Wangan Midnight (PlayStation 3 game)

Infobox VG
width=
title= Wangan Midnight


caption=
developer= Genki
publisher= Genki
distributor=
designer=
series=
engine=
version=
released= ^JPN July 26, 2007
^HK July 26, 2007
genre= Racing
modes= Single player, Online Multiplayer (2~4)
ratings= CERO: B
platforms= PlayStation 3
media=Blu-ray Disc
requirements=
input=Sixaxis,
GT Force Pro,
GT Force RX,
Dual Shock 3 (rumble not supported)
resolution = 1080p|

nihongo|"Wangan Midnight"|湾岸ミッドナイ|Wangan middonaito is a racing game developed by Genki for the PlayStation 3. It is based on the Award winning Japanese comic of the same name created by Michiharu Kusunoki back in 1992. The Wangan Midnight PlayStation 3 Blu-ray disc was released in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan on July 26 2007 [ [http://asia.playstation.com/eng_hk/index.php?q=node/891 WANGAN MIDNIGHT] ] . The game runs in 1920x1080@60Hz on a Full HD television.

This game was preceded by a PlayStation 2 version released in March 2002 and it is followed by a sequel released one month later on the PlayStation Portable. This game series is not related to the similar Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune arcade game series made by Bandai Namco.

Game modes

Basic game modes are the Story Mode that follows the manga's plot according to the main characters point of view. The Time Attack Mode which is based on time trials, the Free Run Mode that allows the user to drive the Shuto Expressway selecting his junctions and without racing. The One Match Mode is made for head-to-head quick games. Wangan Connection is the online game mode that allows to create, host and join online games with up to three other players.

Through the game's progression, the user can unlock two extra game modes called Survival Mode and Maximum Speed Mode.

Featured characters and vehicles

The game features the comic's main characters plus some crossover characters taken from the developer's main game series. Story mode characters voice cast is the same as the anime series.

All vehicles are licensed models from the Japanese manufacturers Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Subaru. The only non-Japanese automaker is RUF, a European tuner of Porsche models.

cenario (racers)

The game features several tuned cars taken from the original comic, new cars or upgraded versions are unlockable in the Story Mode. An express carrier truck is also available in the last scenario (Yasu-san) once unlocked.

Two scenarios are available on game start (Akio and Black Bird), eight additional scenarios are unlockable.

*Akio Asakura (朝倉アキオ) (CV: Shun Oguri):Cars : Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) ver.1/ver.2 aka "Devil Z" (悪魔のZ, "akuma no Z")Akio is the main protagonist in the series, a 19-year old live alone student, he was running in the Wangan onboard a Nissan Fairlady Z (Z31) when he was easily defeated by the "Blackbird" Porsche. He then found the scrapped body of the blue tuned Fairlady Z (S30) known as the "Devil Z" in which he bought and restored to a good condition. His racing life began since then.
*Tatsuya Shima (島達也) (CV: Shinichiro Miki)::Cars : RUF CTR (930), RUF RCT Evo (964) ver.1/ver.2 aka "Blackbird" (ブラックバード)A surgeon by day and a racer by night, this man drives black RUF (tuned Porsche) dubbed as "Blackbird", he was the one racing with the original owner of the Devil Z when it crashed. A close friend of Eriko, he assumes the role of taking care of her in place of her dead brother. When he met Kitami, he asked him to tune the Blackbird to match the Devil Z.
*Reina Akikawa (秋川零奈) (CV: Reiko Suhou)::Cars : Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (BNR32) ver.1/ver.2/ver.3/ver.4A TV personality and magazine model, she does this hectic job and decides to run her GT-R on the Wangan nightly. One night, she encountered the Devil Z and the Blackbird having a race and decides to join in but her car spun out and crashed. Her GT-R is tuned by Kazuhiko Yamamoto. The primary love interest of Akio, she also seems to harbor feelings toward Akio.
*Kouichi Hiromoto (平本 洸一) (CV: Daisuke Namikawa):Cars : Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32) ver.1/ver.2A hardworking man in the Green Auto Shop who often races on the Wangan with his friend Harada until one day, the two encountered Reina's GT-R which makes Hiramoto decide to get his own car. He then becomes obsessed with tuning his silver R32 GT-R that his pregnant wife, Megumi left him for that very reason.
*Harada (原田) (CV: Tsubasa Yonaga):Cars : Nissan Fairlady Z (HGZ31) ver.1/ver.2Hiramoto's friend and also works in the Green Auto Shop who helped him tune his R32 to race with the Devil Z and the Blackbird on the Wangan. He drives a Nissan Fairlady (Z31) in which it's engine overheated when he encountered the Blackbird and tried to chase after it.
*Masaki (マサキ) (CV: Tokuyoshi Kawashima)::Cars : Mazda RX-7 Type RZ (FD3S) ver.1/ver.2
*Yamanaka (山中) (CV: Kouzou Mito):Cars : Nissan Skyline GT-R v-spec (BCNR33)A chief mechanic of the Speed Factory RGO tuning shop. He drives a GT-R (R33).
*Keichiroh Aizawa (相沢 圭一郎) aka "Kei" (ケイ) (CV: Kenichi Suzumura):Cars : Toyota Supra RZ (JZA80) ver.1/ver.2 aka "Monster Supra" (モンスタースープラ)The character who drives the Supra RZ, dubbed as the "Monster Supra" tuned by Kou Tominaga and Akio Asakura. After meeting Devil Z, he decided to chase after him.
*Takayuki Kuroki (黒木 隆之) (CV: Akimitsu Takase):Cars : Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec (BCNR33) ver.1/ver.2A devoted student of street racing, he spends hours just analyzing his vast storehouse of data and coming up with strategies. He staunchly believes in the superiority of the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) and refuses to drive anything else. His intellect is formidable, and he puts his plans into motion with absolute precision and confidence. He's one of the very few drivers who managed to get a clean one-on-one victory over Tatsuya Shima but, when facing Akio, the engine overheated and blew. Also, he is fiercely independent, and not associated with any tuners like some of his rivals.
*Yasu-san (安さん) (CV -):Car : Express carrier ("Seaside Express")The driver of the express carrier truck.

cenario (others)

The story mode features non-racer non-playable characters. These are mainly tuners.

*Jun Kitami (北見 淳) (CV: Kenta Miyake):Jun Kitami is the owner of Kitami Cycle (キタミサイクル), the shop that tuned Akio's Z and Tatsuya's Blackbird.
*Yuichi Takagi (高木 優一) (CV: Bon Ishihara):Takagi did bodywork on the Devil Z at his Body Shop Sunday.
*Kazuhiko Yamamoto (山本 和彦) (CV: Tomoyuki Shimura):Kazuhiko Yamamoto owns the YM Speed shop (山本自動車). He is the one who tuned Reina's GT-R (R32) and drives his own Skyline GT-R (R34).
*Eriko Asakura (朝倉 えりこ) (CV: Mamiko Noto):The sister of the Devil Z's original owner and Tatsuya's love interest, who shares the same name as the Akio Asakura that is currently driving it. She steals the Devil Z one time and is stopped by the Blackbird and Akio.

Non Custom

Five Non-player character vehicles are unlockable in the Survival Mode's Rookie Class. These are "Non Custom" traffic vehicles owned by an anonymous driver.
#Toyota Mark II Tourer V (JZX90)
#Toyota Mark II Tourer V (JZX90) taxi version
#Toyota TownAce GL (KR42V)
#Mitsubishi Galant 2.0 DOHC Turbo VR-4 (E39A)
#Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon GT (BF5)

Memories

Six additional racers from the Wangan Midnight manga series are available once the Yasu-san story arc is completed.
*Jun Kitami (北見 淳)Car: Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)
*Masaki (マサキ)Car: Mazda RX-7 ∞-III (FC3S), Nissan Fairlady Z (HGS130)
*Ohta (大田) Car: Mazda Savanna RX-3
*"Gatchan" (ガッちゃん)Car: Nissan Fairlady Z (HGZ31)
*Kouichi Aizawa (相沢　洸一)Car: Toyota Celica XX (MA61)
*Yamashita (山下)Car: Nissan Fairlady Z Version S 2seater (GCZ32)

Midnight Runners

Thirteen additional racers and their tuned cars taken from the comic are available once the Survival Mode's Runner Class is completed.
*Gen Sasaki (佐々木 元) aka "Gatchan" (ガッちゃん)Car: Toyota Celsior 4.0C (UCF11)
*Yamanaka (山中)Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R (BCNR33)
*Kazuhiko Yamamoto (山本 和彦)Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R (BCNR33)
*Eiji Kamiya (エイジ)Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR (CP9A)
*Maki Kamiya (マキ)Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR (CP9A)
*Kouichi Kijima (城島 洸一)Car: Mazda RX-7 ∞-III (FC3S)
*Oki (オキ)Car: Mazda RX-7 Type RZ (FD3S)
*Gen Gotoh (後藤 元)Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (BNR34)
*Tomoya (友也)Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (BNR32)
*Makoto Morishita (森下マコト) Car: Nissan Fairlady Z Version S 2seater (GCZ32)
*Masaki (マサキ)Car: Toyota Aristo V300 (JZS161)
*Kou (コウ)Car: Mazda RX-7 ∞-III (FC3S)
*Akio Asakura (朝倉 アキオ)Car: Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX (HGZ31)

hutokou Battle

Bonus cars taken from Genki's Shutokou Battle series, including famous rivals returning from Shutokou Battle X released on Xbox360 in 2006 [ [http://idforums.net/index.php?showtopic=30853&st=0# Initial D World - Discussion Board / Forums -> PS3: Wangan Midnight Gameplay Pictures 56k Warning ] ] are featured in this Wangan Midnight game. These special cars featuring custom paintjobs and stickers are unlocked once the Survival Mode's Monster Class is completed.
*Speed King (迅帝)Car: Subaru Impreza WRX STI spec C (GDB)
*Rolling Guy no.1 (ローリング野郎1号)Car: Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86)
*The Rook (ザ・ルーク)Car: Toyota Supra (JZA80)
*The Bishop (ザ・ビショップ)Car: Toyota Supra (JZA80)
*The Knight (ザ・ナイト)Car: Toyota Supra (JZA80)
*Blood Hound (ブラッドハウンド)Car: Toyota Aristo (JZS61)
*Melancholy Angel (ユウウツな天使)Car: Mazda RX-8 (SE3P)
*White Carisma (白いカリスマ)Car: Mazda RX-7 (FD3S)
*Midnight Cinderella (12時過ぎのシンデレラ)Car: Mazda RX-8 (SE3P)
*Death Driver (死神ドライバー)Car: Mazda RX-8 (SE3P)

Card system

Card set up

The game uses an original card system to tune the player's car and unlock extra characters scenario (Story Mode), game modes or vehicles. Tuning cards are known as "Ability" cards, there are different kind of them, Tuner Card (rose), Body Card (yellow), Setting Card (green), Miscellaneous (blue) and Engine Resistance (purple).

The offline game is completed once all 128 cards have been gathered. Each card is unlocked when a mission is completed in a particular game mode (Story Mode, Time Attack Mode, Survival Mode or Maximum Speed Mode). Some cards need the player to reach a certain User Level through the Wangan Connection online mode as well.

Car Customize

Cosmetic tuning is limited to bonnet, muffler and rear spoiler change (preset paintjob and stickers are available on some bonus vehicles though). Upgraded parts are available once their respective cards have been unlocked and used.

Official videos

A Full HD promotion video was released on the Japanese and South-East Asian PlayStation Store on June 22, 2007 [ [http://www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/psn/store_video.html PSN Promotion Video] ] . This featurette was followed by the release of the Japanese TV commercial.

Reception

The game was well received in Japan since a "PlayStation 3 the Best" greatest hits re-release will be available on July 24, 2008 [ [http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001951QJY 湾岸ミッドナイト PLAYSTATION 3 the Best] ] .

References

External links

*ja icon [http://www.genki.co.jp/games/gaiyou/wangan_ps3.html Official website]
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2kqdu_ps3-wangan-midnight-pub-tv_videogames Wangan Midnight TV commercial (Japan)]
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2kr3o_ps3-wangan-midnight-pv_videogames Wangan Midnight Promotion Video]