Meteor Crater
Route 40
Near Winslow, Arizona
The Main Crater
The main crater takes up a reasonable amount of the level and because of the steep inclines on the edges, you can use it like a vert ramp and take to the air. Hit the Afterburner for added height. The real surprise is when you destroy the observatory - as soon as this happens, rush to the crater to see a huge meteor crash to the ground, rippling the landscape and any nearby vehicles.
The Ant!
Hit the meteor a few times and it cracks open revealing a none-too-happy mutant ant that starts chasing you around the level, firing lasers! You can either outrun it, or get it to latch onto another vehicle, but braver players may like to try and take it on. A Stampede or two is usually enough to polish it off - but it doesn't end there. A new meteor will appear after a short while and you can repeat the process - for an odd effect, position yourself in the very centre of the crater before the meteor hits and you by propelled hundreds of feet above the arena!
The Observatory
Enter the observatory through the side entrance and you'll be taken to a secret area in the rear that contains a plethora of green crates and powerups. Using the front door will take you to a platform on the roof, furnishing your vehicle with Hoverpods in the process. If you hang about in the tower, you should notice that the smaller meteors falling to earth start targeting your opponents. Finally, destroying the observatory completely causes a gigantic meteor to imapct in the crater, read the section below to find out about the arenas creepiest inhabitant.
Mine Shafts
More transporters - these can be particularly useful to escape pursuing Police Cars or Giant Mutant Ants, neither of which will follow you in.
Donut Stands & Police Car
Unlike other buidlings, when to fire on the Donut Kiosks, the giant donuts on top dislodge and tart rolling about the environment, launching themselves into the air when they hit the edge of the arena. Any vehicles unlucky enough to get in the way will take damage, although the donuts are pretty fragile and fall apart easliy (just like the real things!)
Police Car
The police car is parked beside the donut stand closest to the observatory - it will start chasing you if you fire on it, or even if you break the speed limit! It's indestructable, so your best option is to Afterburn out of there.
Gas Stations
The Gas Stations actually work - pull into them and you'll hear the satisfying 'ting' of your vehicle beaing repaired. There's usually a Repair Wrench in the garage itself, revealed after a few taps of the Mosquito. The rocketship on the roof isn't just decoration either, after a few hits it will launch into the air and come crashing back to earth with an explosion.
Weapons & Powerup Spawn Points
The Observatory and Gas Stations are always good for wrenches and specials, but check out the drive-in as well. Shooting the screen creates a ramp, at the top of which is usually a special. The crater is also a good bet for weapons, but try driving round the edges for regular weapons - the platforms pointing into the crater usually have wrenches too.