| Tokyo Xtreme Racer | |
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| Developer(s) | Genki |
| Publisher(s) | Genki (Japan) Crave Entertainment (NA/EU) Ubisoft (EU) |
| Series | Shutokō Battle series |
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | |
Tokyo Xtreme Racer, known as Shutokō Battle (首都高バトル) in Japan and Tokyo Highway Challenge in Europe, is a racing video game for the Sega Dreamcast. Released in 1999 as one of the console's launch titles, the game was one of the first mission-based racing games. The gameplay involves the player challenging 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 Japanese cars and tuning parts to purchase as the player progresses through rivals.
When released in Japan, Shutokō 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 (Shutokō Battle's biggest inspiration being Wangan Midnight), anime series and video games (C1 Circuit, Wangan Trial, Naniwa Wangan Battle).
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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 "Shutokō 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 Shutokō Battle owners only.
In 2005, a PlayStation Portable edition designed by GRP (Genki Racing Project) that included licensed Japanese cars, was being created with the working title "Shutokō Battle Zone Of Control", but it has been shortened to "Shutokō Battle" when released. Weekly Famitsu rated it 31/40, while the original Dreamcast title received 32/40. This PSP edition was licensed to Konami and released in North America as "Street Supremacy" in early 2006.
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.
Since it's introduction in the mid '90s, like similar games, the "Shutokō 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 (e.g. "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 "Shutokō Battle" was Shutokō Battle Online released on PC, the 9th of January 2003. Since then, every Genki racing game uses licensed makers, and ingame cars with Honda chassis codes don't appear anymore in the Shutokō Battle games (However, Honda is licensed in the Kaido Battle series).
In 2000, the first sequel, titled Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2, was released for Sega Dreamcast in Japan and North America. A version of the game for the PAL region was released as Tokyo Highway Challenge 2.
In 2001, the second sequel, titled Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Zero, was released for PlayStation 2 in Japan and North America. This was originally intended to be released for Dreamcast, but those plans were scrapped.
In 2003, the third sequel, titled Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, was released for PlayStation 2. Kaido Battle was also released that year in Japan and focused on touge racing and drifting.
Shutokō Battle was released for Xbox 360 in Japan on July 27th, 2006. It was later released under the title, Import Tuner Challenge, to North America and Europe on September 26th, 2006.[1]
On February 28th, 2006, a new installment of the series was released for the PSP, marketed as Street Supremacy in North America. Later, in April of that year, North America saw the release of Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Drift, a localized version of the 2003 title, Kaido Battle, previously only available in Japan. The Drift was an interquel between Zero and 3.
The last sequel, entitled Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Drift 2 (the North American release of Kaido: Touge no Densetsu), was released on April 17th, 2007. Kaido Battle 2: Chain Reaction (2004, released in Europe as Kaido Racer) was skipped in North America.
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