Initial D racing to PS3

by Nick Doerr { Mar 4th 2008 at 11:30PM }

Initial D, a moderately popular racing anime in Japan and the US, is coming to the PS3. Like the show, expect lots of tuner-based racing. Don't get your hopes up, though. The PS3 release looks to be inspired by the arcade coin-op version. As in the case with all anime licensed games, it's smart to keep hopes low for the PS3 version. Maybe that way, we'll be taken by surprise at how the final product performs.

A US release hasn't been announced, but check out more screens at Famitsu.

Tags: initial-d

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Binaryfiend @ Mar 4th 2008 11:35PM

I hope it is cool. I enjoyed the anime and live action movie.

Nick @ Mar 5th 2008 4:41AM

If this is a direct port of the arcade game it was a lot of fun. In the arcade you would select a car and receive a game card to track your progress on any arcade machine anywhere. You would build points to upgrade you car each time you put your card in. I guess it would be similar without the card. A much more arcadey version of GT. It's definitely a fun arcade game. Not sure how it will translate to a controller experience. But should definitely be worth a rental.

bs6268d @ Mar 4th 2008 11:47PM

Is it me or the graphics on this game are horrible

Nick @ Mar 5th 2008 4:42AM

The game is about 4-5 years old. So bare that in mind.

djSyndrome @ Mar 5th 2008 11:25AM

The first three ID games were Naomi based. The new version (ID4) is built on the Lindbergh hardware and is the basis for the PS3 port. Lindbergh is only about 18 months old and also powers the absolutely gorgeous VF5.

It's not going to push the PS3 to its limit, but it's no Dreamcast game, either.

Iain @ Mar 4th 2008 11:54PM

It's a blast in the arcade. But almost any driving game is a blast with the force feedback steering wheels and metaaaal petaaals.

Hiep Pham @ Mar 4th 2008 11:56PM

haven't you guys ever played the arcade, ps2, or psp version? its a really good game but dont hope for it to be a much graphical game

kevin @ Mar 5th 2008 1:13AM

what is this ps2 graphics...

brockway @ Mar 5th 2008 12:01AM

The arcade version is pretty fun. Nice and fast and drifty. Would be a blast with a force feedback wheel. Certainly worth a look if they don't try to charge $59 for it.

Dahk @ Mar 5th 2008 12:18AM

Hmmm i've only played the arcade versions. Never even knew there were console versions lol.

Eh it was pretty fun in the arcades... used up my 50 races on my damn card though. Had an STi and owned up the likes of Akina and ... whoa I already forgot the names of the other maps. Ah well.

coolforever4537 @ Mar 5th 2008 1:23AM

RUNNING IN THE 90'S!

Jack @ Mar 5th 2008 12:45PM

Remember ME! Remember ME!

Dhanaji @ Mar 5th 2008 2:00AM

I LOVE initial D. THIS IS BIG NEWS

bricklayer @ Mar 5th 2008 5:40AM

Sorry if this is off-topic, but I thought that, for the sake of those who haven't purchased the Playstation Eye/Eye of Judgment bundle, I would quickly drop a line to mention that I just saw it on Amazon selling for $48.99 (qualifies for free shipping). Don't know if we can post links here, so I won't, but it's fairly easy to find :)

maverick_saturn_626 @ Mar 5th 2008 6:55AM

Keep up the good work Nick

And this game could do with some touch ups, worst graphics equals faster download thru PSN I guess.

Mullinsmcd @ Mar 5th 2008 7:46AM

Much like the anime, this game is made for a really small niche audience who enjoys the ins and outs of street racing and who care about arcade style racing more then graphics. Personally, it was the first anime that I watched that didn't have guns, ninjas, and/or big robots. I would recommend both the game and the anime to anyone looking for a change to the usual stuff they watch/play.

Mullinsmcd @ Mar 5th 2008 7:48AM

one more thing.. it does say Playstation Network at the bottom. Will this be a PSN game or just feature online play? Anyone know?

gordon_strange @ Mar 5th 2008 8:11AM

how about a damn karting game? bring back speedfreaks or at least release it on the psn!!

bored of car games, fps, wargames now!

Hyams @ Mar 5th 2008 8:38AM

Get Crash Team Racing off the PSN. Best kart racing game on all the PS consoles.

gordon_strange @ Mar 5th 2008 8:41AM

nah ctr was pants compared to speedfreaks. besides we're on a next gen console now, why cant we have a next gen karting game! looks like i'll be dusting off the wii for mario kart lol

Marty @ Mar 5th 2008 9:42AM

This makes me so happy that I own a PS3. The true fanboy console!

phrequency @ Mar 5th 2008 1:50PM

man... if this is at least an arcade port, then I'm so all over it. makes me really glad that importing games doesn't require a swap disk.

of course if they bring it to the US with the original character names and optional jpn voiceovers, then i'm stoked.