Initial D: drifting is serious business (so is Eurobeat)

cj iwakura

WAIT NOT THAT


So yeah, the games are pretty awesome.




It's based on the anime and manga series, which you're probably at least somewhat familiar with, about a tofu driver who becomes one of the best mountain racers around.


It later became an arcade racer developed by a company you might have heard of:



Initial D Arcade Stage is up to its 5th version now.



And dang it looks good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Bsdivvohw&feature=player_embedded

The last one I played was 4, which(much like 3) follows the Project D arc of the manga.

Far as I can tell, 4 just updates the graphics to HD quality and added full voice acting for the story mode(as well as a customizable avatar).



And nicer cards, which store the player's car data.


You can usually find it at GameWorks and arcades of the like.


But hey, maybe you don't have access to an arcade.

You're in luck! If you have a PSP, that is.




Initial D : Street Stage is a fairly perfect port of the 3rd arcade version, and even includes English instructions and (Japanese) voice acting, which wasn't in the arcade version. It sells for fairly cheap($15 new last I checked at Play-Asia), and it's great for drifting on the go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHqvQYxi1EY&feature=related

There's also a PS3 version based on V4, if you'd like to go that route.



Also never localized. Sega of America must hate money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_oo_gz42FI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm5cLbwkZec

Anyway, feel free to discuss if you're into the games or the series they're based on.


I use a Subaru Impreza SRX, by the by.



Bunta approved.


Oh yeah, and it wouldn't be an Initial D thread without some Eurobeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJlYSscUwBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3KOnv9MVNY

Owenashi

I've played this game at Gameworks though it's been a long time. The car-card in my wallet's probably not valid anymore. Sure you can guess which car I used.

cj iwakura

I still have a V2, a V3, and a V4 card.

I'm not amazing or anything, but I've at least beaten V3 from front to back(excluding the Bunta Challenge).

I haven't played much V4.


And my favorite character:

Chen

Hey, I played one of these at the arcade. It was awful. I got my ass handed to me by the local guys. They can manual shift, brake and drift like Jay Chou. It was frankly embarrassing how far behind I was while the rest duked it out for first place.

Loved the music though.

Eurobeat, fuck yeah!

SmokeStacks

I don't really like anime, but I've heard good things about Street Stage and had considered getting it in the past, but sort of forgot about it. All of the youtube videos I saw made it look pretty cool, and it helps that I share the love for the Trueno.

This thread reminded me, and it turns out I can score a copy for around $20.

How import friendly is it? I mean, the instructions are in English and that's cool, but is there an option for English subtitles, or am I doomed to have no idea what is going on during the story mode?

Suriko

Every time I go into town I go to the arcade and play this.

I'm awful at it, but it's a really fun way to burn spare change.

cj iwakura

SmokeStacks wrote: »

I don't really like anime, but I've heard good things about Street Stage and had considered getting it in the past, but sort of forgot about it. All of the youtube videos I saw made it look pretty cool, and it helps that I share the love for the Trueno.

This thread reminded me, and it turns out I can score a copy for around $20.

How import friendly is it? I mean, the instructions are in English and that's cool, but is there an option for English subtitles, or am I doomed to have no idea what is going on during the story mode?

The game itself is completely Japanese. It's kind of silly how the instruction book is very thorough(no Engrish whatsoever, it has bios, and explains everything), but they didn't even bother to sub the dialogue in English. The last three DJ MAX games from Korea all had English options. Why can't Initial D?


Still, the story isn't exactly thorough. You'll be able to figure out what's going on just from the expressions.

Most dialogue amounts to this:

-I see you drive a [car].
-It can't beat my [car].

-We should race.

Though with Ryosuke it's more "I'm going to practice, you can try to keep up if you want."

Topia

I have a maxed ('max' has varied meanings I know) RX7 from generation 2 and 3, but I haven't played them in ages.

Cantido

This thread needs moar sausage lips.

She want to kiss you and burn down your house.

SmokeStacks

cj iwakura wrote: »

The game itself is completely Japanese. It's kind of silly how the instruction book is very thorough(no Engrish whatsoever, it has bios, and explains everything), but they didn't even bother to sub the dialogue in English. The last three DJ MAX games from Korea all had English options. Why can't Initial D?


Still, the story isn't exactly thorough. You'll be able to figure out what's going on just from the expressions.

Most dialogue amounts to this:

-I see you drive a [car].
-It can't beat my [car].

-We should race.

Though with Ryosuke it's more "I'm going to practice, you can try to keep up if you want."

Excellent.

Goozex'd

cj iwakura

Oh yeah, and it's a cardinal sin that Sega haven't localized a single Initial D console game. It's even been on the PS3 in Japan.

Yet they've localized all the arcade versions. Go figure.

Elimination

I have the (I guess.) rare english PC version, still in its original box and all that. I played it once. It was terribad but amusing simply because it was Initial D. I enjoyed it a bit for what it was. It's pretty old now though and sort of just sitting on a shelf for the past 5 years or so.

Impersonator

Aw man, the game looks great on the PSP. Is the in-game text in English or Japanese?

cj iwakura

Japanese, almost completely. The instruction book is a huge tease. But it's kind enough to lay out the options. It explains almost everything you need to know.

It takes getting used to, but it is very much playable. People have beaten Bunta on the PSP version.

SmokeStacks

cj iwakura wrote: »

Japanese, almost completely. The instruction book is a huge tease. But it's kind enough to lay out the options. It explains almost everything you need to know.

It takes getting used to, but it is very much playable. People have beaten Bunta on the PSP version.

Just got matched, hell yeah.

So, Goozex has one last copy available, complete, for 300 points if anyone else is looking for it.

Wheezer

Hey, isn't the PSP game a port of Arcade V2 - the V3 has added tracks missing from the PSP release.

The fourth was a major update with much improved graphics, local networking and a new card system. They also changed the driving physics some. Going from 2 to 3 was a smaller update, just like going from 4 to 5 appears to be. Difficult to say from that youtube vid since you can't see the cabinet and the player is so bad.

I have my 4th card here, I think I threw away my cards for 3. Man, I wish we had arcades here.

Fig-D

DAVE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XswuFtW1bco

FUCKING.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgVyf3TpfWY

RODGERS.

So yeah, I probably dropped somewhere between $150 and $200 on the first two versions. I probably still have the card for my Skyline somewhere around my room.

Kelor

Topia wrote: »

I have a maxed ('max' has varied meanings I know) RX7 from generation 2 and 3, but I haven't played them in ages.

^5.

I also had a RX7 in the second and third games.


Mainly I like Initial D for the music. I have an unhealthy liking of Eurobeat. Version 3 had a much worse soundtrack to Version 2.

Had a top 20 world record on Akagi uphill and downhill back in on version two, though I have no idea how the guys in the top ten were managing to shave more time off. I think they were driving whatever the overpowered car in V2 was.

acidlacedpenguin

any word on the PS3 game?

it seems odd to discuss initial D gaming and include the PSP but not the PS3. . .

Antihippy

Cantido wrote: »

This thread needs moar sausage lips.

She want to kiss you and burn down your house.

Why a FLCL image in an Initial D thread?

There are alot of Initial D machines in my arcade (relatively anyway), but i'm usually playing fighting games or dj max technika.

acidlacedpenguin

Iggy is harder to google search?

Kelor

What are people's favourite courses?

I love Akagi, both loathe Irohazaka.

Fireflash

Ahh initial D. They had machines at the arcade downtown. I played a few races in solo, even got a save card. But playing against anyone was hopeless. There would always be the cool asian kid with a maxed out car that would leave you in the dust as soon as the race started.

It seemed like a fun game but I wasn,t really good and didn't want to spend tons of quarters becoming good enough to go through the whole single player game.

Wheezer

I like Irohazaka, since I can actually clear it easier than Akina. I also like Akagi since I usually do well in the first quarter of the race there. I cleared Akina in three, but never managed it in four - Takumi was just a little too fast every time. Tsukuba I couldn't even win a race at.

cj iwakura

Tsuchisaka is my favorite. My Impreza decimates those crazy turns after the long tunnel(or before it). That's how I always catch up to anyone.


The PS3 version is a port of V4, far as I can tell. I've never played it, though maybe I'll check it out when I get a PS3 if it's region free and as cheap as Street Stage was.




Also, V2's OST was the best.

1. Gamble Rumble - M.o.v.e - ( opening )
2. Space Boy - Dave Rodgers
3. Night of Fire - Niko
4. Don't Stop The Music - Lou Grant
5. Love Is In Danger - Priscilla
6. Killing My Love - Leslie Parrish
7. Running In The 90's - Max Coveri
8. Grand Prix - Mega NRG Man
9. Beat Of The Rising Sun - Dave Rodgers
10. Heartbeat - Nathalie
11. Rock Me To The Top - Dusty
12. Station to Station - Derrick Simons
13. The Race Is Over - Dave Rodgers - ( ending )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjrsosbaFg


4's looks pretty bad.

1. -Out Of Kontrol- - m.o.v.e (intro only)
2. Dive Into Stream - m.o.v.e (PS3 intro only)
3. Let's Go, Come On - Manuel
4. Go Beat Crazy - Fastway
5. Speed Car - D-Team
6. Fly Me To The Moon & Back - The Spiders From Mars
7. Revolution - Fastway
8. We'll See Heaven - Digital Planet
9. All Around - Lia
10. Eldorado - Dave Rodgers
11. Raising Hell - Fastway
12. Space Love - Fastway
13. No Control - Manuel
14. Forever Young - Symbol
15. Rider Of The Sky - Ace
16. The Fire's On Me - Spock
17. Namida 3000 - m.o.v.e(ending)
18. Keep on Movin - m.o.v.e(PS3 ending)

Not a single classic. At least keep Over The Rainbow.

Wheezer

Running in the 90's and Speedy Speed Boy are my faves. The PS3 game out around the time 4 was in the arcades, and I've seen a screenshot or two so I know it's not V3.

Kay

I had the PS2 version on Japanese Import, that had a story mode I didn't understand beyond parts of it following the manga. Like driving down Akina with a cup of water on the dash, and the ACTUAL Usui course where it's next to impossible to pass Mako and Sayuki in their SilEighty rather than the race-track round version that makes no sense.

I loved the arcade for a long time too, and used to travel to London fairly regularly to train and battle with friends. I started out with an Impact Purple SilEighty, but then went with a white RX7 FC-3S. Still have the cards in my wallet.

JeffH

I don't even like racing games, but I'd buy any game just for dave rodgers. Hell, I bought a few racing games for xbox just so I could load the OSTs onto my xbox and use custom soundtrack

Kelor

cj iwakura wrote: »

4's looks pretty bad.

1. -Out Of Kontrol- - m.o.v.e (intro only)
2. Dive Into Stream - m.o.v.e (PS3 intro only)
3. Let's Go, Come On - Manuel
4. Go Beat Crazy - Fastway
5. Speed Car - D-Team
6. Fly Me To The Moon & Back - The Spiders From Mars
7. Revolution - Fastway
8. We'll See Heaven - Digital Planet
9. All Around - Lia
10. Eldorado - Dave Rodgers
11. Raising Hell - Fastway
12. Space Love - Fastway
13. No Control - Manuel
14. Forever Young - Symbol
15. Rider Of The Sky - Ace
16. The Fire's On Me - Spock
17. Namida 3000 - m.o.v.e(ending)
18. Keep on Movin - m.o.v.e(PS3 ending)

Not a single classic. At least keep Over The Rainbow.

That looks like a pretty solid list to me. It's missing a lot of the classic stuff but not uncluding those opening/ending songs I can only pick out maybe three or four duds. Still much better than Version 3.

Shame they skipped So Fragile though.

Toefoo

I bought Extreme Stage on PS3 last year at Anime Expo, and wooowee, is it hard to get used to driving with the Dual Shock. It definitely is region free though, and you can even play it online if you buy the Japanese version (as opposed to the Asia version).