# Tokyo Xtreme Racer (video game)

Tokyo Xtreme Racer, known as Shutokō Battle (首都高バトル, Shutokō Batoru) in Japan and Tokyo Highway Challenge in Europe, is a 1999 racing video game by Genki, for Sega's Dreamcast console. Released as a launch title in the West, the game was one of the first mission-based racing games; it is based on illegal highway racing in Tokyo's Wangan highway with custom tuned cars. It was the second title in the Shutoku Battle/Tokyo Xtreme Racer series to be released in the West following Tokyo Highway Battle (1996).
When released in Japan, Shutokō Battle was one of the best selling Dreamcast titles at this time. A such phenomenon was growing popular in Japan at the time with dedicated manga (Shutokō Battle's biggest inspiration being Wangan Midnight), anime series and video games (C1 Circuit, Wangan Trial, Naniwa Wangan Battle).

## Gameplay

Players challenge other drivers on the Shuto Expressway in order to gain money to modify and enhance their cars. The game features a wide variety of Japanese cars and tuning parts to purchase as the player progresses through rivals.
Since its introduction in the mid '90s, like similar games, the Shutokō Battle series never used licensed cars but the usual type designation such as "TYPE-86" and later "TYPE-AE86L3". Nicknames were used instead in the "Wangan Dead Heat" sidestory (e.g. "Rapid Fire" for the "Nissan Skyline GT-R R33"). These "types" are actually the real chassis code used by the Japanese makers to designate the various grades of a lineup. As the graphics quality was improving with each release, from 16-bit 2D to 3D/CG 128-bit, the featured cars were becoming more and more similar to the actual cars appearance. In a similar way, the chassis codes became longer and more precise, allowing the player to determine each grade and to use the "rename car" feature.
Inevitably, the game becoming a solid best seller, the Japanese makers forced Genki to buy the license of their cars. The very first Genki licensed game was Wangan Midnight for PlayStation 2 (March 28, 2002), while the first licensed Shutokō Battle was Shutokō Battle Online released on PC (January 9, 2003). Since then, every Genki racing game uses licensed makers, and ingame cars with Honda chassis codes do not appear anymore in the Shutokō Battle games; however, Honda is licensed in the Kaido Battle series.
The Japanese' famous die-cast models company, Tomica, released a limited edition of Banshee's NSX in 1999. In the western release of the game, Banshee's controversial forehead-tattooed Hindu swastika was removed.

## Reception

Aggregate score :
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 72% |
Review scores :
| Publication | Score |
| AllGame | |
| Edge | 3/10 |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7/10 |
| Famitsu | 32/40 |
| Game Informer | 5.75/10 |
| GameFan | 92% |
| GameRevolution | D |
| GameSpot | 5.6/10 |
| GameSpy | 8/10 |
| IGN | 8.8/10 |
| Next Generation | |
Tokyo Xtreme Racer received "average" reviews according to GameRankings. In Japan, Famitsu gave the title a score of 32 out of 40. Jeff Chen of NextGen said that the Japanese import of the game was "Not the greatest long-term value, but the new wrinkles make it worth a look."
GamePro called Tokyo Xtreme Racer "a racing game that rolled off the assembly line prematurely."