Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

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Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune is an arcade racing game based on a manga entitled Wangan Midnight, which follows street racing on Tokyo's freeways.

Contents

[edit] Summary

Based on the storyline of the actual manga, this arcade game races the player through the actual Shutoku Odaiba highway of Japan, and of course, running for top speed on the famous Wangan Line (the players, however, will not go far. After the underwater tunnel, they are dumped onto the Yokohane line heading back towards Tokyo). The popular highway tuner cars in Japan are all present, such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, the Nissan Z cars, and in the Japanese version, the Porsche 911 (represented by the Gemballa 3.8RS and RSR in the game). They race through certain Racer Levels, e.g. C, B, A, A+. With victories they gain ranks, and the ranks change continuously if they choose to accept the rank change. With a re-writable card system, their power, rank and "in-game advancement" changes after each play. This makes Wangan Midnight one of the most updated and popular games around. With upgrades being given to the player's car once they finish the points bar (the game awards points after each race) players can choose to upgrade handling or power.

[edit] Magnetic Card System

Like Initial D Arcade Stage, this game employs magnetic cards which store the data of the player (car type, tuning, story mode progress, time attack, outrun status). Also as in Initial D, it is not backwards compatible (i.e. a WMMT2 card cannot be used on WMMT1); the user must upgrade his or her card, which is permanent, if he wishes to transfer his/her data from WMMT1 onto WMMT2, and after 50 plays (60 in WMMT2), a player must renew his/her card. However, unlike Initial D, once a player completes 20 story mode stages in WMMT2, his/her card will be ejected, but retain the game data as a back up. This allows for two clone cards, each with up to 20 points of tuning to be made. The cloned cards will be of the same car model and color. Name, rims, and aero/carbon-parts tuning can be repicked (unless driving a car with only one setting, namely the Corolla and HiAce).

The player has the option of purchasing a magnetic card or select a car prior to racing, with the basic hp value and "name Guest".

In WMMT the magnetic card also allows the user to configure basic settings prior to racing. These include:

  • Transmission AT/MT
  • Retire YES/NO (If a player drives the wrong way for a few seconds the race will end if set)
  • Volume (There are 5 setting ranging from quiet to loud, this only affects the music)

[edit] General gameplay

While Initial D is focused on the curving mountain roads in Japan's Gunma, Tochigi, and Saitama prefectures, Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune (denoted WMMT) focuses on the Tokyo Metropolitan Highway system. As such, the roads are straighter and wider than the mountain passes (even though there are plenty of sharp turns and chicanes), there are also numerous street vehicles that act as moving roadblocks, ranging from small Corollas, the larger van, HiAce, and the large moving trucks referred to as ToyoAce.

As such, when choosing a car in WMMT, one has to account for not only power (determines speed), cornering and handling capability, but also its weight and stability; for a lower weight, there is an increase speed and handling, making it easy to bump another car (be it the CPU or a human player) and harder to bump back. Also, in WMMT (after 1st play through), the tuning attributes can be changed before the actual gameplay, switching between power and handling.

Finally, compared to Initial D, it gives a more "relaxed" feeling, as story characters will keep on talking to you while showing their expressions, and may react to certain actions you commit. Also, occasionally it features Pac Man characters as your rival, driving "traffic cars" (Corolla and HiAce respectively) that are even faster than both the Devil Z and the Black Bird.200sx 250hp

[edit] Gameplay - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

After initial entry, car selection is presented to the user. This is then followed by the player entering a name before racing. The basic outlay for the game consists of 20 races over three loops or cycles which gives 60 races overall, each of these races is split into a tier which contains five opponents. Players can select any race from any tier except the final race of each tier which is denoted by a question mark ("?") until the other races within that tier are completed. The opponents do not change between each loop except during the third loop, where Pac Man opponents replace the usual opponent.

Completion of each race rewards the user a tuning block which can be applied to either handling or power. Basic tuning consists of 20 blocks, by the end of the first loop a player will have all 20 blocks of basic tuning which will result in a car with good grip and a HP value of 600. After this point, a tuning block is gained after the completion of 5 races as opposed to 1, advanced tuning can begin once one of these is chosen. Advanced tuning contains a total of 16 blocks, however only 8 of these can be filled.

After completing all 60 races, no more tuning blocks can be achieved with a maximum 800HP for any car.

[edit] Gameplay - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2

WMMT2 also has extra tuning pages available once all story stages are completed. If one completes WMMT2 through the entire 80 story stages with no losses at all (not completely impossible to Initial D/WMMT veterans, with a right car and good basic tuning), he/she gains two additional tuning pages, allowing the player to have an extremely drifty 815hp car. Otherwise, they will only gain one additional tuning page for a 810hp car. However, now with the new update patch (also known as "Version B"), 815hp can also be obtained by completing 80 stages (losses are acceptable) and accumulating a mileage of over 5,000km.

Once the first cycle is complete, it is possble to re-play the story (80 stages) for an overhaul. The overhaul will increase the over all performance in story mode and VS. mode; it does nothing in Time Attack. The number of overhauls one can obtain is limitless. Also, in overhaul, the amount of traffic will increase for every 80 stages you complete, traffic will also start showing up on mountain stages.

[edit] Game modes

  • Story Mode :Player plays against different opponents, which is usually 1 per stage, but later stages may have up to 3 opponents. Also, some are split stage; one must complete the first half before continuing the second half of the stage. 20 stages make up 1 story, and 4 stories completes one cycle (80 stages). This is the only way to earn tuning points, as oppose to Initial D that give tuning points on all game type.
  • Outrun mode :Available only in WMMT2. Player will have to pass the opponents that challenge them. There are 10 opponents in each level and 10 levels in each of the 5 stages. This is the quickest way to earn rankings. Once all 10 levels in a stage are completed satisfactorily, the player can unlock the "28 outrun mode", where the objective is to outrun the entire list of 28 opponents.
  • Time attack :Player races against time to rank against other players, both in internet and in the arcade. However, this is also the game mode where the player can earn interesting titles by performing various acts on the track, ranging from force retiring on certain sections, triggering "speed cameras", to touching the kerbs. (For example, a perculiar title, "Dirt Fetishism", is awarded by circling the statue in the dirt area of Hakone.)
  • Battle mode :This is a 2 player race mode, in WMMT2 it can accept up to four players, as long as there are 4 cabinets available.

In both time trial and battle mode, the time can be chosen. Time of day means nothing, other than the view of the city being night or day. People will argue that this affects traffic, but it is quite obvious that the traffic in the game are made into preset patterns determined by the course chosen.

There are six stages available in time attack and battle mode; The C1 Line (inbound and outbound), New Belt Line (clockwise and anti-clockwise), and in WMMT2, Hakone Pass, a winding mountain road (downhill and uphill) in the Kanagawa prefecture. C1 and New Belt line together make up the Metropolitan Highway, which is usually set so that an additional credit is required to play. The Metropolitan Highway can only be selected as a stage in battle mode if the arcade operator enables the option.

[edit] Car List and chassis codes

In the English version of the game there are 27 selectable cars for Story Mode, 10-Outrun Mode, and Battle Mode, and three extra selectable cars for Time Attack mode. In the Japanese version, there are two extra cars selectable for all modes.

GEMBALLA

MAZDA

MITSUBISHI MOTORS

NISSAN

SUBARU

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Notes

  • Cars listed in italics are only available in version 2
  • * Only available in the Japanese version
  • ** Only available in the English version
  • † Only available in Time Attack Mode

[edit] Secret cars

In WMMT, there are two secret cars:

  • Highlight the Toyota Chaser and use the shifter, enter N-6-4-3, to get the Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS400 in the US) Driven by the comic relief of the game, the basic tuning of the car is more or less a joke. With comments like "You now have 1000hp!", "Chrome tails confuse the enemy!" and even "Aerodynamics is important but looks are more important." The choice ricer (yes, it comes with underglow), and certainly one of the two good ways to get a good reaction from fellow players.
  • Highlight the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) and use the shifter, enter N-6-4-3, to get the Nissan 300ZX (Z31) 2+2. This car is only remarkable by the facts that it is hidden and that it is quite resistant to being pushed around by other players' cars.

In WMMT2, there are two more additional secret cars:

  • Highlight the Toyota Supra MK3 (JZA70) and enter N-4-1-2-6- 4-1-2-6- 4-1-2-6 to get the Corolla, one of the traffic vehicles. Its handling is a bit, unique...
  • Highlight the Toyota MR2 and enter N-3-2-2- 3-2-2- 3-2-2- 3-2-2 to get the HiAce, another of the traffic vehicles. Out of the four secret cars this can be regarded as the best, for while untuned it is quite slow, though it has a very good handling and cornering ability, not to mention a higher POV, and once tuned it can match up with most of the faster cars (with Boost-On, of course). Another perk of the HiAce is its weight; it is one of the heaviest cars in the game, followed by the Celsior, allowing it to toss around opponents easily. The fact that this vehicle is not a car also makes it stand out further.

[edit] Criticism

Many complain that the Hakone stage in WMMT2 has been simplified a bit too much compared to the real Hakone (and the Hakone in the Kaido Battle series). Also, many Wangan Midnight players complain about the early lock of the wheel which locks after 120 degrees. As the game uses shifting just like in real cars, (H-configuration), many people believe that a clutch should have been included as well.

With the release of ver.B, another complaint emerged from some players (usually the aggressive types): mainly, they were complaining about the massive boost the trailing car receives, that and slamming is almost impossible.

Many complaints about the arcade machines durability were raised shortly after its release. A common complaint concerned the drive belt that gives the feeling of feedback to the steering wheel. Due to its poor construction the belt often wears out fairly quickly which results in the feedback option in the games internal menu having to be disabled. Another complaint concerned the ruggedness of the shifter. An issue in this is that sometimes, the shifter mysteriously sets itself to neutral if damaged.

The English version suffers from various clerical and translation errors and occasional nonsensical dialogue, often referred to as "Engrish".

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtracks in WMMT and WMMT2 were composed by Yuzo Koshiro. The soundtrack from the first game is available for download from the official Maximum Tune 2 website. The track names for the music in both games are as shown below:

[edit] Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

  1. Entry (Maxi1 Version)
  2. Rival and Course Select (Maxi1 Version)
  3. Maximum Acceleration
  4. Feel the Passion
  5. Beyond The Horizon
  6. Driver's Delight
  7. Atheist on the Highway
  8. Decoration For The dement
  9. Fun-Loving Spirit
  10. Stream Of Tears
  11. Speed Fanatic
  12. Total Terror
  13. Acid Runner
  14. Destination Blackout
  15. Blue Blazes
  16. Result (Maxi1 Version)
  17. Until the Excitement Cools Down (Plays instead of Blue Blazes on completion of 3rd loop)

[edit] Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2

These tracks are heard during "Story Mode", "Battle Mode", "28-Outrun Mode" and "Time Attack". They are not selectable before stage 81 in "Story Mode", and in "28-Outrun Mode" each is played in succession. "Holy Land Anthem" is heard only during the final credits in the English version. In the Japanese version, if users have a special card that was packaged with the OST, it is available for selection in the same way that the other tracks are.

  1. Overdrive Neurotransmitters
  2. Maximum Acceleration
  3. Feel the Passion
  4. Upbeat Gas Junkie
  5. Fun-Loving Spirit
  6. Driver's Delight
  7. Decoration For The Dement
  8. Ghost in the Resonance
  9. Stream Of Tears
  10. Total Terror
  11. Smoldery Guest
  12. Atheist On The Highway
  13. This is My Destiny
  14. Unlawful Temptation
  15. Nothing Lives Forever
  16. Destination Blackout
  17. Blue Blazes
  18. Another Dimension
  19. Holy Land Anthem


These tracks are only heard during the "10-Outrun Mode" and are synchronized with the race action. They are not selectable; the computer will randomly select a track for the race.

  1. Nip And Tuck Race
  2. Highway Obsession
  3. Adrenaline Blowouts the Fear

[edit] Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3

Current game event marker This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available.

Namco has announced that Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 will be released in July 2007, and is currently under development. The news of MT3 was released during a private exhibition. The MT3 runs on the system N2, which the Maximum Tune 2 cabinet can be upgraded to run on.

According to the official posters, the changes from MT2 to MT3 include more cars, a Ghost Car System, a new customization system and a new battle mode.

The additional cars include

The developer has not announced if Gemballa cars are included in the International Release. The Honda vehicles are not included in the series.

Major changes also include a Ghost Car System, as the Ghost of the No.1 Time on the Machine will appear on each Time Attack. Also, players can customize their vehicle by adding vinyls or getting new parts. These parts are gained by beating the ghost car, and setting a new record.

A new battle mode has also been implemented, making a team battle possible. Furthermore, at road junctions, the race leader can decide the next route to take. This made the game much similar to the traditional Outrun system used in the Shutokou Battle series and the original Wangan Midnight, where the leading driver can freely pick his preferred route.

In the Story mode, 20 more stages has been added into the game, making a story cycle a staggering 100 episodes. The maximum HP is also tweaked as well. Should a player complete the story mode without losing, the maximum HP will be 820, a otherwise (if the player has lost) it will be 815HP. Namco has yet to release any information regarding to the upgrade of a 815HP car to 820HP, similar to the version B patch in the Maximum Tune 2.

The card is expected to be the same to the MT2 system, but it is speculated that the card holds three times as much data as the 2nd. A WMMT2 card can be imported into the WMMT3 game, though the data that will be imported is not yet released.

Recently on Youtube, a user has uploaded a video depicting a PvP battle in WMMT3. It is confirmed that a Gemballa vehicle and a wingless Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is present in the game, as well as the Yokohama circle. The video can be seen here.

[edit] References

Some of the text is incorprated from:

[edit] External links

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