Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Cover art
North American Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)Genki
Publisher(s)Genki (Japan)
Crave Entertainment (NA/EU)
Ubi Soft (EU)
SeriesShutokou Battle
Platform(s)Dreamcast, PlayStation Portable
ReleaseDreamcast
  • JP: June 24, 1999
  • NA: September 9, 1999
  • PAL: October 14, 1999
PlayStation Portable
  • JP: April 21, 2005
  • NA: February 28, 2006
  • EU: September 29, 2006
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tokyo Xtreme Racer, known as Shutokō Battle (首都高バトル, Shutokō Batoru) 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. In the game, players challenge other drivers on the Shuto Expressway in order to gain money to modify and enhance their cars. 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 titles 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 1990s with dedicated manga (Shutokō Battle's biggest inspiration being Wangan Midnight), anime series and video games (C1 Circuit, Wangan Trial, Naniwa Wangan Battle).

Mobile edition

2002 Vodafone Live! 2D mobile version by Genki Mobile with unlicensed Japanese cars. Game download and gaming service was 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.

Portable edition

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. This PSP edition was licensed to Konami and released in North America and Europe as Street Supremacy in 2006.

Campaign

The 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.

Types & Licenses

Since its 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 do not appear anymore in the Shutokō Battle games (However, Honda is licensed in the Kaido Battle series).

Sequels

Reception

Tokyo Xtreme Racer received "average" reviews according to GameRankings,[1] while Street Supremacy received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to Metacritic.[3] In Japan, Famitsu gave the former title a score of 32 out of 40;[8] it also gave the latter a score of three eights and one seven for a total of 31 out of 40.[9] Jeff Chen of NextGen said that the Japanese import of the former was "Not the greatest long-term value, but the new wrinkles make it worth a look."[22]

GamePro called the Dreamcast version "a racing game that rolled off the assembly line prematurely."[25][lower-alpha 1] The magazine later said of the PSP version, "It's too bad the Street Supremacy [sic] has so many distracting gameplay issues because the game really could have had some merit. However, there are too many unbalanced issues in the game to make it a worthy handheld gaming experience."[26][lower-alpha 2]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 3/5 for graphics, 2.5/5 for sound, 3.5/5 for control and 2/5 for fun factor.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the PSP version 4.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 3.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tokyo Xtreme Racer for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Street Supremacy for PSP". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Street Supremacy for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Tokyo Xtreme Racer - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Review: Street Supremacy". Computer Games Magazine. No. 187. theGlobe.com. June 2006. p. 93.
  6. ↑ Edge staff (September 1999). "Shutokou Battle (DC)" (PDF). Edge. No. 75. Future Publishing. p. 87. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Tokyo Xtreme Racer" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 123. Ziff Davis. October 1999. p. 220. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "ドリームキャスト - 首都高バトル". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 35.
  9. 1 2 "Collection of every PSP-game reviewed in Famitsu". NeoGAF. NeoGaf LLC. August 27, 2006. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1999). "Tokyo Xtreme Racer - Dreamcast". Game Informer. No. 78. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 3, 2000. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Street Supremacy". Game Informer. No. 156. GameStop. April 2006. p. 135.
  12. ↑ "REVIEW for Tokyo Xtreme Racer [JP Import]". GameFan. Shinno Media. July 6, 1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2000. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  13. ↑ Colin (September 1999). "Tokyo Extreme Racer [sic] Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ Gee, Brian (March 20, 2006). "Street Supremacy Review". GameRevoution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ Fielder, Joe (September 7, 1999). "Tokyo Xtreme Racer Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  16. ↑ Navarro, Alex (March 1, 2006). "Street Supremacy Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ Ares (October 4, 1999). "Tokyo Xtreme Racer". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  18. ↑ Leahy, Dan (March 16, 2006). "GameSpy: Street Supremacy". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  19. ↑ Valentino, Nick (March 8, 2006). "Street Supremacy - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (September 8, 1999). "Tokyo Xtreme Racer". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  21. ↑ Roper, Chris (March 3, 2006). "Street Supremacy". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Chen, Jeff (September 1999). "Shutokou Highway Battle [sic]". NextGen. No. 57. Imagine Media. p. 84. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Street Supremacy". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 103. Ziff Davis. April 2006. p. 92.
  24. ↑ Newman, Heather (March 12, 2006). "'Street Supremacy'". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  25. ↑ Hryb, Larry "Major Mike" (October 1999). "Tokyo Xtreme Racer" (PDF). GamePro. No. 133. IDG. p. 147. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  26. ↑ Rice Burner (March 1, 2006). "Street Supremacy Review for PSP on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
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