Tokyo Xtreme Racer Early Access Review

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a PlayStation 2 sport. Now, years of YouTube feedback from cynical varieties who had been seemingly nonetheless jostling round inside an ovary on the daybreak of the millennium might have taught you that ‘PS2’ is a pejorative – a one-size-fits-all put-down wielded in opposition to something that doesn’t soften the multiprocessors off a graphics card. But it surely would not should be. The PS2 was an unbelievable console, brimming with nice, approachable video games that achieved precisely what they got down to do, had been hopelessly addictive, and fully unburdened by microtransactions and live-service malarkey. This succinctly describes Genki’s 2025 Tokyo Xtreme Racer reboot, which not too long ago arrived in early entry on Steam: a fantastically moreish blast from the previous that’s easy on the floor, steeped in high-speed thrills, and (for now, no less than) unapologetically single-player. That’s what makes it a sport within the grand type of the PS2 and, for that, I already like it.

For readability, I’m conscious that the general lineage of this sequence dates again to 1994’s Shutokou Battle on SNES, and the Tokyo Xtreme Racer identify itself could be traced again to the sequence Dreamcast debut (and sequel) within the US. Nevertheless, in PAL territories these carried completely different titles, and that’s why I’m waxing romantic concerning the PS2: as a result of 2001’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer on Sony’s all-conquering console was my first publicity to the sequence, and I like how intently Genki has caught to its enduring format properly over twenty years later.

For many who haven’t had the pleasure, the Tokyo Xtreme Racer sequence focuses strictly on freeway road racing, taking a heavy dose of inspiration from the real-life underground racing scene that peaked on Tokyo’s expressways again within the ’90s. (This was made notorious by the likes of the extremely secretive Mid Evening Membership – an allegedly disbanded racing group nonetheless shrouded in thriller in the present day due to anonymity amongst its members and its strict, low-profile insurance policies).

After selecting an on-ramp to enter the freeway system (which faithfully recreates Tokyo’s precise Shuto Expressway community) the goal is to cruise and seek out rival racers to problem. Races are triggered on the fly by flashing your headlights behind potential rivals, and gained unconventionally. There are not any end traces right here; as a substitute, their “Spirit Level” bar will drain to empty as they drop additional and additional behind you, collide with members of the general public, or graze the partitions. It’s half racing sport, half combating sport, and it nonetheless works in addition to it ever did.

Correctly, Genki hasn’t tampered with any of this, and it stays the construction of Tokyo Xtreme Racer’s early entry revival in 2025. The graphics have acquired a good-looking sufficient trendy makeover however in any other case it’s a staunchly old-school expertise. The result’s terrific, and I’m hooked as soon as extra.

Duelling in opposition to one opponent at a time and slicing by way of late-night freeway visitors in a single course might sound restricted and repetitive. In a manner, I assume it’s. And but it’s totally absorbing. Even in early entry, Tokyo Xtreme Racer options over 200 named opponents to hunt, stalk, and destroy. Some are boss characters that can solely emerge after you encounter the remainder of their race staff members and depart them for mud. Some can solely be discovered and raced beneath sure circumstances or should you carry out particular duties, the clues for which you’ll glean from conversations with rivals in parking areas. The writing in these conversations tends to be a bit overwrought (and the story itself leans just a little too melodramatic for my tastes) however there is a goofy appeal to it I can abdomen.

The distinction in problem between a few of these opponents could be stark at instances, so I’ll say that my expertise has been just a little uneven. One second I’ll be beating each buster I discover, and the subsequent some thriller scorching shot is just galloping away. Races which are very evenly matched and determined by tactical slipstreaming (or goading your opponent into an impediment) are probably the most enjoyable, however they’re just a little too unusual.

This has the potential to create the occasional logjam in your development, as a result of plenty of the improve paths are gated behind assembly sure standards. Needing to beat particular racers with the intention to earn the power to buy higher elements is perhaps a sore spot should you’re already spinning your wheels attempting to lure out and beat these racers within the first place. It’s a little bit of a catch-22, and it’s in all probability the first cause I’m not an enormous fan of those types of roadblocks in racing video games. I’m usually of the opinion that, in case you have the credit, you must simply be capable of purchase any vehicles and elements inside your means. At any price, that is the kind of early entry suggestions that, hopefully, ought to present Genki the information to clean out bumps in its development highway.

Regardless of the occasional irritating session, I’m nonetheless totally hooked on vanquishing each rival I discover. Having the ability to now spot the place opponents are on the map (and permitting that to dictate the place you enter the expressway) is a smart, trendy contact. Every time you allow the storage represents the beginning of an in-game night time, which concludes if you select to return to the storage to spend your credit – or just head straight out once more for the subsequent night. Simply yet one more night time, I inform myself for the tenth time earlier than heading again out onto the expressways in quest of prey. It’s onerous to give up – and never simply because the choice to really achieve this from the storage is buried in a hidden menu I initially had no concept learn how to attain. You possibly can’t do it out of your controller, in case you’re questioning; it’s a must to hit tab in your keyboard.

In additional methods than simply that the menu system does want refinement, because it additionally lacks fast D-pad assist and requires us to make use of an analogue stick as a mouse. It’d additionally profit from some form of international BACK button shortcut, so returning to the primary storage display from elsewhere – just like the tuning menus – wouldn’t require opening the menu bar and manually shifting the cursor. Little tweaks like that might considerably sharpen up the method of menu navigation.

Automotive dealing with, although, already has a slick, arcade really feel that’s properly tuned for clean steering on a controller at excessive pace. That stated, the chase view does lack the form of looseness I crave on this kind of racing sport, so even minor steering changes are amplified to jarring yaws by the point they attain the trailing digicam. This appears like one thing that may very well be tuned, or probably supplemented with an extra chase digicam that isn’t so stiff. For now, it’s far simpler to drive easily utilizing bonnet cam.

The checklist of vehicles whose bonnets you’ll be able to see from there’s a good begin, and options just below 50 Japanese fashions at launch. Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Daihatsu, and Suzuki are all in there. (Honda stays conspicuously absent, although.) The vehicles look advantageous with out being showstopping, however they don’t choose up harm or boast a degree of element as lavish because the autos featured in racing style heavy hitters like Gran Turismo 7. Nevertheless, the larger challenge for the time being is how they sound. Proper now Tokyo Xtreme Racer isn’t a lot “excessive” as it’s tinny and toothless in comparison with any one in all its arcade racing friends, like Forza Horizon, Want for Velocity, and even Check Drive Limitless Photo voltaic Crown. It’s the one a part of this retro sport I want wasn’t caught previously.

Anyway, in broad phrases, plenty of the standard suspects are already on these streets. The Mk3 and Mk4 Supra. 5 generations of Imprezas. The R32, R33, and R34. The RX-7 and RX-8. The very best Evo and the ultimate Evo. There’s actually loads of room for it to develop and, wanting on the automobile checklist for 2003’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, I’m positive I might make some pretty educated guesses relating to what might be a part of the storage. What I’ll say, nevertheless, is I’d like to be extra usually stunned going ahead. That’s, some Japanese vehicles that get little to no love in video video games could be excellent. Give us a Datsun 620. A 910 Bluebird wagon. Hell, what a couple of Mazda Roadpacer? I’m positive dropping in a customized four-rotor would clear up its acceleration issues. Let’s go nuts.