Is it just me or is the gaming market becoming more accustomed to getting "director's cuts" of games? It all started a few years back when Criterion and Acclaim teamed to bring a "Developer's Cut" of Burnout 2: Point of Impact to the Xbox, which turned many gamers to that particular version of the game. And just a couple of months ago, Capcom went back into the vault for their Devil May Cry 3 re-release, pulling out his rogue brother Vergil and a cool new playable mode to make the game worth the re-investment for the $20. Man, I can't wait to see what company hits next. Perhaps a Gran Turismo 4 re-release with online play? Heh, maybe that line of thinking's too wishful.

Enter Rockstar, who have provided a "director's cut" of last year's marvelous racing effort Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, adding a Remix to the title and budget pricing it for a meager $20. And, I'll tell you, one would expect a bit of question into re-purchasing it, especially since more complex racers seem to be pouring on the market like wine in a congressman's glass. But believe me when I say that the modifications that Rockstar has made to the game make it all the more worthwhile to pick up again, especially if you're any kind of fan of the previous sequel, Midnight Club II.

I say this because a crucial area that made part two so entertaining is now thrown into the mix for this edition- and that's Tokyo. This was the hardest and most challenging city in the previous game, with its series of damn near impossible races and locales that simply drew you in for the neon glow all by themselves. Well, here, the challenges are just as laid out, with a series of races that can be taken on and rarely completed with the kind of ease you're expecting. You have to make a few runs through the other US-based cities before you eventually settle in to Tokyo, but the experience will certainly help you as you prepare to ramp up for what lies ahead. The Tokyo level looks just as astounding as the others, and the graphics have been untouched otherwise, still running at a solid 30 frames per second and not missing a beat on detail.

If modification's more your speed, then Remix will probably become your utopia. Along with the wide assortment of parts you found in the original game, this version packs even more. There's a number of aftermarket parts you can now access, including air-ride suspensions, and they all still manage to come into play as far as your ride is concerned. There's also a ton of new paint and customization options that can make your ride look even more ridiculous than ever. Hell, with some effort, you can even create your dream Pimpmobile. Granted, it'll still take damage like the rest of the cars, but nothing beats racing with flavor, right? (And, hey, some ladies like that, I think.)

Assortment has also come into play in terms of the music selection and the cars at hand. There's a few new rap and techno tunes on hand to add to the already lengthy song selection, and they continue to follow in the tradition of upbeat racing tunes. You can still use your own (on the Xbox), if that's your thing, so no worries there. As far as cars, the selection is still as wide open as before (even going as far as including motorcycles), but there's about 20+ new rides to tinker with. My personal favorite? The Ferrari/Gemballa F355. Sure, it'll take some work to put that sucker in your garage, but, man, will it be worth it. Especially with a black paint job and custom rims. Hoo, boy!

Other than these additions, the game's about the same. The frame rate's still smooth, the controls still just as responsive as they've ever been, and the online options loaded with a series of custom races to team up with others in. The Tokyo city in itself is a superb addition with a number of races at hand that will bring together a great new community of hardcore racers.

Now comes the question- is it worth the dollars if you already own the game? The answer is yes, especially if you have messed around with Midnight Club before. Just trade in your old copy and drop a few extra bucks, and you get the game that seems to be a dream ride for racing fans. And if you don't have it, well, there's no better time, as Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix is as definitive as the street racing brand gets...at least, for this generation.

Our Final ScoreExcellent

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