Midtown Madness FAQ/Walkthrough for Amateur Mode Version 1.0 Last Updated: 4/9/2003 By: Octoferret =============================================================================== Table of Contents =============================================================================== 1. Version History 2. Introduction to the Game and Getting Started 2.1 - Game Controls 2.2 - Getting Started 2.3 - Options 2. Vehicle List 3. Cruise/Getting to know the city 4. Checkpoint Races 5. Blitz Races 6. Circuit Races 7. Legal Stuff & Contact Information =============================================================================== 1. Version History =============================================================================== Version 0.33 - First version Version 0.45 - Added advice on how to beat the last Blitz Races and a few more Circuit Races Version 0.65 - Added advice on beating the rest of the Circuit Races Version 0.70 - Added advice on beating the next two Checkpoint Races Version 0.80 - Added advice on beating three more Checkpoint Races Version 0.90 - Included advice for finishing the last three Checkpoint Races Version 1.0 - Put up the Cruise/Getting to know the city section, FAQ finished =============================================================================== 2. Introduction to the Game and Getting Started =============================================================================== ************************** 2.1 - Game Controls ************************** NOTE: These are the default controls using a keyboard, switching the input device will change some of the controls to use the device you have selected Map toggle: Tab Full Screen Map: Q Map Resolution: E HUD Toggle: H Steer Left: Left Arrow Key Steer Right: Right Arrow Key Throttle (Accelerate): Up Arrow Key Brakes: Down Arrow Key Handbrake: Space Change Camera: C External View: V Horn: Enter Look Left: Num 4 Look Right: Num 6 Look Back: Num 2 Look Forward: Num 8 Wide Angle: W Dashboard View: D Transmission: T Shift Up: A Shift Down: Z Reverse: R Next Waypoint: S Previous Waypoint: X Toggle CD Player: 2 Start/Stop CD: 3 Previous CD Track: 4 Next CD Track: 5 Rear View Mirror: Backspace Opponent Position: I Enter Chat Message: Y ************************** 2.2 - Getting Started ************************** Once you have the game installed and start it you will be taken to a menu where you can choose to play Quick Race, Single Player or Multiplayer. Below that you can choose Race Record to obviously view records for all the races. On the top of the screen (And these buttons will stay there on all menus) on the right side you can go to the options menu, get help (The question mark, this will minimize the game and take you to the help file), minimize the game (The underscore) or close the game (The X). ---------- Quick Race ---------- Choosing this will take you to the car select screen and then onto the race. The race you play will be the last race played in Single Player mode. ------------- Single Player ------------- Single is the main part of the game. Selecting single player will take you to the driver selection menu. When you first start the game there will be a default driver for you to choose, DriverX. Create your own driver by pressing the 'New' button, put in your name and select either Amateur or Professional. If this is your first time playing, you should choose Amateur. You can delete DriverX by selecting it and pressing the 'Delete' button (Not the one on your keyboard). Pressing the 'Stats' button will bring up a list of all the races you have completed and the car you used. Under the selected driver there will be various stats about that driver. Pressing the 'Select Race' button will take you to the next screen. On the left side of the screen you can choose either Cruise, Blitz race, Checkpoint race, or Circuit race. Unless you have chosen Cruise, you can select the race under Race Name. You can play any race in Blitz or Circuit, but Checkpoint races are unlocked three at a time when the previous three have been completed. Under the race selection you can view the settings for the race such as the time of day, weather, traffic density and police density. Once you have completed a race these settings can be changed for the race. Once you have completed a Blitz race you can also change how many checkpoins it has and once you have completed a Circuit race you can change how many opponents there are and how many checkpoints there are. Press the 'Select Vehicle' button to select your vehicle and start the selected race. ----------- Multiplayer ----------- Selecting this will take you to the multiplayer menu. Here you can choose how you want to connect with other players, your name and choose a game. The first thing you'll probably want to do is choose a Net Name. This is the name that people will see when playing with you. After that you will have to select how you want to connect. Choosing MSN Gaming Zone will launch the Zone's website in your default browser. To play there you will have to register and choose a game using their service. Select IPX Connection if your computer is on a network with other computers playing Midtown Madness. TCP/IP Connection will let you join another game if you know the IP address of the host. Serial Connection is used if you are connected to another computer via a serial cable. Lastly, Modem Connection is for people connecting via dial-up modems, anyone who wants to join dials the number of the host. If you want to host a game, select the mode in which people will connect to you and then click the Host button. The host screen is just like the single player race selection screen except you can add a password to the game so only certain people can come in, assign the maximum number of players in the game and choose a multiplayer-only game mode, Cops and Robbers. ------------ Race Records ------------ Selecting this will bring up a list of top times from races. You can select from what type of races you wish to see the top times. You can also select whether you see the top times from Amateur mode, Professional mode, or the top scores from Professional mode. ************************** 2.3 - Options ************************** From here you can change audio options, control options or graphics options. You can also select 'About Midtown Madness' to view the credits and copyright information. ------------- Audio Options ------------- Here you can select various audio options. Under device, make sure your sound card is selected. Under stereo FX you select whether the audio in the game is either in stereo or mono. Below that option you can select the sound quality. To the right of those you can turn sound effects, music and commentary on and off. The last options are the wave volume (Game sounds), CD volume (Volume from CDs played in game) and the sound balance. --------------- Control Options --------------- Here you can bind the keys to be used in the game. On the top-left you can select your control device. Under that there are options for various types of controls. The only option there that doesn't depend on your control is auto-reverse, when checked that will allow you to go into reverse by holding down the brake when you're stopped. On the right you can bind keys to various functions. ---------------- Graphics Options ---------------- You can adjust the quality of the graphics in the game here. Unless you have an older video card, you can put all of the options on at least the high settings. =============================================================================== 3. Vehicle List =============================================================================== After you have played for awhile you'll probably notice that only a few of the vehicles are worth using for most races. I personally used the Ford Mustang GT for all races before any other vehicle, so keep that in mind if you have trouble following my advice for a race. When I say you can use just about any vehicle that you want for a race, I am obviously excluding the bus and Frieghtliner Century as their usefulness is very limited/ ------------- VW New Beetle ------------- Horsepower: Low Top Speed: Low Durability: Medium-Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Default -------- City Bus --------- Horsepower: Low Top Speed: Low Durability: High Mass: High Unlocked by: Place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any two races ----------------- Cadillac Eldorado ----------------- Horsepower: Low Top Speed: Medium-Low Durability: Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Default -------------------- Ford Mustang Cruiser -------------------- Horsepower: Low Top Speed: Medium Durability: Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in six checkpoint races ---------- Ford F-350 ---------- Horsepower: Medium-High Top Speed: Medium-Low Durability: Medium-Low Mass: Medium-Low Unlocked by: Default --------------------- Ford Mustang Fastback --------------------- Horsepower: Medium-Low Top Speed: Medium Durability: Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in five Circuit races --------------- Ford Mustang GT --------------- Horsepower: Medium-Low Top Speed: Medium Durability: Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Default ----------- Panoz GTR-1 ----------- Horsepower: Medium-High Top Speed: High Durability: Medium-Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Earn 8000 points (Pro only, can't be unlocked in amateur) -------------- Panoz Roadster -------------- Horsepower: Medium-Low Top Speed: Medium Durability: Low Mass: Low Unlocked by: Default -------------------- Frieghtliner Century -------------------- Horsepower: High Top Speed: Medium-Low Durability: High Mass: Medium Unlocked by: Place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in five Blitz races =============================================================================== 3. Cruise/Getting to know the city =============================================================================== Before you hit the races, it is a very good idea to start up a game in Cruise and learn the layout of the city. When you select Cruise mode you can change the time of day, weather, traffic density, pedestrian density and cop density to your liking. During your first tour of the city you will definitely want to use the in-game map or the map in the manual to help you find your way around. Once you select a vehicle and the game loads you are free to roam the city. You will always start out Cruise in the middle of this intersection near the parks on the eastern side of the city. To the right is a whole belt of parks/grassy areas filled with a number of landmarks. To the north is the Art Institute, there is a hidden passage running north-south inside of it that you can drive through. Find the passage and use it during races to save some time. To the east you can find the Shedd Aquarium by a pier, you can cut through the Aquarium by finding the walls that are colored differently from the rest and driving through them. At the end of this pier is the Adler Planetarium, you can also cut through it. Just find the wall which is colored differently in the front and drive through it. There is a road that goes from the pier to Megs Field, which is a small airport. This airport isn't all that important, because only a race or two go to it. There is also a road that goes here on the west side of the airport. To the west of the airport back on the mainland is Soldier Field. This is a big stadium. There are a few small entrances on the sides that you can go through to get in. Take note of their locations, you will have to use them in a few races. Along the edge of Lake Michigan is Lake Shore Boulevard. This is one of the widest roads in the city and will be one you are on quite often. To the west of where you start is downtown. A prominent feature of this section of the city is the El, which is the train that runs on the track above some of the streets (It's the dotted line on your map). On the southern edge of downtown is Dearborn Station. Remember it's location as it will be important in later races. A couple blocks up from there is Daley Plaza. You can cut through this plaza in some races. Just be sure not to hit the big statue. North of the Sears Tower there is an alley which goes up for a block. At the end there is a tunnel which goes under the river and comes up right across it to the North. Near the plaza there is a mall, you can break through the glass and go inside. On the northern and western sides of the downtown section of the city are rivers. The rivers are spanned by drawbridges. These drawbridges do go up and down and you can jump them when the go up. Although jumping them can seriously damage your car. South of downtown is Chinatown. There isn't much of interest here. There is the construction site on the southwest corner of the neighborhood which you can cut through. A few blocks north of the construction site is an alley that connects to the western street that the El runs above. You will go through this alley in a few races. There is also a tunnel in the north-west corner of this area that connect to downtown. On the south side there is a a road that connects up with the freeway. Northwest from Chinatown there is a small industrial district. There isn't much here except a road that leads to the freeway and a tunnel that doesn't take you very far away. On the north end of the city there is a large residential area. There isn't all that much here besides Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and a few tunnels. Wrigley Field is on the northern tip of the city and has two entrances which allow you to get inside. On the eastern side of this area is Navy Pier. There are two roads on the north and south that run along the pier. There are many roads connecting the roads along the pier. There is also a parking lot that is raised up with two ramps going up to it near the end of the pier. North of Navy Pier is the Water Filtration Plant. There is a road connecting to it and a road that goes around it. This place serves no purpose whatsoever. Not a single race will take you to it. In the southwest corner of this area there is a tunnel that connects to downtown and a bit north of that is a tunnel with an underground parking lot in the middle. That's about it for the city. Once you have noted all the important parts of the city and shortcuts you should get started on the races. =============================================================================== 4. Checkpoint Races =============================================================================== In these races your goal is to pass through all of the checkpoints, and then through the finish line (Which will pop up after you pass the last checkpoint) before all of the other vehicles do. You are free to go anywhere in the city to find the best route for the race. The best route won't always be the one the game wants you to take. In Checkpoint Races there is traffic and police, who will do whatever they can to cause your car to damage out. At first only the first three Checkpoint Races are available for play, after you complete all three the next three will be unlocked and so on. --------------- Beginner's Luck --------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Cop Density: High Advice: This is a very easy race to start off the game. You should be able to pass all of the other cars right away. Pass them and take the off-ramp to your right. Cut through the parking lot to the right onto the street, but don't take it too fast because you'll spin out. Continue on this street past the first park where the street bends left. When this street ends cut through the park to the street on the right. When you pass the next street a cop will come after you. Ignore him and continue on through the last checkpoint. Once you pass the next one the finish line will pop up two blocks ahead and to the left. ---------------------- Tough Turns & a Tunnel ---------------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Cop Density: High Advice: Again, you should be able to pull ahead right away. After the third checkpoint don't go through they alley because it will only slow you down. Go down the big road with the checkpoints. After the last checkpoint on this street turn right and jump across the bridge if it's up. Go right and go all the way along this road and go right when it ends. After the last checkpoint head right in the next intersection and go into the tunnel to the left. In this tunnel there is an underground parking lot, cut to the right to get to the exit. Once you get out of the tunnel the finish line is to the right. --------------- North River Run --------------- Time of day: Evening Weather: Clear Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Cop Density: High Advice: This is your first chance to go through the checkpoints in whatever manner you wish. Instead of following the other cars, take the road that angles left right after the intersection. Not the one that is a 90-degree turn, but the one that slightly angles. On this street make the first left. At the end of this street cut through the park to get to the street with the next checkpoint on it. Continue down this street and after the next checkpoint turn left. Go along this street and after the second checkpoint, pass the intersection and go down the next block. A cop will start to chase you here. Take a right at the next intersection and then a left after it. Go all the way along this street past the checkpoint and onto the Navy Pier. After the first checkpoint here continue along until you see a ramp to the left. Drive up it to get into a parking lot and go left. Face to the left and jump off the other end of the parking lot get to the last checkpoint. Don't go too fast or you'll land in the water. Continue along this street to get off of the Navy Pier. Cut through the park between Navy Pier and the land and go left to get to the finish line. --------------- Soldier Sneaker --------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Clear Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: Right when you start this race you'll notice something different about it, probably that you start facing the other cars. Don't worry about this. Very quickly turn around and you won't get hit. It'll take a little bit longer to get into first place in this race, obviously, because you do have to turn around. You'll notice that the second checkpoint may look to be a bit difficult to get since it's in the middle of the street. Instead of going all the way around the Art Institute to get it, you can actually cut through the middle of the Art Institute and come out right by the checkpoint. Get back on the road to your left to get the next checkpoint. Turn onto the pier with the Planetarium at the end and pass the two checkpoints there. Circle around the planetarium and get off the pier. Go left and pass the next checkpoint. Right after that cut right and go straight through the passages in Soldier Field. Once you come out of the other side of Soldier Field you'll see the next checkpoint. Make a left at the next intersection to get to the next checkpoint. After that make a right on the next intersection and continue on this street until you pass the last checkpoint. After that checkpoint use the off-ramp to get off of the freeway and make a right to pass the finish line. ------------- Freeway Flyer ------------- Time of day: Clear Weather: Day Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: There is no easy way to beat this race. You will likely have to make many attempts at it before you are finally able to beat it. The best way to finish it isn't necessarily to follow the same path as all of your opponents. If you do you will likely get hit by them a lot and you do not want that to happen, because you will likely hit a lot of another things in this race and come very close to damaging out. The best way I found to do this race is to take it backwards. Right when you start turn around and make a right onto the freeway onramp. Go all the way along the freeway until it ends and just go through the checkpoints in reverse order. Eventually you will come to a point where you meet up with the other cars, who will be heading right at you. When this happens you must do what you can to avoid them. If they hit you at full speed your car will be significantly damaged and you may not be able to make it through the race. Make sure you take the tunnel to go under the river instead of trying to go over the bridges. When you get to the area around the Sears Tower you will have to do with a single cop. ------------------- Nocturnal Navigator ------------------- Time of day: Night Weather: Clear Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: At the start of the race turn around and make a left at the intersection. Make another left at the next one and head for the first checkpoint. Be careful not to hit any of the other cars heading straight for you. Past the checkpoint make a right into the tunnel. Make a left when the tunnel ends to pass the next checkpoint. Around here you will pass a cop who will start to chase you. Continue down this road and make a right on the street the ends in front of Dearborn Station and has the next checkpoint on it. Go through that checkpoint and DO NOT go right at the next intersection like the Fastback will. Continue on but slow down before the intersection. The checkpoint is on the street to the right but only feet away from the intersection. Swerve to the right, pass through the checkpoint and head to the left of the street you were just on (You should be heading to the west). Make a right at the intersection onto the street with the next two checkpoints. Pass the first one and head towards the bridge. Jump across the bridge and pass the next checkpoint. When the road turns to the right follow it. Make the second right onto the street with the next checkpoint. Cross the bridge and go left at this intersection. Pass the checkpoint and make a right onto the next street. When you pass the checkpoint here hit your handbrake and make a 180 degree turn. Head back up the street and make a right at the intersection. Pass the checkpoint and follow this street until it ends. When it ends make a left and pass the final checkpoint. Go all the way along this street and make a left onto the street with the finish line. The turn is right by a park a bit past the road to the Water Filtration Plant. ---------------- Beat the Bridges ---------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Rain Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: Start out by making a left at the intersection right after the starting line. Go down this street and past the bridge. At the intersection right after the bridge make a right and pass through the checkpoint. Make a right onto this bridge and make a left at the intersection (Not the alley, but the big street). Pass this checkpoint and go left at the intersection. Cross the bridge and go to the right. Pass the checkpoint and go to the right onto this bridge. Right after the bridge make a left into the alley. When you get to the street go left and make sure you pass through the checkpoint when doing so. Cross the bridge and go to the right at the intersection. Pass the checkpoint, take the soft left at the small intersection by the park and make a left at the intersection after that. Go right into the alley and when the alley ends go right onto the street. Pass the checkpoint and continue on across the bridge. Make a left at the intersection and pass the checkpoint. Make a left at this intersection and cross the bridge. Go right and then pass the last checkpoint. Make a right onto the last bridge and continue on through the finish line. -------------------- Crosstown Switchback -------------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Rain Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Cop Density: High Advice: This race is very straightforward. From the start go left at the intersection and follow this street past the three checkpoints on it all the way to the end. At the end go right and follow this street until you pass the checkpoint. Once you pass it cut across the grass to the right to save a little bit of time. Pass the next checkpoint and get on the freeway. You are going to have to follow the freeway all the way until it ends and deal with the traffic while moving at high speeds. If you come up to a big block of traffic pass them by going on the shoulder to the right. Once you pass the checkpoint at the end you'll see that the finish line is all the way back at the OTHER end of the freeway. At the intersection at the end of the freeway make a quick 180 turn and head back down the other side of the freeway. Unless you run into a lot of traffic on the freeway (Run into as in, HIT IT) you should be very far in front of the other cars when finishing. ---------------- Perimeter Perils ---------------- Time of day: Evening Weather: Rain Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: This race can be a bit tough. Stay on the street you start on until you pass the first checkpoint on the freeway. A cop will start to chase you around here. Take the offramp and get off of the freeway. Turn right and make a left at the first intersection. After the second intersection on this street cut through the construction site. Continue on and go through the alley. When you get out of the alley make the first left and pass the checkpoint. Continue on and cross the bridge. When you get to the freeway onramps take a right at the first one to head north on the freeway. Once you are on the freeway another cop will start to chase you. Pass the checkpoint and when you get to the next offramp get off of the freeway. Make a right onto the street and at the THIRD intersection make a right. At the following intersection go left and pass this checkpoint. Go left again at the next intersection. When the road angles to the left and right after the third intersection go left. Take a right at the second intersection here and take this street until it ends. When it ends go right and pass this checkpoint. Follow this street all the way to Navy Pier. Make a left onto the northern street going across the pier. Take this until you get to the alley which the next checkpoint is in (It's right after the raised parking lot and is the fifth right turn). Go right at the end of the alley and get off of the pier. Turn left onto the street and follow it past the checkpoint all the way down to the Shedd Aquarium. Go left and head towards the Alder Planetarium. Pass the checkpoint and go around the Planetarium. Go past the Shedd Aquarium and make a right onto the big street. Make a left at the intersection right before the Art Institute onto the street with the finish line. Go all the way down this street to the finish line. ------------- Aptitude Test ------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Snow Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: When you start out go through the first two checkpoints and do not make a right at the intersection like all of your opponents. Go straight, pass the next intersection and when you get to the intersection after that make a right. Go through the intersection and pass the checkpoint. At this intersection go onto the street that goes out diagonally from the intersection and pass the checkpoint on it. Make a right and drive down the stairs. Pass the intersection and drive down these stairs. Go left and pass the checkpoint at the end of the stairs. Go right at the intersection and continue down this street past the bridge. Don't turn on the intersection right after you get off of the bridge, but go left at the second intersection. Head straight until you pass the next checkpoint. Go right and follow the path through the grassy area. Don't turn at the intersection and go THROUGH the Art Institute. When you get out go to the left and pass the checkpoint. Get back on the road along Lake Michigan and follow it until you pass the next checkpoint. After you pass it turn left on the first intersection. Pass the checkpoint and head around the Planetarium to pass the next checkpoint. Head to the road that borders the lake and make a right onto it. Take it past Shedd Aquarium and cut across the grass to the left so you get onto the southern-most big street which is the one that goes right past Dearborn Station. When you get to the grassy area by the station cut left so you are driving along the street one block to the left of the one you were just on. When you get to the checkpoint make a right into the alley. After you have gone through the alley and past the two checkpoints make a right on the third intersection, which is onto the street that goes along the northern side of the Sears Tower. Once you pass the final checkpoint break through the glass to your left and go through this mall. Break through the glass at the other end and pass the finish line. ------------------- Beetle Blast-a-Thon ------------------- Time of day: Evening Weather: Snow Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: Don't expect this race to be the least bit easy. The only thing it is easy to do in this race is damage out. If you plan on using the Ford Mustang GT for this race you should take the Mustang Cruiser instead, it has the same stats and you won't have to deal with cops chasing you. At the start of the race go forward through the intersection and across the bridge. Slow down a little bit early and let the other cars pass you. If you don't do this they will most likely hit you while you are turning and cause you to crash. Slowing down a bit early will actually give you a better start on the next road. Go through the turn and pass the checkpoint. Go as fast as you can and try to stay on the right while passing the Beetles. Eventually they will turn left and go into a tunnel. Don't bother following them. Continue on and pass the cop, if you are in the Cruiser just put on your sirens as you pass him and he won't chase you (I'm not sure if you have to have them on, I need to confirm this). Slow down to nearly a stop before this street ends and turn right. If you go too fast you will either spin out on the turn or head right into oncoming traffic. After the checkpoint go right into the alley right next to the river. You have to be careful when turning into this alley because the other cars can hit you can cause you to crash possibly costing you the race. When you are in the alley head straight through it and pass the next checkpoint. Continue on through the alley and pass the next intersection. After that intersection get ready to turn. When you get to the following intersection make the turn left. Pass the checkpoint and then go right. After this next checkpoint go left. Stay on this street and make a right onto the THIRD street. Pass the checkpoint here and go right and through the alley. Turn right at the intersection and go through the second to last checkpoint. Go left and then make another left at the second intersection. Go right at the following intersection and pass the last checkpoint. Now you have to get to the finish line which is in front of Dearborn Station. Head down this street as fast as you can while avoiding the traffic and make a right onto the street with Dearborn Station (Use the map). It should be the seventh right. Head along this street and go through the finish. ------------- Frosty Finale ------------- Time of day: Night Weather: Snow Traffic Density: High Pedestrian Density: Low Cop Density: High Advice: Honestly, you could probably beat this race with either the City Bus or the Frieghtliner Century. When I first played this race every single one of my opponents damaged out on the freeway. This won't always happen, so if you do use either of those vehicles first place isn't assured. No matter what you choose, the freeway isn't going to be fun. When you start the race you might want to make a left on any one of the intersections and the a right on the next one. If you do this you won't have to have the other cars block you when you try to pass and get in your way when you turn. Head straight and when the road ends and goes on either side of the fountain go to the left. Then make a right and pass the checkpoint. Go down this street all the way to the freeway. When it turns right before it goes onto the freeway you can cut across the grass to save a little bit of time and avoid your opponents and traffic. Go on the freeway and take it all the way until it ends. There is lots of traffic so get good and avoiding it. It is very likely that many of your opponents if not all will be damaging out here. If you did not choose the Frieghtliner or bus it is somewhat likely that you will, too. Once you are off the freeway stay on this street and pass the checkpoint. Now you will want to follow the street all the way to Navy Pier. Once you get there make a left onto the northern street that runs across the pier. When on the pier turn right on the fourth little intersection and go through to the other side. Make a right and pass through the last checkpoint. Once you get off the pier turn left at the second intersection and cross the bridge to get to the finish line. =============================================================================== 5. Blitz Races =============================================================================== Blitz races don't have any opponents for you to race against, instead you have to race against the clock to beat the race in a certain time. All Blitz Races have three checkpoints and the finish line. There are no cops in Blitz Races. ------------- Dearborn Dash ------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Clear Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Low Time: 00:35:00 Advice: All you have to do in this race is go in a straight line. That's all. Before you get to the finish line you will get to jump across one of the bridges. ------------------- River Wild & Wacker ------------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 1:40:00 Advice: There are a few more turns in this race than the last one, but it still is easy. Go all the way along the road you start on until it ends at Lake Michigan. Turn left, pass the checkpoint and turn left into the alley next to the river. Go all the way through this alley until it ends right by the finish line. Don't go too fast through it, otherwise you'll probably hit something. Right before the alley ends it makes a sharp turn, slow down after you cross the last street before it ends so you don't take it too fast. ------------ Under the El ------------ Time of day: Evening Weather: Clear Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 0:55:00 Advice: This race is a little bit more difficult than the last two. You might want to use one of the faster vehicles for it as time can get a little bit tight. You should be able to beat this race by staying under the tracks above you (The El line) but after the second checkpoint you can cut through the mall to your right and head back onto the road with the third checkpoint if you want. ----------------- Double-Back Blitz ----------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Cloudy Traffic Density: Medium-Low Pedestrian Density: Low Time: 1:05:00 Advice: As you'll notice right from the start, you are placed in front of the left side of the freeway right in on coming traffic. Don't think you can hop the barrier in the middle of the freeway and cruise along on the right side. The first three checkpoint are all on this side of the freeway. Try your best to avoid all of the traffic. It is very possible not to hit a single car. After the third checkpoint slow down. You have to make a sharp turn onto the offramp to your left to get off the free. Use your handbrake to help you around it. Once you're off the freeway continue on this street and jump the bridge to get to the finish line. If you don't hit many cars on the freeway and make the turn without crashing you should have no trouble. ----------------- Grant Park Parade ----------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Clear Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 1:00:00 Advice: There is quite a bit of traffic here (Despite the density being low) so you'll have to be careful to avoid it. Go along the street you start on until you pass the first checkpoint. After that you can cut through the park to get to the next checkpoint to save time and avoid traffic. Turn left on the street after the second checkpoint and do your best to avoid the traffic and pass the third checkpoint and finish line. --------------- Wild Blue Blitz --------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Rain Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 0:55:00 Advice: You'll probably want to use the Panoz Roadster for this race, otherwise you might not be able to finish in time. Go all the way down the road you start on up until the third checkpoint. Try to avoid the traffic but don't turn too quickly, doing so could cause you to spin out. Turn onto the street with the third checkpoint and make a right when you can to the finish line. ------------------ Navy Pier Peel-Out ------------------ Time of day: Evening Weather: Rain Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 0:52:00 Advice: This race can be very difficult because of the rain and the amount of time you get is barely enough. Use the Panoz Roadster again for this race. Start out by cutting through the park in front of you to get to the fist checkpoint. Make a right at the next intersection and go down this street. Turn left on the SECOND intersection and continue on to get to the next checkpoint. -------------- Bear Cub Blitz -------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 1:12:00 Advice: You might want to consider using the Cadillac Eldorado for this race. Start out the race by cutting through Wrigley Field to your right. Go left at the intersection and pass through the first checkpoint. Make a right at the next intersection and then a left at the following one. When this road ends turn right and go as fast as you can down this next one. Pass the second checkpoint and jump across the bridge as fast as you can if you are using the Eldorado. Weave through the traffic on the next couple of blocks to pass the third checkpoint. After you pass it cut through the empty space to your left and make a left turn. Get onto the road to your right and make a right onto the grassy area and not the road. By going on the grass you can avoid some traffic. The finish line is in Soldier Field so you will have to take the small entrance to get in. This race is tough, but don't give up and you will eventually beat it. ---------------- Race for a Space ---------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Snow Traffic Density: Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 1:10:00 Advice: You should be able to beat this race with any vehicle you wish (Other than the bus or Frieghtliner Century, of course) although you might not want to use the Panoz Roadster because of it's low durability. When the race starts follow the road to the left at the first intersection and then at the second plow through the barrier and cut through the construction site. When you come out you'll be at the first checkpoint. Go left at the intersection and then right at the next one. Go along this street past the first checkpoint and past the Sears Tower. Once you have passed the Sears Tower make a right on the intersection immediately after it and then left into the alley halfway in the block. Cut across the next street and go into the tunnel. Head right when the tunnel ends to pass the next checkpoint. Go right at the intersection and left into the tunnel. The finish line is in here. ---------------- Tall Tower Blitz ---------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Snow Traffic Density: Medium-Low Pedestrian Density: Medium-Low Time: 2:10:00 Advice: You should also be able to use any vehicle you want on this race and be able to finish it. On the first intersection make a right turn. Make another right by Daley Plaza onto the street with the first checkpoint. Then make a left turn on any of these upcoming streets. No matter which street you take, make a right on the third intersection and go all the way down to the checkpoint. Tap the handbrake to help you spin around and head towards Navy Pier. To get there, cut through the grassy area to avoid traffic and then onto Lakeshore Blvd. (The big street next to Lake Michigan). Make the first right onto Navy Pier so you're on the southern street going across it. When you see a ramp to your left, go up it and turn left at the top to cut through the parking lot and pass the checkpoint. Angle your car to the left and jump off of the other side of the parking lot. Don't go too fast, if you do you'll land in the water. Make a right back onto Lakeshore Blvd. and head to the finish line. =============================================================================== 6. Circuit Races =============================================================================== Instead of being able to go where you want, you are confined to one path in Circuit Races. All intersections and open spaces are blocked off by barriers. You can hit them and knock them over, but doing so will slow you down, damage your car and there is no real purpose to doing so. Instead of racing from the start to the finish line you will have to complete laps against other vehicles. There is no traffic nor cops in Circuit Races. ---------------- The Littler Loop ---------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Cloudy Laps: 2 Advice: This is a very easy race to start out the circuit races. All you have to do is follow the road under the El tracks above you. You can cut through the area in the center, but there isn't much of a point since your opponents won't be a challenge. ------------- Riverside Run ------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Laps: 2 Advice: This race is as easy, if not easier than the last. Just follow the track and after the last checkpoint cut through the park to save some time. ------------- Tunnel Turner ------------- Time of day: Evening Weather: Clear Laps: 2 Advice: The hardest part of this race is getting a good start. On the first stretch of road you should be able to get into third place. On the first turn try to avoid the other cars because hitting them can cause you to spin out. It's easy to not slow down enough for the second turn since the tunnel is narrow. Take it too fast and you'll fall behind. Through the tunnel you should be able to manage to get into and stay in second place. Cut through the park a few turns after the tunnel to save some time. After the 7th checkpoint make the first left onto the freeway so you end up on the left side. The other cars will continue on and take the onramp putting them on the proper side of the freeway, this will give you a chance to get into first. You can cut across the park before the last checkpoint to save a little bit of time. --------------- Downtown Driver --------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Cloudy Laps: 2 Advice: This race isn't as easy as the first two Circuit Races, but is much easier than the last. It may take awhile to pass the car in first place, but it isn't difficult to do. Staying in first place once you get into it isn't very difficult if you don't make big mistakes. --------------- Museum Marathon --------------- Time of day: Day Weather: Clear Laps: 3 Advice: You'll be up against four Panoz Raodsters in this race, so if you have trouble with their speed you can always drive one yourself. Right after the starting line you can cut across the grass to get to the first checkpoint. Before the second checkpoint you can cut through the Alder Planetarium, just plow through the part of the wall which is darker than the rest. After the third checkpoint you can cut through the Shedd Aquarium where the wall is darker. When you get out of the aquarium angle yourself to the left so you don't hit the barrier next to the water. ----------------- South End Circuit ----------------- Time of day: Evening Weather: Rain Laps: 3 Advice: With the rain it's very easy to hit something, such as a support for the El. As long as you don't hit them you should be able to manage at least second place. Beating the Panoz Roadster can be a bit more difficult, you might want to use the Panoz Roadster yourself to beat it. But if you do, be even more careful to make sure you don't hit anything. ------------ City Central ------------ Time of day: Evening Weather: Cloudy Laps: 2 Advice: You'll probably want to use the Panoz Roadster for this race. If you don't use it you won't be able to place better than 2nd unless you are very lucky and the Roadster in first crashes. Other than that this race is pretty easy, four straightaways and four turns. If the bridges are up when you come to them don't take them too fast. ------------------- North End Navigator ------------------- Time of day: Morning Weather: Clear Laps: 4 Advice: In this race you are only up against 3 Ford F-350s. Because of that it is very easy to get a huge lead on them with nearly any other vehicle. The track is long and there are four laps, so don't worry if you screw up because you still will be able to come in first. -------------- Old Town Twist -------------- Time of day: EVening Weather: Snow Laps: 2 Advice: This race puts you up against four Panoz Roadsters. You can use one yourself but you have to be careful because of the snow. If you use another car you will either have to hope that they crash or cause them to crash yourself because you won't be able to keep up with them. ------------ Loop-De-Loop ------------ Time of day: Night Weather: Snow Laps: 2 Advice: This race takes you all the way around the city. You're up against only Panoz Roadsters and since this race doesn't have any tight turns, you should also use a Panoz Roadster. As long as you don't hit any of the other cars while trying to pass them you can get a big lead on all of them and easily win.