Welcome to This Is Not A Review. In these articles we discuss general impressions, ideas, and thoughts on any given game, but as the title implies, it’s not a review. Instead, it’s an exercise in offering a quick recommendation (or dismissal) after spending enough time to grasp the ideas and gameplay of a thing without necessarily playing it from A to Z.
The subject of this installment: Tokyo Xtreme Racer available on PC in early access, developed and published by Genki.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer is an arcade series all about burning through the streets of Tokyo, drawing heavily from real-life underground street racing and popular racing manga. Dozens of titles were released throughout the ’90s and ’00s under different names and in various regions, with the last one seeing release in Japan under the title Wangan Midnight in 2007.
Now, 18 years later, original developers Genki are back with a new installment titled Tokyo Xtreme Racer. As an arcade racing fan myself (especially games centered around illegal street racing) I was eager to see what the hype was all about, especially since it’s rare to see a older driving franchises come back these days.
(Author’s note: Tokyo Xtreme Racer is currently only on PC due to its status as an early-access title. I rarely play on PC thanks to a weak laptop, so my experiences here were based on the lowest possible graphics settings needed to maintain a stable framerate.)
The time spent in the early portions of TXR was enjoyable. Gameplay is an exciting loop consisting of driving around a semi-open fictionalized Tokyo where the highways are full of NPCs driving. Players are tasked with challenging these NPCs to races, done by flashing headlights when behind them. Races are then a simple straightforward sprint, but the way to win is different than most other racers.
Rather than simply getting ahead of opponents, players must contend with a gauge full of SP, or “Spirit Points.” Every opponent’s gauge depletes the further they fall behind, rewarding players for not only going fast but also outmaneuvering the open world’s ambient traffic.
Driving is smooth and arcade-like, meaning turns and drifts are easy to achieve. Cars are a little lighter than most racers, but they control well. I also appreciated the wide variety of vehicles from real manufacturers — especially cool to see Toyota represented well, as they rarely appear in street racing titles.
Even with the graphics set at their lowest, I loved the look of the car models and the environments. There is a strong visual style here, and the night sky of Tokyo is stunning. Racing aside, simply driving around on the highway is enjoyable thanks to the sights, sounds and smooth handling.
Seeing a series like Tokyo Xtreme Racer come back is awesome and I enjoyed my time with this Early Access version. Despite my preference for console gaming, cruising through Tokyo in a sporty Toyota Supra and soaking in the retro-style vibes was outstanding. Those who love ’90s rides and highway racing might want to give this Early Access title a test drive.
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