Tokyo Xtreme Racer

Infobox VG
title = Tokyo Xtreme Racer


developer = Genki
publisher = Genki (Japan)
Crave Entertainment (NA/EU)
Ubisoft (EU)
designer =
engine =
released = vgrelease|JP=June 11, 1999|NA=August 31, 1999|PAL=October 14, 1999
genre = Racing
modes = Single-player, multiplayer
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=Everyone (E)|PEGI=3+
platforms = Dreamcast
requirements =

"Tokyo Xtreme Racer", known as "Shutokou Battle" (首都高バトル) in Japan and "Tokyo Highway Challenge" in Europe, was one of the first launch games released for Dreamcast in 1999. The game is also one of the first mission based driving games. The player challenges other drivers on the Shuto Expressway in order to gain money to modify and enhance his or her car. The game features a wide variety of import cars and tuning parts to purchase as the player progresses through rivals.

When released in Japan, "Shutokou Battle" was one of the best selling Dreamcast title at this time. The game is based on illegal highway racing in Tokyo's Wangan highway with custom tuned cars. A such phenomenon is growing popular in Japan since the 90's with its dedicated manga (Shutokou Battle's biggest inspiration being Wangan Midnight), anime series and video games (C1 Circuit, Wangan Trial, Naniwa Wangan Battle).

Mobile edition

2002 Vodavone Live! 2D mobile version by Genki Mobile with unlicensed Japanese cars. Game download and gaming service only available in Japan. "Time Attack" passwords from "Shutokou Battle Zero" (PlayStation 2) can be used to unlock extra cars. Day/night racing conditions are directly taken from the user's mobile real time data. Melodies from "Kaido Battle 2 Chain Reaction" were available for free download from 25/02 to 31/03 2004 to Shutokou Battle owners only.

Portable edition

2005 Playstation Portable edition designed by GRP (Genki Racing Project) with licensed Japanese cars. Its working title was "Shutokou Battle Zone Of Control", but it has been shortened to "Shutokou Battle". Weekly Famitsu rated it 31/40, while the original Dreamcast title received 32/40. This PSP edition has been licensed to Konami for an American release as "Street Supremacy" in early 2006.

Campaign

Japanese famous die-cast models company, Tomica released a limited edition of Banshee's NSX in 1999. In the western release of the Dreamcast game, Banshee's controversial forehead tattooed Hindu swastika was removed.

Inspirations

*A famous car is hidden in the Japanese version, this car is Takumi Fujiwara's (from popular manga & TV series "Initial D") Fujiwara Tofu Shop "Home Delivery" Trueno. This special car is the only one with the ability to drive in the wrong way of the traffic. When doing this, a police siren is heard. The Genki Racing Project team later included the same car in Racing Battle.
*In Shutokou Battle 0, another hidden car was the red S15 Silvia that of Nobuteru Taniguchi from the D1GP series with his original livery and is sponsored by the publisher. Taniguchi, between 2004-05, drove for Bandoh Racing, who incidentally endorsed the earlier games.
*The Last Bosses, called "Devils", cars are designed according to those appearing in the 1992 manga Wangan Midnight. "Zero" drives the same large fog lights equipped black Porsche 911 Turbo (Type-930) than Tatsuya Shima, while "???" owns Wangan Midnight's main character, Akio Asakura's tuned blue Fairlady Z (Type-S30) "Devil Z".

Types & Licenses

Since it's introduction in the mid '90s, like similar games, the "Shutokou Battle" series never used licensed cars but the usual type designation such as "TYPE-86" and later "TYPE-AE86L3". Nicknames were used instead in the "Wangan Dead Heat" sidestory (eg "Rapid Fire" for the "Nissan Skyline GT-R R33"). These "types" are actually the real chassis code used by the Japanese makers to designate the various grades of a lineup. As the graphics quality was improving with each release, from 16-bit 2D to 3D/CG 128-bit, the featured cars were becoming more and more similar to the actual cars appearance. In a similar way, the chassis codes became longer and more precise, allowing the player to determine each grade and to use the "rename car" feature. Inevitably, the game becoming a solid best seller, the Japanese makers forced Genki to buy the license of their cars. The very first Genki licensed game was Wangan Midnight for PlayStation 2 (28.03.2002), while the first licensed "Shutokou Battle" was Shutokou Battle Online released on PC, the 9th of January 2003. Since then, every Genki racing game uses licensed makers, and Honda doesn't appear anymore in the Shutokou Battle games (but accepted to license Kaido Battle series though). Obviously, the licensed makers refused to condone illegal reckless highway racing, as a consequence, the game's concept was slightly modified with the traffic definitely removed.

Car List

Entry cars

Toyota

*(AE86T) Sprinter Trueno GT A'pex 3DOOR "1986"
*(AE86L) Corolla Levin GT A'pex 3DOOR "1986"
*(JZA80) Supra Type RZ TWIN TURBO "1997"
*(JZX100) Chaser Tourer-V TURBO "1998"
*(SW20) MR2 GT "1997"
*(XE10) Altezza RS200 "Z EDITION" "1998"

Nissan

*(RPS13) 180SX type X "1994"
*(S13) SILVIA K's 2000cc "1988"
*(S14) Silvia K's AERO SE "1996"
*(Z32) Fairlady Z Version S Twin Turbo 2 seater "1998"
*(R32) Skyline GT-R V-spec II "1994"
*(R33) Skyline GT-R V-spec "1997"
*(Y33C) CEDRIC BROUGHAM VIP "1997"
*(Y33G) GLORIA Gran Turismo ULTIMA "1997"

Mazda

*(FC) SAVANNA RX-7 ∞-III "1989"
*(FD) RX-7 Type RS "1995"
*(MX5) Miata Eunos roadster "1985"
*(MX5) Miata MX5 "2000"

Mitsubishi

*(CE9A) Lancer GSR Evolution III "1995"
*(CP9A) Lancer GSR Evolution VI "1999"

ubaru

*(GC8) Impreza 2DOOR WRX type R STi Version V "1997"

Honda

*(DC2) Integra type R 3DOOR spec'98 "1998"
*(EK9) Civic type R spec'98 "1998"
*(NA2) NSX type S Zero "1997"

Extra cars

Honda

*(AP1) S2000 "1999"

Nissan

*(S15) Silvia Spec-R "1999"
*(R34) Skyline GT-R V-spec "2000"
*(S30) Fairlady Z "1978" (Wangan Midnight tuned version)

Porsche

*(930) 911 Turbo "1989" (Wangan Midnight tuned version)

pecial cars

Four Devas

*(FDD) Midnight Cinderella's RX-7 "1999" (flame version)
*(NA2D) Banshee's NSX "1999" (flame version)
**Banshee's "only available in the Japanese edition"

Four Devils

*(JZA80D) Exhaust Eve's Supra "1999" (racing stripes version)
*(R34D) Raven Blood's Skyline "1999" (red tuned version)

Initial D

*(AE86TD) Takumi Fujiwara's Trueno "2000" (Fujiwara Tofu Shop "Home Delivery" version)
**"only available in the Japanese edition"

Mitsubishi

*(GFLF) Eclipse GS-T "1999"
*(GFLS) Eclipse Spyder GT "1999"
**"not available in the Japanese edition"

equels

In 2000 the first sequel titled "" was released for Sega Dreamcast in Japan and North American regions. The PAL region has been released as "Tokyo Highway Challenge 2".

In 2001 the second sequel titled "" was released for PlayStation 2 in North America and Japan. This was originally intended to be released for Dreamcast but was scrapped.

In 2003 the third sequel titled "" was developed for PlayStation 2. The release was limited and only released in Japan and some parts of North America. This is currently the last game made in the series.

"Import Tuner Challenge" was released on September 26th, 2006 in North America and Europe for "Xbox 360". Japanese release ("Shutokou Battle") was released on July 27, 2006. See " [http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/761/761522.html ign.com] " for more info.

In 2006 "" was released. It was a North American release of Kaido Battle and focused on Touge racing and drifting.

Latest release set for April 17th 2007 is "", the North American release of "Kaido: Touge no Densetsu". This means that the former "Kaido Battle 2: Chain Reaction" (2004, Released in Europe as "Kaido Racer") will be skipped in North America.

External links

*moby game|id=/tokyo-xtreme-racer
* [http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/driving/tokyoxtremeracer/index.html "Tokyo Xtreme Racer"] at GameSpot