I thought he was gay at first but then he mentions how he will always have more women than you. Regardless, find his slow, ugly Alarde, flash your highs, and follow him to the race point. -------------- Roundabout Run -------------- Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Alarde Strategy: This scattered checkpoints race can be quite difficult as the points are in clusters that are very spread out from each other. But your Bryanston V should have no problem beating the Alardes once you have your route. From the start, head straight, bypassing the Alardes, to the group of three checkpoints at the massive arches. Hit the first and then swing around to the right to hit another and curve left to hit the next. You should be facing about in the direction of road, which you should take. The road will bend to the right at one intersection. Make a left at the next intersection and hit all three points at the circle. Then take the road you came in on, and take the second left and then the first right. You should be facing three archways two checkpoints ahead, and another group of three archways further off. Hit the two checkpoints and continue out through the other archways. You will cross a bridge and then the road will bend to the left. Take the first right into an alley after the bend in the road, and the veer off to the left shortly after the P sign to enter another circle with three checkpoints. Start with the one to the right and swing around left to hit the other two. Then take the nearest road out. Stay on it for a while as it bends to the left, crosses a bridge, passes the church, crosses another bridge, bends to the left again, and finally comes to the remaining three checkpoints. Hit the one to the right first, swing around to the left to hit the other two, and then keep winging around to make a full circle and hit the ramp next to the large building up ahead. Once you land veer to the left to get onto a narrow road and make a sharp right about where the P sign is (except the opposite way) to enter a little alley. Follow it as it bends to the left and you should see the orange column of the finish point in the distance. Once you come to a street, veer to the right about 45 degrees to enter another alleyway, which leads to the finish. -------------- Over and Under -------------- Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Alarde Strategy: This race is really awesome, for some reason. I don't know why I enjoy it, I just do. It's a good race, what can I say? Anyways, this is a fun race, in my opinion, and covers much of Paris not seen before in any other race. It's relatively long, but it's an enjoyable long rather than an excruciating long. Again, your Bryanston V should have no trouble against Stephane and his inferior Alardes once you learn the ins and outs of the race. Overall, it's not too tough. You start in the middle of a half-circle of Alardes, which is cute. You can see where the first checkpoint is, up past the steep grass hill. Just drive up there, either on the grass or using the path to the left, and hit the checkpoint. Veer to the right slightly to get onto the little street heading towards another checkpoint. Hit it and veer left at it to get onto an alley diagonal to the one you were on. Fly down the alley to a checkpoint and veer right to get onto the road. Continue down this long straightaway, avoiding the police roadblock, and take the right path where the road bends to an alley with a checkpoint ahead. Slow up and make a right at the checkpoint, busting through the gate into an underground catacomb area. Hit the checkpoint you come to, avoiding the stone pillars, and you will come to an open, concrete area. Veer right when you come to this opening and hit another checkpoint leading to another route. Avoid the pillars in here and slow up to make a hard left at the checkpoint ahead. This route will lead you out of the catacombs to another checkpoint. Hit it and then head straight forward to the glass pyramid. Use it as a major ramp to launch over the building and hit the checkpoint ahead. Soon after, the road will bend to the right, and you should see a bright red T sign to your left, indicating a tunnel. Veer off to the left and down into the tunnel, hitting the checkpoint at the entrance. Follow the tunnel all the way to the end, and slow up before you hit the checkpoint. Hit it and veer off to the right into an alley with a checkpoint at the end. Make a left at the checkpoint, avoiding another police roadblock, and then make another left where the road ends, hitting the next checkpoint in the process. You will soon come to where you exited the tunnel. Enter it again and hit the checkpoint as you do. When the path splits the first time, take the right path, and then take the left path when it splits a second time. Continue on and you should hit a couple more checkpoints before exiting the tunnel. When you come to the exit, again, slow up and veer to the left to hit a checkpoint leading to an alley marked with a P. Follow the alley to another checkpoint and make a right at it. Zoom on ahead to the next checkpoint and make another right. At the intersection you come to, veer to the right to get on an alley diagonal to the street you were on. Continue on it as it climbs up to the next checkpoint, and, after hitting it, veer to the right slightly to get on a narrow road adjacent to the church. Follow it to the final checkpoint, and then veer left off the platform, dropping down to the cobblestone area below. Take the center alley all the way to the freeway where the finish point lies. Reward(s): Alarde =-=-=-=-=-= IAN =-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Fripon X, Monsoni Next, find the Fripon X with the Aussie bloke Ian behind the wheel. Flash the high beams and tail him to the race point. ----------------- The Art of Racing ----------------- Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Fripon X, Boost Strategy: I, personally, hate this race, and I think you will too. It can be very difficult as the checkpoints are very spaced out and many are quite hard to get to. But I will help you as best I can. From the start head straight all the way down to the big Ferris wheel. Make sure you don't hit one of the red carts when going through there, as they will stop you dead in your tracks. Once you pass it, veer off to right slightly, making your way around the obstructions to the first checkpoint. Hit it from the right (you should be heading about towards the large glass pyramid) and veer left a little once you get onto the road. Now make a right at the second intersection after the three arches ahead and follow this road straight to the next checkpoint. Take the first right after the checkpoint into an alley and stay in it until you come to a T intersection with a breakable gate in front of you. Slow down upon approaching this intersection and make a hard left to a checkpoint, which you should make a right at. Continue heading straight at the T intersection into another alley with an arch at the entrance. Follow it around as it curves to the left and make a right when it joins with the road again. Make another right at the intersection right before the bridge onto a road with the next checkpoint ahead. Hit it and, instead of following the road as it bends left, stay relatively straight and hit a ramp ahead, busting through some glass for a shortcut to the checkpoint on the other side. Hit the checkpoint and then make a left and then a right to get out of the area, passing the Ferris wheel again, and onto the main street where you started the race. This is quite a long straightaway so use of nitrous is recommended. Hit the checkpoint under the massive arch thing then veer right to a road diagonal to the street you were previously on. Follow it around as it bends to the left to another checkpoint. Soon after, the road will elevate slightly. After it does so, veer off to the left, avoiding the rocks, and fly through an open area of a building right to the next checkpoint. Upon landing, veer to the left to get on road with the next checkpoint just ahead at the entrance ramp to the mini-freeway. Hit it and go down into the mini-freeway, nabbing another checkpoint ahead. Stay on the freeway for a little while longer and you should notice that you have passed up the final checkpoint. Don't worry, you're supposed to. Look for the nearest exit ramp, slow up, and take it out of the mini-freeway. Pull a 180 and head back the opposite way, towards the checkpoint. Take the second right after turning around, not the first, and then another right to the final checkpoint. Then head straight for the glass pyramid, using it as a ramp to lead to the finish point over the building. ------------------- Few and Far Between ------------------- Recommended Vehicle: Bryanston V Opponent Vehicle(s): Fripon X, Monsoni Strategy: This is another race that I hate because, as the race's name implies, the checkpoints are few but far between. The checkpoints are even more spaced out than the last race and finding a good route to them can be difficult. You now have to face off against some motorcyclists with Monsonis. They will surely have an advantage over you early on, but in the long run, your Bryanston's top speed should pull through. At the start, head down the road and take the second right you come to, following the Monsonis ahead. Follow this road a while until it comes to a Y intersection at the end. Make a right here and follow this road making another right immediately after crossing the river. The road will bend around to the left and come to an opening with the Eiffel Tower to your left. Veer left and hit the checkpoint underneath it. Veer right slightly, avoiding one of the bases of the tower, and then veer left back onto the road ahead. This road will bend left and come to a little circle area. Head through one of the three narrow arches ahead for a tiny shortcut (it seems like common sense but some of your opponents go around) and continue on this road. It will bend left again and then come to an intersection shortly. Make a right at this intersection, right before the bridge, and then make a left where the road ends. As the road curves right, you should notice an open area with a fountain and a checkpoint to your right. Veer out into this area and grab the checkpoint, then continue left around the structure in the middle until you spot a little road ahead of you. Take it and follow it as it curves to the left, passes the church, goes under an arch, and then turns into a cobblestone road. Stay on this cobblestone path and continue heading straight after you cross a road. The path should end shortly afterwards and you will fly onto a stationary boat in the river. Veer left upon going off the ramp at the end of the boat (using nitrous if need) to launch towards three arches for a sweet shortcut. Go through one archway to a second, and after the second archway, make a left at the T intersection. Now make a right at the first intersection you come to and it should bring you to a circle area with a checkpoint. Swing around to the left, hitting the checkpoint, and then back to the right around the circle and take the first road you come to (to the right from the road you came in on). Follow this small street upwards and past the church, and when it comes to a curve, continue forward and fly down the hill. When you land, veer to the right onto the cobblestone road and into a little alley. Make a left when you come to the road, and follow it around as it curves to the right to the final checkpoint. Make a right at it and stay relatively in this direction for quite a while. At the circle area, veer to the right slightly to get onto another road ahead. Stay with this road as it bends left then right and crosses over a bridge. At the T intersection right after the bridge, veer to the left and you should see the orange finish point at the end of an alley. Go through the alley straight to the finish. Reward(s): Fripon X --------------- Monsoni Monsoon --------------- Recommended Vehicle: Fripon X Opponent Vehicle(s): Monsoni Strategy: Even though you have Ian's car, he's not quite finished with you yet. He switches to a Monsoni and rides with his fellow bikers in this race, and he can be tough. This race also has checkpoints that are fairly spread out, but the routes to them are more direct, making the race less difficult. At the go call, head straight into the alley ahead. Your new Fripon is fast, but you will still get burned by the crotch rockets. After racing with the Bryanston V for a while, you will notice that the handling of the Fripon X is not as tight. You can manage, however, as this race does not demand to many sharp turns. Once you are out of the alley, veer left onto the road and make the first right to the first checkpoint on the bridge. The road will bend left and then right, crossing another bridge, and come to a circle area. Swing around to the right to hit the next checkpoint and then veer right onto the street you come to after hitting it. Continue down this street for a while and make a hard left where it ends at a Y intersection. Hit the checkpoint ahead and continue forward, though you may be tempted to make a left. The road will curve to the left and then come to a long straightaway. I can't tell you exactly where to turn to the next checkpoint but keep an eye on your map and make a left at the correct side street. Hit the checkpoint ahead and make a right onto the street immediately before the arches. Take the first right you come to, hit the checkpoint ahead, and continue forward to a circle area with the next checkpoint. Hit it from the right and then swing left to get onto the road leading to the freeway. Hit the checkpoint ahead and make a hard right onto the freeway entrance ramp and down into the freeway. Hit the first checkpoint you come to and veer left under one of the many arches to crossover onto the other side of the freeway, against traffic. Hit the checkpoint ahead, then again veer right under any of the arches to get back to the right side of the freeway. Hit the checkpoint ahead, and after the road curves to the right a little, veer off to the right to enter the gas pumps area where the next checkpoint is. Avoid the cars and pumps, hit the checkpoint and veer left back onto the freeway. The next checkpoint is off the freeway, so take the exit ramp up, slow down a bit, and make a hard right at the checkpoint. Take the left path at the fork ahead and follow this straightaway down to a large circle area. Veer left or right around the big pillar statue in the middle and head to the little street going the exact same direction as the road you were previously on. Make a right at the first intersection you come to, right before a bridge, and hit the checkpoint ahead. Take the first right you come to and follow this narrow road for a ways. Make a right after at the intersection after you cross a bridge to the final checkpoint, and then make the first left into an alleyway. Look for a P sign ahead and when you do, slow up and make a left right after it down into an underground area. Head left again and head straight for the finish. Reward(s): Monsoni =-=-=-=-=-=-= FARID =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Stadt The last available racer on your city map is Farid, big-eared, uni-browed Algerian. Flash the highs and follow his ugly Stadt to the race point. ----------------- Catacomb Criminal ----------------- Recommended Vehicle: Fripon X Opponent Vehicle(s): Stadt (just Farid) Strategy: Wow this race annoys the hell out of me. It is, in my opinion, one of the worst, if not the worst race in the game. This is mainly because I despise the catacombs. They piss me off because they are so narrow and bumpy making it hard to control your vehicle, especially at 100+ mph speeds. Plus, there are SO many obstructions; it's not even funny. You're bound to run into some sort of pillar or column down there more than once. Also, navigation can be quite confusing, as you never know which way one path might come out. Anyways, back to the race. At least Farid is driving a crappy Stadt, which you should easily burn in your Fripon X, and he seems really slow. You won't want to use your new Monsoni in this race, if at all, because motorcycles and catacombs don't get along. At the start, head straight forward through the tunnel, avoiding the pillars in the middle of the path. Bust through a couple gates and the tunnel will curve to the right a little bit. You should see a large concrete column in front of you in an open area. As you come to the opening, veer right and then back left, avoiding the columns, to a catacomb entrance ahead. As you start to head up hill, look for the first checkpoint up ahead, outside of the catacomb. Slow up when you are about to hit it and make a right, immediately after hitting it, into another catacomb (BAH!!). Continue in this tunnel, hitting the checkpoint as it curves to the left. When you come to another clearing with large columns, veer to the right and enter the catacomb in that general direction, avoiding the massive columns of course. This catacomb will curve to the left a couple times and then join with an alleyway. Bust through the gate at the end and make a hard left at the checkpoint. Make your way through the alley until it comes to a street, which you should veer left onto. Take the second right you come to and head through the arches ahead. Veer to the left, past the glass pyramid, and hit the checkpoint at the entrance to yet another catacomb (NOO!!). Hit the checkpoint and bust through the gate into the tunnel. Head forward and you will come to a small opening with a single pillar in front of you. Swerve to the left or right to avoid it and continue on ahead. You will come to a similar opening shortly after. Again swerve left or right to avoid the pillar and then hit the checkpoint ahead. The tunnel will now head upwards, meaning that the exit is up ahead. Bust through the gate and you will come to a clearing where the church is. Veer to the left a bit and get on the side road to avoid the church. Stay on this path until you come to another clearing with a fountain and the next checkpoint to your left. Veer off to the left to hit the checkpoint and then pull a 180 and head back to the road you came out on. Head straight back on this road and you will come to an archway beginning the cobblestone road. Veer right as it curves to hit the final checkpoint at another archway. Continue heading straight towards a gap in between buildings and fly onto the stationary boat in the river. Use the ramp at the end to propel yourself towards the three archways, and pass through either one of them. You should see the finish point in this area. Head towards the trees in the middle of the circle and then make a left to the finish. ------------- Lose the Cops ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Fripon X Opponent Vehicle(s): Stadt (just Farid) Strategy: What is it with Mexicans/Spanish and having to lose the cops in this game? Is it just me, or are there some heavy stereotypes here? Anyways, like the previous Lose the Cops "race" with Hector, your objective is to get the Paris police off your tail before you reach the finish point and before the time limit expires. This time, however, you are not placed on opposite ends of the city from the finish point as you were in LA. But you also only have 2 minutes to complete the race. The police are a lot more cunning this time around, and I've had as many as four on me at once. It wasn't a pretty sight. But I have found the perfect route to lose the cops...through the catacombs. (The catacombs?) Yes, the dreaded catacombs. But this time, you don't have to race through them at super speeds. Anyways, at the start, using a Burnout, turn your car around 180 degrees so that you are facing the entrance to a catacomb. Go down into it and you will come to an underground opening quite soon. Slow up and make a right once you reach this opening and head into another nearby tunnel. Follow this path to another opening and again head right. Avoid the large columns and make your way to another tunnel. Follow this tunnel as it curves to the right and bust through the gate at the end. After coming back outside, immediately make a left to another catacomb entrance, busting through the gate. Follow this catacomb as it comes to another opening. Avoid the large columns and head into the tunnel at the other end. Stay with this path as it curves around to the left and bust through the gates ahead, crossing the road then entering another tunnel ahead. Follow this tunnel straight to a road, which you should make a left at. Take the first right you come to onto a cobblestone road and head left at the clearing towards the church and the finish point. Use the stairs to launch you up to the finish. Reward(s): Stadt --------- Extortion --------- Recommended Vehicle: Fripon X Opponent Vehicle(s): Victory (just Owen) Strategy: Finally, a bearable race after so many horrible ones. Apparently Farid has some "information" in his car that some inspector named Owen wants to get to in Farid's Stadt (though you shouldn't use it); so he races you for it. This race can be quite tough given that his Victory is a somewhat better than your Fripon X in terms of acceleration. But he is your only opponent and traffic is light so you don't have as much to worry about in this race. At the start, you will be facing the church. While doing a Burnout, turn your car to the right about 45 degrees or a bit less. Jump up the little hill to a small road and follow it around to the left. When you spot the first checkpoint, veer to the left to hit it and take the little cobblestone street that it leads to. When the street levels off the first time, slow up and veer right onto a narrow diagonal street, then make the first right. Hit the checkpoint in the middle of this area and then continue to the other side and make a left onto the road ahead. Follow the road as it leads downwards to a circle area, then veer to the right a little to the next checkpoint at the freeway. Hit it and make a left onto oncoming traffic's exit ramp and head down into the freeway. Hit the checkpoint ahead and then pass under any of the arches to get to the other side of the freeway where the next checkpoint lies. Hit it and you should soon see another checkpoint ahead to the left. Veer left across the freeway and head towards the checkpoint. While hitting it, try to make a wide left turn and enter the gas pumps area. Take the exit ramp to the right up to the next checkpoint and then make a right, then another right into an alleyway. Follow the alley and make a right when it comes out to a road. Stay on this road as it curves to the left and take the first right onto another road. Head straight towards the next checkpoint at the freeway, and again make a left onto the exit ramp, heading down into the freeway against oncoming traffic. Hit the checkpoint ahead as the freeway bends to the left and then use the archways a little further on to get to the other side of the freeway, again, to hit the next checkpoint. You will come to more archways in the median a little while after hitting this checkpoint. For the last time, pass under one of them to cross over to the other lanes of the freeway and hit another checkpoint ahead. Continue on this freeway as it bends to the left and veer off to the left onto the entrance ramp. Slow up as you hit the checkpoint at the top and make a left. You will soon come to a circle area, at which you should take the upper right cobblestone path leading directly to the next checkpoint amongst the alleyways. Hit it and make a left to another alley leading to the next checkpoint up ahead. Hit it and make a right to another alleyway. Head straight, hitting another checkpoint and make a hard left at it. Follow this alley as it bends to the right and hit the next last checkpoint ahead. While hitting it, make a hard right, busting through the gate to another area with a gas truck ahead. Take either the left path for a ramp or the right as both lead to the same place, but head forward either way onto the road ahead. As the road starts to bend to the left, you should see a bright P sign above and archway. Make a right through the arch and keep heading right to the finish. Reward(s): Victory **--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--** P a r i s C i t y C h a m p i o n **--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--** =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= PARFAIT =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Modo Prego Choose to continue your career with your newly earned Victory and you will once again be faced off with the city champion. This time, it's an older French woman named Parfait, who once was a movie star/model and has found a new love for street racing. --------------- View from Above --------------- Recommended Vehicle: Victory Opponent Vehicle(s): Modo Prego Strategy: Being one of the city champion's races, this race is relatively long. Luckily, it isn't very difficult as a whole, but some parts may cause you some trouble. The checkpoints are somewhat spread out, but the routes to them are fairly direct and the shortcuts are easy to find if you are familiar with Paris (which you should be by now). Your opponents' Modo Pregos are also sufficiently faster than your Victory (and they have 3 shots of nitrous), so that adds to the challenge; but you should be able to pull through in this race once know it fairly well. Before the go call, turn your car to the left about 45 degrees while doing a Burnout. At the start, head straight towards the street ahead and veer right onto it. Hit the first checkpoint as the road curves to the left and continue on this road. Make a right when it ends and then take the first left. Hit the checkpoint ahead and enter the archway with a P sign over it immediately after the checkpoint. Make a right into it, follow the cobblestone path, and you should come to a clearing with the church. Veer off to the right side of the church and continue forward, avoiding the trees, to the next checkpoint. Hit it and make a left onto the little street just beside it. Keep heading straight on this path, busting through the gated archway ahead. Follow the cobblestone path straight to hit a little ramp leading to a motionless boat in the river for a shortcut. Fly off the other end of the boat, still heading straight, to land in a little tunnel, which you should take up. When you come out of the tunnel, stay to the left and veer into a little alley. When it joins with the road, veer to the left to hit the next checkpoint then veer sharply back to the right to get on the long fuchsia ramp. Fly off the ramp and then head left and down into a little opening. Continue heading left through small alley and veer to the right, shortly after, when you come to the road. Miss the corner of the building ahead to get onto a road heading the same direction as the alley you came out of. Follow this road as it bends to the left and make a right at the second intersection you come to, getting on a cobblestone road heading upwards (it's the first right after the tunnel entrance). Once the road levels off, hit the next checkpoint ahead and then make a right onto the next street, cutting the corner through the grass. Continue heading straight on this street when it curves to the right and fly off the hill down to the area below. Veer to the right once down there to get onto the cobblestone road adjacent to the buildings. Once you come out to the street, make a left and follow it as it bends around to the right. At the Y intersection at the end of the road, veer to the right to get into an alleyway ahead for the start of a shortcut. Follow the path as it goes upwards and around to the right. When you come to a large wooden ramp with a fork at the end, take the left path right and fly through the next checkpoint. You will land on a fuchsia platform with glass around it, much like the huge ramp near the beginning of the race (though it is level this time). Keep heading straight on it and hit the ramp at the end for some MASSIVE air. You should land in a little clearing in between buildings with some trees and grass. Head straight out of it and when you come to the church, continue heading straight and bust through the doors. Make a hard right shortly after, in the middle of the church, and break through the other church doors ahead. Hit the ramp in front of you and fly through the next checkpoint. Wow, that was one major shortcut. After hitting the checkpoint, veer to the right slightly and enter the archway marked with a bright P sign. Follow the cobblestone path as it bends to the right and then continue heading straight through a gap between buildings. Fly onto another stationary boat in the river and hit the ramp at the end to fly towards the three archways for another shortcut. Make your way under an arch to a little circle area and hit the checkpoint in the center. Continue forward through the other set of arches and when you come to a T intersection shortly after, veer to the right a bit to get onto another cobblestone street heading upwards, but going in the same direction as the road you were previously one (there is another road heading upwards but diagonal off to the right; do not take this one). Slow up when you are about to hit the final checkpoint and make a right onto a narrow street as you hit it. Follow this little street all the way down past the church and veer a little to the left as you fly off the road down the hill. Once you land, make for the alley in the center of the area and follow, making a sharp left when it ends to the finish. ---- Haul ---- Recommended Vehicle: Victory Opponent Vehicle(s): Modo Prego Strategy: This race is a bit more challenging than the first race, mainly because of the fog and the traffic. The race is also longer than the first race but the checkpoints are quite straightforward and I will guide you to the shortcuts, though there aren't many. As I said, the fog and the traffic can be major bitches and they can deter you severely. This race may have you frustrated and even when you know the race perfectly, you still may not win. Always stick with it, however, and let the computer make their mistakes, giving you opportunities to pull ahead. At the start of the race, follow your opponents into the alley ahead, hopefully getting off a Slipstream Turbo quite early. When you come out of the alley to a clearing, widely veer off to the left, avoiding the rock in your way, and swing around into an alley marked with a P sign. You will not see it at first because of the fog, but just wing around to the left until you find it (it is level with the first checkpoint). Bust through the gate and enter the alleyway and head straight towards the first checkpoint. Hit it and make a sharp right onto the road and follow it down for quite a long way to the checkpoint off in the distance. Hit it and stay on the road as it bends to the left and comes to a large circle area with the massive arch in the center. Swing around the arch and continue heading in the same direction to another road with the next checkpoint. Hit the checkpoint and stay with the road as it curves to the left and then straightens out. Continue down this LONG straightaway and eventually the road will bend to the left slightly. You should see the next checkpoint ahead, so pass through one of the narrow arches ahead and hit the checkpoint. Again, continue on this road and hit the next checkpoint as the road bends left again. Head straight across a bridge, avoiding the traffic on this two-lane road, and hit the checkpoint off in the distance. The road will bend to the left again and then come to a circle area with the next checkpoint. Swing around to the left or right and hit the checkpoint then continue heading around the circle back to the road you came in on. Hit the checkpoint at the entrance then take the first left you come to, right before the bridge. Hit the checkpoint ahead by veer to the right and busting through the gate down into the mini-freeway. Take the first exit ramp (actually is the entrance ramp) out of the mini-freeway and hit the next checkpoint ahead, veering left onto that little street. Follow it as it curves to the left and you should see the blue column of the next checkpoint ahead to the left slightly. When you see the bright T sign, veer off to the left and hit the checkpoint at the entrance to the tunnel, entering the tunnel as you do. At the first fork in the tunnel, take the right path, and then hit the checkpoint you come to, taking the left path as it forks again. Continue on in the tunnel and veer left slightly as it ends to hit the next checkpoint. Get on the adjacent road and take the first right to another checkpoint. Hit it and veer to the right a little, instead of turning, and you should spot a little ramp ahead. Use it to bust through the glass and get to the other side of the building. Head straight, past the glass pyramid, to the next checkpoint, and veer to the right as you hit it into the little pathway. When you come to the road shortly, veer off to the right to hit another path through the stone barriers (you cannot see it because of the fog so you may not hit it the first time). Continue through this path, avoiding the Ferris wheel carts, back onto the road for a nice straightaway. Hit the checkpoint up ahead under the massive arch in the middle of the circle area, and then veer to the left to get on a road diagonal from the one you came from. Head up this road to the final checkpoint, but slow up as you hit it and make a left up some stairs for a shortcut through a gap in between buildings. Now cruise to victory in your Victory (sorry I had to say it) to the finish point up ahead. Reward(s): Modo Prego, Paris City Champion ---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::--- ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::---::--- _____ | __ __ | | | |_/ \_/ | | | |__| | \ | |__| Street Report: The silky black street twists and turns through Tokyo's neon canyons, perfect for laying down rubber and weaving between compacts. Take time adjusting to the left-side drive and beware of aggressive local authorities. Traffic Study: Tightly packed downtown but the raised highways move quickly. Congestion vanishes at night when strict curfews send most wanna-be racers back to the suburbs. =-=-=-=-=-=-= RICKY =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Vortex 5 As you cruise around Tokyo for the first time, get used to the area and become familiar with traffic on the left side of the road. You may hear Gina on your communicator tell you that she has had some trouble with a racer named Ricky. Find this crazy Japanese scientist guy, flash your high beams as always, and follow him to the race point. ---------------- Shibuya Scramble ---------------- Recommended Vehicle: Modo Prego Opponent Vehicle(s): Vortex 5 Strategy: As the camera pans back to your car, you may recognize the cars that your opponents are driving. They are Vortex 5s, the same cars you went up against in the first race versus Primo. Somehow it has changed hands and ended up all the way in the Land of the Rising Sun. This is your first race in Tokyo, and it isn't easy. The races are somewhat longer now but the races with Parfait should get you accustomed to that, and the layout of the city is not as elaborate as Paris. The races are still quite difficult however as the checkpoints are quite spread out and getting to them can be a pain. As a general rule for these races, stay behind but try to follow a racer to get a feel for the race and where the checkpoints and some shortcuts lie. Your opponents' Vortex 5s accelerate slightly faster than your Modo Prego, but your top speed is higher, allowing you to overtake them later on. At the green light, take the right path at the fork and make a hard left where it ends. Follow the road down to the checkpoint, hit it, and take the second left after it. You should now be on a two-lane road heading straight for the next checkpoint. Drive through it and continue on down the road a little further. When you come to a stoplight at a clearing, veer to the right and get on a ramp heading up to an elevated pathway. Follow the path all the way across to the next checkpoint, and then veer right back onto the road. Make a left at the corner and then another left immediately after the freeway entrance ramp. Hit the checkpoint ahead and then make another left. At the intersection ahead, again veer right to get onto another ramp to an elevated road and follow it as it bends right to the next checkpoint. Fly off the elevated path to hit the checkpoint at an intersection then veer off to the right and look for some black glass windows to the left side of the road shortly after. Bust through them and head up the escalator ramp, fly through more glass, and finally busting through a gate down back down to the road for a sweet shortcut. Head relatively straight to go through a little diagonal street straight to the next checkpoint. Hit it and make a hard left, then take the next left. Make the first right and then the first left you come to, cutting the corner through the columned area. Hit the checkpoint straight ahead then veer to the left slightly and get onto another elevated roadway. Follow this path over many buses, which you would have hit if you did not take this path, and veer right once you are back on the ground to get onto the street. Follow this street a long ways down to the next checkpoint, but slow up a lot before you hit it and make a hard left into an area underneath the bullet train tracks. Head straight across to an exit out of the area and make a hard left at the checkpoint ahead. Follow the curve around to the left and then make a right at the intersection. Take a left at the first intersection you come to (or cut left across a concrete area) and then take the third right onto a narrow street with the final checkpoint far off in the distance. Weave amongst the traffic and use a nitrous if you can handle it. Hit the checkpoint and continue on the road down into a little tunnel. As you jump out, you will pass an intersection. Make a right at the next intersection and follow it down to a T intersection. Veer right slightly at the intersection into a little alley and make a hard left when you come out to the road. Now head straight to the finish ahead. --------------- Ricky's Revenge --------------- Recommended Vehicle: Modo Prego Opponent Vehicle(s): Vortex 5 Strategy: I do not like this race very much, but it is somewhat fun. This race can be a pain, however, with checkpoints that are spread out and hard to get to and other variables such as traffic. It may take you some time to complete this race. At the start, Ricky cheats by getting a little ahead before the go call, the little bastard. Follow him left around the building, smashing through the glass to cut the corner. Hit the first checkpoint ahead and then make a left at the intersection immediately after the road bends slightly to the left. Make a right at the T intersection and hit the next checkpoint ahead. Make another right shortly after and you should see another checkpoint shortly ahead. Slow up and make a hard right at the checkpoint. Smash through the black glass and hit the ramp ahead, veering right back onto the road after you land. Keep on this road for a while and you should see the next checkpoint off in the distance after the road slightly curves to the left. Hit it and continue on the road as it makes a sharp left curve, goes under some overpasses, and finally comes to the next checkpoint. Hit it and then veer off to the right slightly and pass in between two orange and white striped barriers to enter an alleyway just past that for a nice shortcut. Follow the alley to another checkpoint back on the road and veer left as you hit it to get into another alley, continuing the shortcut. Eventually, this alley will come back to the road near a freeway exit ramp. Continue heading straight to hit the next checkpoint on the road and then veer left to get on the path of the curve. Make a left at the first intersection you come to and hit the checkpoint up ahead. After hitting the checkpoint, make a left at any of the next three intersections, and then take a right at the T intersection you come to. Follow this street down to the last checkpoint and make a right at it. When you come to the clearing shortly, veer to the left and get on the ramp up to an elevated pathway and follow the path diagonally all the way to the other end of the area. When you get off, stay relatively straight and bust through the glass on the side of the building ahead for a shortcut. Veer left upon entering to hit the escalator ramp and head through the two billboards to the finish. Reward(s): Vortex 5 =-=-=-=-=-=-= SHING =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: RSMC 15 Find yet another crazy Japanese racer guy named Shing, flash your highs at him, and follow his RSMC 15 to the race point. ----------- Red Herring ----------- Recommended Vehicle: Modo Prego Opponent Vehicle(s): None Strategy: This is a pretty simple race against the clock, well and the cops, as they can be a big pain in the ass if you don't take my route. There are a total of two checkpoints in this race, as well as the finish point, but they are extremely spread out and can be hard to locate, plus you have a slim time limit for getting there. But overall, this race shouldn't take you more than a couple of tries to complete. Choose the Modo Prego, as it has a higher top speed than the Vortex 5 because there is a pretty nice straightaway in this race. At the go call, head diagonally towards the road and then veer right to get on it. Stay with the road as it bends to the left and make a sharp left at the T intersection up ahead. Pass one alley on your right and make a right at the second alley, adjacent to the train tracks above, following it down to the first checkpoint. Now pull a hard 180 and head up the ramp to the tracks above. You're going to stay on these tracks for a LONG time as it takes you directly to the next checkpoint. Avoid the train coming to your left and continue on the tracks. Once you get up to speed, it can be difficult to stay on the tracks, especially as it turns and narrows. You have plenty of time, so slow up at these areas. Shortly after the tracks bend to the right, stay to the left side of the tracks, avoiding the oncoming train to the right. The track will bend out slightly, making an open area in the middle, which you would have fallen through had you not avoided it. The tracks will bend to the right again and narrow for a bit and come straight to the last checkpoint. Simply fly straight off the tracks into the checkpoint, holding Weight Transfer to steady your car. Now follow this narrow road as it goes under a little tunnel to the finish. ------------------ Ichiro's Challenge ------------------ Recommended Vehicle: Modo Prego Opponent Vehicle(s): Lusso XT (just Ichiro) Strategy: You get to now race Ichiro, who I presume is Shing's friend, one on one before you can race Shing. The race itself, technically, is about the easiest races in Tokyo, but certain factors of it can make it very hard. Traffic, for one thing, is very congested and things seemed to be timed perfectly for you to run into them. The number of police in this level is also aggravating and they like to come at you head on. This race also has many straightaways, and Ichiro's car, the Lusso XT, cannot be caught when it gets up to speed, so be wary of that fact. I recommend the Modo Prego, again because it has a higher top speed, but you ay want to try the Vortex 5 for its acceleration, as you may be stopping and starting a lot in this race. Head straight at the start and make a left where the road ends. Shing will use a nitrous here and start to pull away from you. Follow him into the diagonal street just after the first intersection and follow it to the first checkpoint. Veer left onto another street from here and stay on this long straightaway down to the next checkpoint. At the first intersection you come to, a bus and some cars will block you way. Veer off to the right to avoid them and continue on. A little later, a couple of cops will come and try to hit you head on. Do your best to avoid him as well and proceed ahead to the checkpoint. Hit it and then veer left, cutting the corner, to get onto another road. Make a right at the intersection up ahead and then take the first left here, before the bridge. Stay on this street as it curves to the left and hit the next checkpoint ahead. Follow the street to the right and stay relatively straight to hit an alley diagonal to the intersection for a small shortcut. Veer right as you come back onto the road and then make a hard left immediately when you hit the checkpoint ahead. Stay with this road as it bends to the right and make a left at the intersection immediately after the road bends back to the left. You should be heading up to a Tokyo highway now. Hit the checkpoint ahead after the road levels off and notice a building with many lit windows off to the left of the highway. Right before this building is a gated barrier on the highway that you can bust through down to the street below. Slow up and make a hard left into it and fly down to the street, hitting the checkpoint ahead. Now stay on this road for a long time, avoiding the traffic and the police that pursue you. Eventually, it will bend to the right and come to the next checkpoint. Slow up as you hit it and make a left onto another street. When you come to a circle area, go around it to the right and come back left, hitting the checkpoint on the other side. Now veer right onto the road ahead and hit the final checkpoint up ahead in the grass, veering to the right as you do. Launch off the rock ramp shortly after and continue to the finish just ahead. Reward(s): Lusso XT ------------- The Real Deal ------------- Recommended Vehicle: Modo Prego Opponent Vehicle(s): RSMC 15 Strategy: Shing finally decides to race you himself with his RSMC 15, which isn't all too good. It has a slightly better top speed than your Modo Prego, but you should overtake it with acceleration. Don't use the Lusso in this race as it is slow and cumbersome, and its only advantage is its speed, but it needs better acceleration to be worth anything. Overall, this is a fun race once you learn where the checkpoints are, though it can be frustrating trying to pinpoint them. At the start, veer to the left a little and fall in line with the RSMCs towards the little canal area. Ride up on the bank and hit the first checkpoint. Continue on the bank, riding it like a Nascar track, to another checkpoint. You should notice the next checkpoint up on the adjacent road. Fly off the bank into it, holding down the weight transfer button to steady your car, and immediately head back right into the canal to hit another checkpoint just before you go under a bridge. Get back on the left bank of the canal, hitting a couple more checkpoints and fly off again, for the last time, to hit another checkpoint back on the road. Make a left at the intersection you come to and follow this road straight down to the next checkpoint and make a left at it. Keep on this curvy road parallel to the highway and make a left at the first intersection. It may be hard to spot, so keep a good eye out. Follow this road down to the checkpoint and make a right. Make another right where this street ends at a T intersection, and then make another right at the first intersection you come to. Veer off to the left on this street to hit the checkpoint and continue ahead to an alley behind the highway. Follow this and make a left when you come out to the road, hitting the checkpoint ahead. At the T intersection up ahead, take a right and follow this curvy road as it proceeds through some yellow and black striped barriers on either side of the road. When they end, pass a small intersection and look for a ramp off to the right where you can get up onto the train tracks above. It's not in plain view so look for an orange and white striped barrier up above where the tracks begin. Once you are up there, hit the checkpoint ahead and notice the blue column of the next checkpoint off to the right. After you pass a tall purple building on your right, veer off the tracks to the right, flying back down onto the road. Hit the checkpoint ahead and stay straight on this road, hitting a massive jump over the river (nitrous is recommended). After you land, you will come to the circle area. Go either left or right around the obstruction in the middle and continue on this road to the checkpoint. Make a hard left at it and then veer off to the left, following the path of the train tracks above for a short while before veering back off to the right into a little alley for a shortcut right to the next checkpoint. Stay on this road and make a left at the final checkpoint up ahead. Follow this road down to a shipping area and veer off to the left side of the building to your left as you enter. Slow up, avoiding the crates and the truck that crosses you path and head through an opening on the other end of the area. Continue heading straight busting through the gate to another massive jump right to the finish. Reward(s): RSMC 15 =-=-=-=-=-=-= HALEY =-=-=-=-=-=-= Vehicle: Saikou Your next opponent is Haley, an American blonde bombshell who has a thing for women and against men (I smell a rug muncher). She may seem quite out of place in this Tokyo environment, but her sweet Saikou fits right in. Seek her out and follow her to the race point. ------ Enigma ------ Recommended Vehicle: Vortex 5 Opponent Vehicle(s): Saikou Strategy: Welcome to your first scattered checkpoint race in Tokyo, and it is extremely hard. There are numerous checkpoints in this race and though they seem to be grouped to together, they really are not. You will have the toughest time finding every last checkpoint and a good route to get all of them to boot. I found that a good way to get a feel for the race and to find the best route is to follow Haley as best you can, though it is difficult keeping up with her speedy Saikou. There are a considerable amount of turns and direction changes in this race, so your best bet is to go with the Vortex 5, as it accelerates the fastest of your cars. When the light turns green, accelerate up to the intersection and make a hard right. Hit the checkpoint ahead then veer left, cutting under the miniature Eiffel Tower, and hit another checkpoint. Continue heading left around the tower to hit a couple more checkpoints, and after the second, make a hard left, cutting through the grass, onto a two-lane road. Pass a couple small intersections and make a left at the third onto another two-lane road near the train tracks above. Hit the checkpoint ahead at one intersection and make a right at the next. Hit the checkpoint in front of you and make another right. About halfway in the wall to your right is a gate, which you should veer into and hit the checkpoint in the grass. Make a right at the corner and slow up as you bust through the gate at the corner of the wall ahead. Make a hard right back onto the road and then veer off to the left to hit a ramp up to the next checkpoint. Land back on the road and stay on it as it bends left and eventually comes to another checkpoint. Hit it and make a right and then make another right at the next checkpoint ahead. You should be on a narrow road with another checkpoint ahead. Hit it as the road bends to the left and pull a sharp left at the Y intersection shortly after. Take the first sharp left you come to for an entrance into an underground tunnel, and hit the sole checkpoint down here. Continue on and as you leave the tunnel, veer off to the right and head right at the intersection you come to. Follow it down to a checkpoint and make a left at the T intersection just beyond it. Now you will see two highway entrances on either side of you, going the other way. Pull a hard 180 and get on the one to the left (to the right after the 180). Head up to the highway and hit the two checkpoints on it. Then, after the highway curves to the right, pull another 180 at the first exit ramp you see going the other way. Head down the curve, hitting the checkpoint at the end, then immediately make a left at the intersection and head straight to the finish. --------- Intuition --------- Recommended Vehicle: RSMC 15 Opponent Vehicle(s): Saikou Strategy: This race is slightly less difficult than Haley's previous race, but it still is awfully hard. There is an enormous am