Midnight Club II

Game Chronicles

Offers the best in arcade street racing with a large selection of cars, lively cast of characters, wonderful locations, challenging course designs, single, multiplayer, and online racing, and endless creative possibilities with the Race Editor.

Gamers' Temple

An adrenaline-packed rush of a ride.

Gamezilla!

Despite the lack of competition in this genre, MCII is a must have game with superb graphics, fun single player action, and multiplayer modes that will keep you gripping your controller for months to come.

Official Xbox Magazine

The super-smooth graphics and wonderful gameplay mean this is almost a home run. [Aug 2003, p.80]

GameZone

The game goes for an arcade feel and pulls it off wonderfully. The controls are actually pretty tight and the action is smooth as ice throughout the single player modes as well as the multiplayer action.

Game Over Online

With a larger career mode featuring more cities and greater tracks, additional gameplay modes and rock solid online play, this is the racer you want to cross the finish line with in your gaming console.

GameNow

Has more technique than almost any other racing game before it. [Aug 2003, p.33]

Gaming Age

The best racing game I’ve played in months, and anyone looking to release a title in this genre now should look long and hard at what Rockstar’s been able to pull off here.

GameSpy

A prettier, tighter game on Xbox, making it the number one racer on the system -- at least in my eyes.

XboxAddict

Add custom soundtracks!!!!! Custom soundtracks should be mandatory, instead of being an extra treat.

GamingTrend

Slightly less fun than "Burnout 2: Point of Impact," but makes up for it in longevity, LIVE play and the plethora of cars and motorcycles to unlock. The single-player part will take you a good, long time to complete.

Cheat Code Central

The extra features including a race editor offer a lot of replay value and taking online beats playing against the AI racers.

Armchair Empire

Nothing is better then running over a vulnerable pedestrian, drive under an 18-wheeler while going over 100, speed across red lights inching past others, and use your NAS booster, without being pulled over by a cop.

Game Informer

It's not only gorgeous to look at, it's blazing fast with gameplay that constantly has you sliding in and out of traffic riding on the edge of disaster. [July 2003, p.113]

GamePro

Visually, the game doesn’t disappoint—lots of shiny cars, detailed environments, and lighting effects that prove crucial during these after-hours races.

TotalGames.net

The Midas touch that has served so many Rockstar games has found its way into Midnight Club II, and although the game is by no means perfect, it is the breath of fresh air that should lift it above the glut of average racers that have wormed their way onto the console recently.

Deeko

An exhilirating racing experience. Though it lacks the simulation style that I've grown to love, the game hearkens back to the days of games like Out Run and other similar arcade style racers.

IGN

Knowing the variety and depth of multiplayer game options that are on the way in "Midtown Madness 3," it's hard to believe MC2 couldn't have done more.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Simply the best online racer yet. [Aug 2003, p.116]

XGP Gaming

With Rockstar's solid reputation for developing games that sell well and are fun to play, it's no surprise that this game is easy to play right out of the box.

Team Xbox

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d enjoy the offline career mode more than playing the game online. I’m not saying that MC II doesn’t provide quality online gaming, but the lack of game modes tends to bog the whole online experience down and it never quite gets out of first gear.

Entertainment Weekly

Memorizing the maps and finding the many shortcuts is crucial. [18 July 2003, p.82]

Play Magazine

Next time gimmie some music other than hip-hop, and a driver's-eye-view, and I'll be one happy speed freak. [Aug 2003, p.75]

Xbox Nation Magazine

While Club II foes raise the bar for arcade-style racing, it falters in the audio department. [Aug 2003, p.76]

Eurogamer

A decent port and has enough going for it in its own right to be considered a worthy purchase, just maybe not an essential one.

Total Video Games

At the moment Xbox owners have a pleasant choice between "Midtown Madness 3" and Midnight Club II, and we feel that the latter just about gets the edge, 'cause of the one-player.

Maxim Online

It may not boast garages bloated with the usual name-brand chick magnets you find in other racing games, but the dark racing underbelly of Midnight Club II has every bit as many thrills as the leading grease monkey autopia.

GMR Magazine

If you just like insanely fast arcade racing, go ahead and pick it up. It's a gas. [Aug 2003, p.73]

Adrenaline Vault

Lengthy single player campaign aside, the online matches and powerful race editor should keep this game fresh for months to come.

GameSpot

It may not be as visually stunning or control as well as some other racers, but the game does a little bit of everything and does it all well.

Playboy

Touchy controls require precision to avoid wrecking or, even worse, forking over your ride to a Frenchie. [July 2003, p.34]

All Game Guide

The online component is addictive and is almost reason enough to purchase Midnight Club II, but solo players will be yearning for things to do in the cities outside of competing in more checkpoint races.

Xequted

It may be fast and furious but it’s not the best.