Initial D Tunes Up For Showdown

Alan writes "FiringSquad just posted an import review of one-on-one Japanese street racing game, Sega's Initial D: Special Stage for the PlayStation 2, as based on the popular anime/manga series. They seemed to like it, with reservations." The arcade version of Initial D is a break-out title in terms of popularity, even with the limited amount of machines that have made it to the U.S., and especially with the magnetic card which "..allows players to build a totally unique custom tuned car that is personal to them". The PS2 version (here's another, more positive review from NTSC-UK) definitely looks intriguing, but is so far very unannounced outside Japan.

The Trueno!

[h3]

I learned a lot about cars from the Initial D anime, specifically about the performance strengths and weaknesses of various models popular with street racers when racing down montains. If you're into that kinda thing, it's quite riveting (conversely, if you're not, it must be the boringest thing in the world).

You can't help but cheer for Takumi and his humble Trueno (Corolla) emblazoned with a Fujiwara Tofu logo as it takes on Skylines, LanEvos, and RX7s.

Good stuff. Unfortunately, the anime series has never been picked up for release here- cultural differences? I don't know. You'd think they could've ridden the Fast and the Furious train. TokyoPop is translating the manga, but *reading* about hair-raising drifts doesn't seem quite the same to me.

If they every bring this game over here, I'd pick it up. In the meantime, I take out the Trueno in my Gran Turismo 3 (from which I learned the rest of what I know about cars) garage from time to time. Not quite the same, but I'm not half the driver Takumi is ;).

-h3