Finally: Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift

I finally picked this up today on a rogue trip to Circuit City. I say "rogue" because I called in a sick day at work because I was up all night being sick to my intestines. I was feeling fine this morning but my lack of sleep kept me in bed till about 11 am.

So I was returning a cellphone headset and decided to check Circuit City's awesome used games section. TXRD was in a bin between the two isles and since I originally talked about this game six months ago, I knew it was a no brainer...especially for $14.

So I got it home and I have to say I'm impressed with even the started car's physics. The small panda Trueno may get a little out of control with the e-brake, and man-oh-man do I wish for analog joystick throttle and brake controls, but the car controls really well.

The set-up is like this: do challenges during the day to make cash, read stupid messages on a "message board" and switch to night (literally a menu option) to race. Racing is staged as a parking lot view with cars that you scroll over to choose your racer. Boss's are signified by a name over the stats. I raced one today and he left after beating me. Will he come back? The other racers stay until you beat them at least, but you don't win any money for it. And also unlike the challenges during the day, you don't get any style points for smelling the guardrails on a hairpin turn.

I guess what I was hoping for was a Need For Speed: Underground drift competition meeting Initial-D manga books. I'll dig a little deeper into this $14 title, but if I get really disappointed, at least I'll have a fun drifter to hold up my other games in the entertainment center.