Open the World Map to view available events, shops, safe houses and to activate the GPS system. Click an event, shop or safe house on the map and choose Yes to activate GPS. When GPS is active, an arrow will appear at the top center of the screen pointing you in the correct direction. There are three boroughs in Rockport: Rosewood, Camden Beach (further divided into Point Camden and Gray Point) and Downtown. You begin in Rosewood, in the northwest part of the map. After defeating Blacklist #13 (Vic), you can drive through Camden Beach, which takes up the eastern side of town. You can cruise Downtown in the southwest after defeating Blacklist #9 (Earl). The first time a new area opens, you should spend some time driving around in free roam to get a feel for the streets. The more familiar you are with the game world, the easier it will be to race as you will know what's coming without having to look at your minimap as often. You'll also have an easier time in pursuits, when you are making your own "track".
Major Landmarks & Shortcuts
- Rosewood State University: this large structure sits in the center of Rosewood and has a circular road around it. It's fun to drive through the halls of the college, but is of little use otherwise.
- Rosewood College Hospital: sits south of the University in the middle of a switchback. When going downhill (southbound), you can jump through the hospital (except in some races where it's closed off). Northbound, there is a ramp going uphill past the lower half of the hospital (on the west Side). This shortcut is only occasionally available in races.
- Highland Trail & Forest Green Golf & Country Club: this park and golf course adjoin each other in the northeastern section of Rosewood. They make for great off-road fun, but don't try them with anything other than a FWD or AWD car. Also, be very careful of the trees. There's a nice pursuit breaker and hiding spot in the park.
- Highland Trail & Forest Green Golf & Country Club: this park and golf course adjoin each other in the northeastern section of Rosewood. They make for great off-road fun, but don't try them with anything other than a FWD or AWD car. Also, be very careful of the trees. There's a nice pursuit breaker and hiding spot in the park.
- Hickley Field: a baseball stadium on the west side of Rosewood, this is a great place to evade pursuits as there are breakers outside each entrance and a hiding spot on the west side. Break into the field from the east side, then break out on the west side and slide right into the hiding spot. The breakers should have rid you of any cops following and you'll be all set to wait out the Cool down period.
- The Alley: in the northern part of Rosewood is an alley that serves as a shortcut in a large number of races. It cuts off a corner of the road that runs past Hickley Field, northbound, and then turns east and then south toward the college.
- Hwy 99: is the highway around Rosewood. There are a number of wide open areas, but also some long tunnels and narrow bridges. This can be a great place for a pursuit, as long as you don't run into Rhinos in a tunnel or on a bridge.
- Bus Station: positioned directly in the center of the map, it displays as a diamond-shaped area in between Rosewood and Downtown.
- Trucking Depot: just south and a little west of the bus terminal is a warehouse with a number of truck trailers pulled up outside. While it occasionally looks like a good shortcut in some races, stay out of it as you will have to slow down to thread your way through.
- The Mall: is a shopping center northeast of the bus terminal. Roads between Rosewood and Camden Beach converge around here and many races allow you to cut through the mall. There's also a nice pursuit breaker in the center.
- Old Drive-in: this abandoned theater lies southeast of the mall. It's a nice pursuit breaker, but don't use it as a shortcut--you lose too much speed breaking through the movie screen and catching air afterwards.
- Lighthouse: this beacon of hope lies on an island at the south end of Camden Beach. There's a narrow passage underneath the lighthouse and you should always cut through there whenever passing this way, which you will do frequently in races through Point Camden. There's also a hiding spot on the north side of the island.
- Boardwalk: the boardwalk lies along the east side of the river, just north of the lighthouse. A good number of races take you through there, but you don't need to bother with it during pursuits as there are no pursuit breakers in it.
- Docks: the "port" in Rockport is directly across the river from the boardwalk and is a fairly involved area. There are several races that take you through the area, but it's best avoided during pursuits.
- Train yard: just west of the docks is a train yard. Stay out of it at all costs. Weaving your way through boxcars is not helpful during either races or pursuits.
- Twin Towers: north of the lighthouse, along the river just where it bends sharply west, are two tall towers. Many races take you around this area and it appears there is a shortcut underneath. Don't be fooled, the parking areas under the towers are full of concrete pylons that spell instant loss if you hit one of them. Although, there are hiding spots under these towers for use during pursuits.
- The "Back Street": in the southern part of Camden Beach is a narrow, alley-like street that cuts a big chunk of many races (and a few races force you to go through it).
- Penitentiary: the penitentiary is similar to the hospital in that it lies in the middle of a switchback. It is just east of the twin towers and when going downhill (from west to east) you can sometimes jump through the prison. There's no shortcut through when going uphill.
- Oil Refinery: on the eastern edge of the map, directly between Point Camden and Gray Point is an oil refinery. Many races take you around this plant. Never go through it, as you're more likely to wreck than Save any time.
- Trailer park: this area is located in north-west Gray Point. Some races benefit from cutting through the park, some don't (and some don't allow you to cut through). It also has two pursuit breakers and a hiding spot.
- Cannery: a large dock/warehouse area on the southwest side of the Gray Point inlet (Dunwich Bay). The cannery is notable mostly for the air you can catch on a couple of jumps inside. One jump is easy to see, the other involves finding an opening that takes you up on the roof of the main building and allows you a big jump coming off the other side. Just for fun as there's not much real use in it.
- Hwy 201: is the highway around Downtown. It has a number of twists in it, including a 360 degree loop in the southwest corner. Not as conducive to flooring it as Hwy 99, but still a good route for pursuits.
- Riverfront Stadium: this football field is located along the south side of Downtown, in the middle of Hwy 201. The best route around it is to the north of the stadium (west-bound lanes of 201). You can also run through the field, but there are no pursuit breakers, so it's not much use in a pursuit.
- Amphitheater: an open air theater located in the western portion of Downtown, just north of the stadium. There's a good pursuit breaker in the amphitheater and another just north of it in a construction Zone that leads to a jump onto Hwy 201.
- Sunken Road: running through the southern part of Downtown, in between the stadium and the amphitheater, is a sunken, enclosed road with only a few entrances. It's under construction and has a pursuit breaker and a hiding spot. If you can get into it with only a few cruisers on your tail, you can shake them off with the breaker and then hide.
Safe Houses and Shops
Each of the three boroughs in Rockport has a Safe House, a car lot, and a handful of one-stop shops. Each Safe House acts as your entry/exit from the game world and your garage for storing your fleet of cars. You do not have to physically drive to a Safe House, you can use the Pause Menu while in free roam to jump to a Safe House. Car lots contain all the stock cars available in the game.
You must reach certain stages of the game in order to earn the right to purchase most of the cars. One-stop shops handle performance, parts and visual upgrades to your ride. You must drive to car lots and shops in order to use them. When in a shop, press [1] at the main menu to access unique parts won from racers (with markers). Pressing [1] opens the back room and gives access to these special parts
You must reach certain stages of the game in order to earn the right to purchase most of the cars. One-stop shops handle performance, parts and visual upgrades to your ride. You must drive to car lots and shops in order to use them. When in a shop, press [1] at the main menu to access unique parts won from racers (with markers). Pressing [1] opens the back room and gives access to these special parts
