Tag: Tokyo Xtreme Racer

  • Innovative Racing Sim Returns After 19 Years, Gets Great Reviews

    Innovative Racing Sim Returns After 19 Years, Gets Great Reviews

    Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a racing game that first launched in 1994 for Nintendo’s Super Famicom, known as Super Nintendo in other regions. The game draws inspiration from the street racing culture of the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo and features a distinctive SP (Spirit Point) Gauge system that makes it quite different from others.

    Race Mechanics

    In the game, the main objective is to reduce your opponent’s SP gauge while keeping yours intact. Players can achieve this by pushing rivals into errors or by staying ahead in the race. Once someone’s SP gauge is empty, the race concludes. Additionally, players can explore the streets at their leisure and challenge other racers simply by flashing their headlights.

    Rivalry and Customization

    The competitors in the game can either race alone or belong to a rival crew. Winning races rewards players with currency that can be used to unlock visual upgrades for their vehicles, enhance performance, and even acquire new cars to experiment with. The ultimate aim is to conquer rival bosses, leading up to encounters with top-tier racers. This progression system has indeed influenced several other popular series, such as Need for Speed and Burnout.

    Early Access Plans

    Genki has announced plans to keep the game in Early Access for “approximately 4 months.” The final release will depend on “how the progress of development goes throughout Early Access.” At this stage, the game features 50 different cars and over 200 rivals to compete against, “each with their own unique storyline.”

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  • Tuning and Street Racing: New Steam Game Revives NFS Underground 2

    Tuning and Street Racing: New Steam Game Revives NFS Underground 2

    The Tokyo Xtreme Racer franchise, created by Genki Co., Ltd., has been a part of gaming for more than 30 years. It first appeared in Japan in 1994 under the name Shutokō Battle and made its way to Western audiences in 1996 as Tokyo Highway Battle. The series gained global fame with the release of Tokyo Xtreme Racer in 1999, but it gradually lost popularity by 2006 after several spin-offs were made for platforms like PS2, PSP, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox 360. Fast forward nearly 20 years, Genki is bringing back the series with a new spin, focusing more on gameplay rather than graphics. The visuals remind players of a title from the PlayStation 2 generation.

    Gameplay Dynamics

    In Tokyo Xtreme Racer, players immerse themselves in the life of a street racer aiming to gain fame on the expressways of Tokyo. The game emphasizes not only speed but also strategic driving. The Spirit Point Battle system introduces a Spirit Point bar for each racer. If a player falls behind or makes errors, their SP bar decreases quicker, while keeping a good lead helps to slow its reduction. When a driver’s SP bar reaches zero, they’re out of the race.

    Community Comparisons

    On Reddit, numerous users compare the revitalized game to the classic Need for Speed: Underground 2, which was released in 2004 and is still celebrated as one of the greatest tuning games. Customization is a significant aspect of Tokyo Xtreme Racer. Players can enhance performance with upgrades like turbo kits, improved gearboxes, and aerodynamic changes that increase speed. Additionally, adjustments to suspension and brakes can improve handling. Players also have the opportunity to customize their vehicles’ looks with body kits, wheels, and unique paint styles.

    Early Access Launch

    Tokyo Xtreme Racer entered Early Access on January 23 and has already garnered over 6,000 reviews, achieving a remarkable 95% “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating. The Early Access version is available on Steam for approximately $30 and presently offers around half of the story, 50 cars, and 180 km of roads to drive on. As of now, a final release date hasn’t been revealed.

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