Because the playing space is generally so homogenous, you're mostly racing in straight lines, dodging the infrequent sedan every minute or so along the way. As you're essentially speeding through highways (i.e., areas designed for mass transit), 90-degree turns, changes in elevation, and narrow lanes are kind of difficult to come by. Accurate as they may be to the Tokyo streets, there isn't anything especially complex or compelling about Import Tuner's environment, even after unlocking more of the roadway as you defeat rivals. The AI wouldn't seem as simplistic if the roadways you navigate weren't equally as such. But by and large, races lack the neck-and-neck tension necessary to craft a worthwhile racing experience. Sure, this isn't universal, and there are instances where you'll get beat handily. Beating most rivals is a matter of either making a solid corner, or waiting until they change lanes and ram an innocent vehicle while you speed away. They aren't very intelligent or creative, and they're noticeably sans a sense of aggressiveness or recklessness that you'd expect from underground competitors. Whatever turbocharged engine or daunting moniker your opponents might boast, rival drivers aren't that intimidating simply because they lack the "challenge" mentioned in the game's title. Unfortunately, Genki's execution of these mechanics dampens most of the unique appeal. It's a nice (and distinctly Japanese) detail that charts your progress throughout the game as you down more and more rivals.Ĭonceptually, the combination of Import Tuner's free-roam course structure with rivalry-based racing isn't a bad thing. Out-pace these aces, and your own street pseudonym will improve – you might begin as a "Slow Poke Runner," but find yourself as a "Luminous Baron" or "Tempest Samurai" in no time. After you've battled your way through the lower members of a car clan, you'll find yourself matched against boss drivers with flashy names like Azure Sniper or Midnight Cinderella, with naturally flashier cars to boot. There is a wealth of auto-enthusiasts ready to match your motor in Import Tuner, most of which ally themselves with one of more than 200 racing teams in the game. The mechanic might sound a tad complex, but it's nothing you can't wrap your gearhead around – it's still just a matter of out-driving the other guy. The points are a kind of a life bar that represents your driver's mental vitality, and it degrades if you ram into obstacles or lose position with your auto adversary. On the road, what replaces racing for time or distance are "spirit points," which are allocated to both you and your opponent. You'll also visit parking areas located along the highway to mingle and chat with other drivers (in text, at least), as well as issue challenges to racers. Instead of racing in loops or even point-to-point, nearly all of the driving you'll do in Import Tuner is challenge-based you'll roam the Japanese highway, eyeing competitors from your car, flashing your high-beams in their rear-view mirror if you'd like to issue a challenge. If you're a fan of the Tokyo Xtreme Racer games, you'll know what to expect in ITC: rivalry-based bouts against local drivers and racing teams played out on stretches of urban Tokyo track, along with a garage full of customization and tuning options. Though it has received a much-needed name change ("Xtreme" is so 2003), Import Tuner is right in line with its predecessor, though being on a next-gen console for the first time offers it the opportunity to upgrade. Developed by Genki, a studio that's always catered to its domestic demographic in Japan (but has a few releases that slip into the states a each year, like Kengo and Jade Cocoon), ITC is a continuation of its Tokyo Xtreme Racer series, which last graced the PS2 in three iterations. In the same vein, Import Tuner Challenge is a game tailored to those of us who aren't content to simply make laps with the same ol' stock vehicles. Saddened as I am that we won't see Vin Diesel in "8 Fast 8 Furious: Mexican Drift" making its way to the silver screen anytime soon, titles like Midnight Club and Need For Speed Underground have helped fill the void for racing fans who prefer some style with their substance. Hollywood's habit for cranking out street racing flicks at a high rate may have dropped out of top gear in the past few years, but the gaming industry continues to keep its production pedal stamped to the floor.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |