It’s unattainable to overstate the importance the Gran Turismo franchise has had on the American auto fanatic scene. It’s an established institution today, however in the mid-to-late ‘90s, Gran Turismo was a phenomenon, introducing thousands and thousands of U.S. players to automobiles, tracks, and even driving types they’d by no means seen earlier than.
However that significance had different results, too. The shadow of Polyphony Digital is so huge and so broad that it drove a number of different glorious video games proper out of the general public consciousness, many courting from the identical golden period of artistic Ps racing video games with a JDM aptitude.
So, with respect to Gran Turismo, listed here are my 5 different favourite Japanese racing video games and franchises, all of that are effectively value your time.
Ridge Racer
Developer: Namco
Preliminary launch date: 1993
Earlier than Gran Turismo was greater than a glimmer in Kazunori Yamauchi’s eye, earlier than Preliminary D and Tokyo Drift took touge racing mainstream, the Ridge Racer franchise was the place for sideways antics.
It’s exhausting to explain how otherworldly this recreation was again when it hit arcades within the early ‘90s. It had superior 3-D graphics, cool (if unlicensed) automobiles, and a fully mind-blowing soundtrack loaded with so many high-BPM bangers I’m shocked it didn’t carry a warning from the American Coronary heart Affiliation.
The unique recreation will endlessly be an icon, however for me it was Ridge Racer Type 4, stylized as R4, that set the high-water mark. With a full-motion-video intro that managed to be each chill and thrilling, and a legendary theme tune, as quickly as you spun up R4 you knew you had been taking part in one thing particular. Plenty more Ridge Racer games have followed, however most messed with the core components somewhat an excessive amount of for my tastes.
R4 additionally launched the JogCon controller, the primary style of force-feedback Ps players would get. Like most third-party peripherals, it by no means noticed a lot help, however it was an early preview of the advanced steering wheel setups that might finally grow to be de rigueur for severe console racing followers.
Although its automobiles and tracks could all be faux, Ridge Racer actually set the tone for the ‘90s racers to come back.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Developer: Genki
Preliminary launch date 1994
One of the crucial iconic Japanese-themed racers of the early 2000s really acquired its begin as a Tremendous Famicom (SNES within the US) title referred to as Shutokō Battle ‘94. Named after the Shuto Expressway toll roads in and round Japan, the sport made probably the most of that console’s Mode 7 capabilities to provide the texture of a 3D racer on decidedly 2D {hardware}.
It was 1999’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer (once more Shutokō Battle in Japan), a launch title for the Sega Dreamcast, which actually introduced the franchise to world renown. I spent so many hours drifting on the highways of Tokyo on this recreation that after I acquired to drive there for actual a couple of years again, I used to be hit with probably the most unbelievable feeling of nostalgia, a kind of digital deja vu that made me need to drive in circles for hours.
That recreation will endlessly be my favourite, however most people rightly contemplate Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, released in 2003 for the Playstation 2, to be the height of the franchise. It’s exhausting to argue in any other case, however regardless the place you dive within the video games supply a compelling combine of sunshine narrative and mission-based gameplay. The purpose is to chase down and beat opponents on the street. Pull up behind them, flash your lights, and it’s on.
Races aren’t races a lot as they are fights, every driver having a life bar that decreases in the event that they’re not within the lead. Maintain the lead lengthy sufficient and also you win the struggle, incomes some cash and automobiles too. There’s a wide selection of actual automobiles (although some have fake names), an unbelievable jazz soundtrack, and an total unmatched expertise of touring Tokyo.
Sega GT
Developer: Sega/Wow Leisure
Preliminary launch date: 2000
I mentioned I wouldn’t embody Gran Turismo, however I didn’t say I wouldn’t embody any Gran Turismo clones. As a lot as I like it, you undoubtedly want to incorporate Sega GT in that category.
The sport options 130 actual automobiles and 22 forgettable tracks, unlocked and accessed by means of a collection of irritating challenges and license exams, the primary of which has you driving round a timed course in a Honda Civic. Sound acquainted? Yeah, all of it is, however the franchise did introduce some attention-grabbing issues, like upkeep and restore prices that inspired you to be a greater driver and never simply ricochet your method to victory.
Graphically, Sega GT was an enormous step above the then-current Gran Turismo 2. Automobiles regarded nice and, regardless that the physics had been a bit imprecise, it was instantly enjoyable to choose up and play. The franchise out-lived the Dreamcast with its sequel Sega GT 2002 on Xbox after which 2004’s Sega GT On-line. That title beat Gran Turismo 4 On-line by two years.
Being a Sega recreation it even gave you the prospect to race round Daytona — although sadly referred to as “Desert Tremendous Ring” right here. With a fraction of the automotive choice and a few decidedly inane fictional tracks, Sega GT didn’t arise towards Gran Turismo in its day. However, looking back, it deserved extra of our respect.
Auto Modellista
Developer: Capcom
Preliminary launch date: 2002
I’ll be trustworthy with you: I’m really not an enormous fan of taking part in Auto Modellista. I by no means actually discovered the physics to my liking — too informal for a sim, too severe for enjoyable — and the number of automobiles and tracks feels massively restricted in comparison with most different racers of its day.
So why is it included on this checklist? Frankly, due to the way it appears to be like. Auto Modellista is the Maserati of racing video games: extra enjoyable to admire than to drive. So-called cel-shaded video games had been all the fashion within the early 2000s and Capcom had the brilliant thought to use them to a racer. Immediately, 20 years later, Auto Modellista remains to be a visible deal with. Run it by means of a high-quality upscaler and it’ll nonetheless cease players of their tracks.
Auto Modellista delivers a degree of favor and aptitude that players actually haven’t seen since — solely the new Need for Speed Unbound gives a taste, however I’m inclined to say that recreation is attempting somewhat too exhausting. The clear simplicity of Auto Modellista makes it extra like watching artwork than taking part in a recreation. There’s a cause why it’s typically referred to as Auto Mona Lisa.
Midnight Membership
Developer: Angel Studios/Rockstar San Diego
Preliminary launch date: 2000
The original Midnight Club was developed in California and featured two areas: New York and London. So why, then, does Midnight Membership belong on this checklist of nice Japanese racing video games? The reply is correct there within the title.
Midnight Membership was clearly impressed by the fabled Mid Night Club, a bunch of avenue racers notorious for his or her antics on the highways round Tokyo within the ‘80s and ‘90s. The true membership had strict guidelines for the conduct of its members, together with respect for his or her automobiles and different drivers. The video games? Not a lot.
Midnight Membership, the franchise, would finally take players to Tokyo, however not till 2003’s Midnight Membership II. In idea it’s a lot the identical thought as Tokyo Xtreme Racer, racing and difficult others on the streets, however right here you’re given way more freedom to discover the town. Likewise, the storyline is extra concerned, which isn’t essentially a very good factor. There’s a robust Rockstar feel and look to the expertise, from the characters you’ll encounter to the familiar-but-not-real automobiles.
So is that this a Japanese racing recreation? Perhaps not as such, however it delivers the vibe effectively sufficient to make this checklist. Or possibly I’ve simply been wooed by the stunning SW20 MR2 that seems within the unique recreation’s intro. Both method, this recreation was, and is, loads of enjoyable.
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