However, players can expect to take a spin on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and then drive past Coit Tower and even wind their way down Lombard Street. Across the pond, virtual sightseers can swing past Marble Arch by Hyde Park, although there didn't appear to be a crowd gathered at Speaker's Corner but then again that is only a "Sunday thing." Players can drive over to Buckingham Palace and even head down to try navigating the London Underground system. The detailed versions of London's Piccadilly Circus and the San Francisco's Golden Gate Park are remarkably impressive and equally difficult to navigate while admiring the scenery.
The game includes all of the original title's classic cars, and adds a new set of vehicles including London's famous double-decker bus and black taxicabs, plus the VW Beetle Dune and even a Hume-V Light Attack Vehicle. Players can choose their vehicle, determine the color and even choose between automatic or manual transmission. Midtown Madness 2 also puts a new twist on the "crash course" training mode, where players either take the role of a Hollywood stunt driver on location in San Francisco, or an apprentice cabbie in London. Each of these modes allows players to earn new vehicles to drive along with distinct paintjobs by successfully passing the crash courses.
Each of the crash courses contains a set of lessons that are played out as mini-missions where would-be drivers learn the ropes for their respective career. The London Imperial Cabbie Academy crash course has players learning to beat traffic with the help of the famous Tower Bridge, learning to weave through obstacles, and even racing to famous landmarks around the city. Finally, players can practice the fine art of losing a tail, which isn't always as easy in a traffic filled city like London.
