Initial D PS2 game any good?
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It definitely has more of an arcade type gameplay than sim. The arcade mode consists of going to different mountain courses, challenging rivals, and then racing them one on one. They get a lot harder as you go, but it also depends on the car you're driving.
As you win you get points, which can be used to upgrade your car. The upgrades are automatic though, so you don't have any control over them as you progress.
There's also a mission mode, but it's not as much fun as the arcade mode overall.
Beating the game requires excellent driving skills, specifically drifting. If you can't drift, you will lose repeatedly. Hitting walls is a no-no too, and in the latter races hitting the wall once or twice will cost you the race. Don't let that scare you though, it's a solid arcade racer.
By the way, I hope you like Eurobeat.
As you win you get points, which can be used to upgrade your car. The upgrades are automatic though, so you don't have any control over them as you progress.
There's also a mission mode, but it's not as much fun as the arcade mode overall.
Beating the game requires excellent driving skills, specifically drifting. If you can't drift, you will lose repeatedly. Hitting walls is a no-no too, and in the latter races hitting the wall once or twice will cost you the race. Don't let that scare you though, it's a solid arcade racer.
By the way, I hope you like Eurobeat.
gmw
Mai's Apprentice
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Initial D: Special Stage is an amazing game. Very arcade-y, with absolutely unrealistic controls, but that's what I like.
As Ghost-Dog mentioned, good drifting skills are the order of the day.
While the arcade mode ("koudou saisoku densetsu") is definitely the core of the game, I like the story mode a lot. I never saw the anime or read the manga, but it was a fun, though seriously cheesy, diversion. One thing to be aware of though: the story is told in voice-overs (from the anime, I guess?) while panels from the manga move onto the screen. This is extremely cool, and a good way to background the game for those of us unfamiliar with the Initial D world, but if you don't understand and read Japanese, it'll be pretty much lost on you.
The story mode actually teaches you important techniques too - first of all, learning to drift well. Certain battles in this mode are useful too - for example, in the battle against Shoji Shingo you race with your hand taped to the steering wheel, limiting your turning. This (if done correctly) shows you lots of good understeer techniques that are crucial to doing well.
When playing the arcade mode, I'd advise you to turn the difficulty down to easy the first time through - if you don't have the system dialed, you'll get owned very early on.
There are a lot of courses too - once you beat the basic offerings (Myogi, Usui, Akagi, Akina, Happougahara, Irohasaka) in arcade mode on both dry and wet surfaces, you open up Shin Myogi, Shin Usui, Shomaru, Momiji Line, and Enna. All of these can be raced in dry and wet conditions in time trial.
There are probably some English FAQs on the car tuning options, so I won't go into that, but basically, you chose tuning "courses" that either give you tuning or parts updates at certain point totals, or later on, allow you to add optional things to your car like new mufflers or spoilers.
Also cool is Iketani's Car Introduction, a kind of in-game FAQ about the various cars on offer, their parts, tunings, etc - good for those of us who are racing game fans, but not car nuts. It goes without saying, though, that this would be pretty much completely lost on someone without Japanese reading ability.
The music is really good, but you'd better like Eurobeat, as that's all that's on offer. Essentially, the music is cheesy as shit, which is fine, because it's fun and works well with the general atmosphere of the game. Unfortunately, there's no volume control that would allow one to change the balance of music relative to sound effects such as engine sounds or tire squeal, which are very loud.
I really, really love this game, and never even played the arcade version or saw the anime. It's just a brilliant racing game that feels like a total labor of love. If you like arcade racing, you owe it to yourself to track this down. However, there is definitely a language barrier - if you read Japanese you'll be fine and will fall in love with the game. If you don't, well, it's not particularly import friendly - I can't imagine it being very easy to negotiate without Japanese skills. Personally, it's my favorite racer in a long time.
As Ghost-Dog mentioned, good drifting skills are the order of the day.
While the arcade mode ("koudou saisoku densetsu") is definitely the core of the game, I like the story mode a lot. I never saw the anime or read the manga, but it was a fun, though seriously cheesy, diversion. One thing to be aware of though: the story is told in voice-overs (from the anime, I guess?) while panels from the manga move onto the screen. This is extremely cool, and a good way to background the game for those of us unfamiliar with the Initial D world, but if you don't understand and read Japanese, it'll be pretty much lost on you.
The story mode actually teaches you important techniques too - first of all, learning to drift well. Certain battles in this mode are useful too - for example, in the battle against Shoji Shingo you race with your hand taped to the steering wheel, limiting your turning. This (if done correctly) shows you lots of good understeer techniques that are crucial to doing well.
When playing the arcade mode, I'd advise you to turn the difficulty down to easy the first time through - if you don't have the system dialed, you'll get owned very early on.
There are a lot of courses too - once you beat the basic offerings (Myogi, Usui, Akagi, Akina, Happougahara, Irohasaka) in arcade mode on both dry and wet surfaces, you open up Shin Myogi, Shin Usui, Shomaru, Momiji Line, and Enna. All of these can be raced in dry and wet conditions in time trial.
There are probably some English FAQs on the car tuning options, so I won't go into that, but basically, you chose tuning "courses" that either give you tuning or parts updates at certain point totals, or later on, allow you to add optional things to your car like new mufflers or spoilers.
Also cool is Iketani's Car Introduction, a kind of in-game FAQ about the various cars on offer, their parts, tunings, etc - good for those of us who are racing game fans, but not car nuts. It goes without saying, though, that this would be pretty much completely lost on someone without Japanese reading ability.
The music is really good, but you'd better like Eurobeat, as that's all that's on offer. Essentially, the music is cheesy as shit, which is fine, because it's fun and works well with the general atmosphere of the game. Unfortunately, there's no volume control that would allow one to change the balance of music relative to sound effects such as engine sounds or tire squeal, which are very loud.
I really, really love this game, and never even played the arcade version or saw the anime. It's just a brilliant racing game that feels like a total labor of love. If you like arcade racing, you owe it to yourself to track this down. However, there is definitely a language barrier - if you read Japanese you'll be fine and will fall in love with the game. If you don't, well, it's not particularly import friendly - I can't imagine it being very easy to negotiate without Japanese skills. Personally, it's my favorite racer in a long time.
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chimpmeister
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So there are no plans to bring this game to the U.S.? I love arcade style racing games, and it sounds like this is right in that genre. But, I haven't heard anything about this game coming to other regions . . . 
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chimpmeister said:So there are no plans to bring this game to the U.S.? I love arcade style racing games, and it sounds like this is right in that genre. But, I haven't heard anything about this game coming to other regions . . .
The last word was that the license holder (Tokyo Beat) was shopping for a US publisher for the game, but that was last year. I'm sure someone will pick it up for US release eventually, as the manga and anime are both available here, and gaining popularity.
I play more to Time attact to help me in the arcade
Anyone use this wheel to play the game?
Logitech Driving Force
How is the force feedback on it? Is the feedback strong like an arcade machine or very very weak and cheap?
I think the game does not support a stick shift control such as this one Logitech Driving Force Pro: So how is it that you shift with no stick a button?
Logitech Driving Force
How is the force feedback on it? Is the feedback strong like an arcade machine or very very weak and cheap?
I think the game does not support a stick shift control such as this one Logitech Driving Force Pro: So how is it that you shift with no stick a button?
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EMAGDNIM said:Last thing I heard was tha toyko pop was going to bring it over...and they were going to change the music to rock and rap
oh god, fuck that
I know there are licensing issues and all that... but didn't they get all the Eurobeat tunes on the US arcade version?
I didn't even like the game that much when I played it, but the music.... woooooooord!
I'M JUST RUNNING IN THE 90'S
YES I WANNA KNOW, YES I WANNA SEE
Why would they do that? The music in both the anime and the game is awesome.
BTW I purchased a Modchip and ordered the Special Stage PS2 game right after I spent around 15 bucks in the arcade game.
Lots of fun. Can not wait to get it so I can alos buy the steering wheel.
BTW I purchased a Modchip and ordered the Special Stage PS2 game right after I spent around 15 bucks in the arcade game.
Lots of fun. Can not wait to get it so I can alos buy the steering wheel.