Although the Tokyo Extreme Racer series was the first one to expose the phenomenon, the Midnight Club series from Rockstar Games has become synonymous with success in terms of defining how underground street racing should come to a video game system. It all started back in 2000 with the release of the first Midnight Club for the PlayStation 2, and was followed up by the far more expansive Midnight Club II for both PS2 and Xbox. Now here we are, in the year 2005, with the third edition revving its tires, ready to make us believe in the power of underground street racing. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition has come, but does it really bring anything new along for the ride?

Well, to be honest, not really. But hold on, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Like the second game, DUB Edition puts you smack in the middle of three different city environments- Detroit, San Diego, and Atlanta- challenging a handful of dangerous street racers at their own game and participating in events to pick up cash to enhance your cars. The formula is similar, and that may disappoint a few of you. But everything about it is so much more focused this time around, to the point that you'll curse the game in disbelief for not really offering anything new and yet dropping your jaw in awe as you rev through city streets at a blazing speed.

What's focused? Well, let's first talk about the way races are set up. In the career mode, you can roam around, challenging individual racers who insist they're dominant in the streets; you can take on rival gangs made up of a team of racers who insist they're invincible and want you to prove otherwise; and then you have trophy runs, where you take part in a series of racing events to earn a big cash payoff. The ways in which these events are mixed up are varied each time you play, adding to the diversity that the sequel offers. It also focuses less on the personality of each racer and instead just tells you to "shut up and race", although you'll still get advice from your man at the custom shop, filling you in on racing attributes of your opponents and things that will help you out in the long run.

The gameplay still remains exciting, and this time around, I feel that it's a lot more delicate in the way it comes off. That's not to say it should be treated with care- of course not. Floor the gas and rip down the roads. The way that each vehicle handles is like a dream, and gets inventive in the fact that they feel just like their real counterparts. The controls do add a "weight shift" button, which comes into play when it comes to maintaining speed. I found it to be an utter delight to use, even during the powerslides and such that kept me from smacking into the sides of buildings. Furthermore, there are other techniques that come into play, including slip stream, where you can ride on the coattails of a competitor and, upon filling up a meter, let 'em have it with a full nitrous blast. How cool is that?

As far as car selection, it comes in by the truckload. There are over 50 different vehicle types here, and they all handle pretty well. There are even some sporty motorbikes that can come into play if you're skillful enough to afford their price. Some of these vehicles even have special abilities you can use in a race, like the ability to ram an opponent out of the way Burnout-style or a sweet slowdown effect that gives you a bit more precise handling. It's like what Tony Hawk's Underground 2 tried to do with Focus Mode, but better put to use here because it serves a purpose and isn't just put in for a "wow" effect. And, like Midnight Club II, you can use your earned winnings to purchase new parts and customization tools, in which your brain is the limit in terms of what you can do to your car. And, hey, Xzibit won't even butt in with "pimp my ride" comments.

With graphics, the game still hasn't gotten to the point where it can represent with a 60-frames per second frame rate. That's a shame, because if the Midnight Club series can get to that point, it can really show what speed's all about. As is, however, the graphics still come through in terms of atmosphere and design. The cars look as they should, and little particle effects look spectacular, even if it's something as small as knocking down a street lamp and watching it shatter in the street. And how about those blur effects once you hit top speed? Love those. The cities are intricately designed, jam packed with small things and hidden shortcuts that will keep you busy for hours. (And if you don't believe me, just try Arcade mode- you can literally roam around, seeking hidden Rockstar icons and enjoying the coasting life.) And the presentation itself in general just takes a step up from Midnight Club II. Too bad there are no international cities...but, oh, well, sometimes you want to keep these things local.

As far as sound, the only thing I could find annoying is your side man, talking to you and using a street-wise vocab that may grate on your nerves. Still, he's helpful, so keep an ear open for him. As far as the music options, they're impressive. The soundtrack boasts over 50 songs, from the likes of Twista, Beenie Man, and even Nine Inch Nails' new stuff. (Kudos to including "Pain" by Jimmy Eat World. That's a favorite.) If it still doesn't suit you, you can set up your own customized soundtrack to race to. As for the sound effects, they're golden, from the grinding noises during a crash to the purr of each individual engine. This game sounds the part and does it extremely well.

Then we get to the multiplayer, and DUB Edition doesn't disappoint here either. You can go split-screen with a friend through a number of races, or you can take the game online via Xbox Live and challenge them through a variety of activities, such as Capture the Flag and Tag. The community is wisely set up to suit each separate racer, and the online play is speedy enough to keep up with the miles per hour you rack up in each event. I found no problems here.

Usually, if a game stays a little too close to formula and doesn't offer anything in terms of revolutionary terms, I find it to be somewhat annoying. But when everything that was existent in a game is done so right in a sequel, to the point that the thrill of velocity overrides the lack of invention, then the satisfaction comes back into play. This is where Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition falls. Its style, its presentation, its vast gameplay, and its hours of endless activities and hurdles to jump over will make this a welcome arrival in your garage.