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Midtown Madness 2, released in 2000, is the sequel to the wildly popular urban driving game Midtown Madness. Developed by Angel Studios (later known as Rockstar San Diego) and published by Microsoft, it continues the series' signature open-city racing experience and adds even more variety, freedom, and fun.
Set across two fully explorable real-world cities — London and San Francisco — Midtown Madness 2 allows players to tear through the streets in an assortment of licensed vehicles, from classic muscle cars and double-decker buses to sports cars and even a new Mini Cooper. The cities are filled with realistic traffic, pedestrians, weather effects, and dynamic time of day changes, creating a lively and unpredictable driving playground.
Unlike many racers of the era, Midtown Madness 2 is not limited to tracks. Instead, it encourages creative, off-route driving with destructible objects, open environments, and plenty of hidden shortcuts. The game offers multiple modes, including Blitz, Checkpoint, Circuit, and the fan-favorite Cruise Mode, where you can drive freely without any time limits or objectives. New in this sequel are two themed career modes — the Cab Driving School in London and Stunt Driver School in San Francisco — which add a light storyline and unique challenges.
The physics are arcade-style but surprisingly nuanced, making driving feel satisfying without being overly complex. From handbrake turns to catching air off the city's iconic hills, the game captures the thrill of reckless urban driving with just the right balance of chaos and control.
Originally released for Windows 98/ME/2000, the game has since been run on later versions of Windows through compatibility settings or fan patches. Though never officially released on consoles, Midtown Madness 2 built a dedicated community and remains a nostalgic favorite for fans of sandbox-style driving games.
With its destructible environments, fast-paced gameplay, and freedom to explore, Midtown Madness 2 still stands out as one of the most entertaining and unorthodox racers from the golden age of PC gaming.
