Initial D (video game series)
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Initial D Arcade Stage (commonly referred to as IDAS, followed by a version number) is a racing game series developed by Sega, based on the anime and manga Initial D. In the U.S., the games, which keep their version names in later entries, are otherwise known as simply "Initial D" without the "Arcade Stage" subtitle.
Premise
In Initial D Arcade Stage, players race against different opponents in various mountain passes featured in the manga. Using the optional magnetic card system, players can save a customized car and their progress for future sessions; otherwise, game progress is lost. Players can continue progress with their cards on another Initial D cabinet of the same version. However, the card must be renewed every 50 plays.
Note that resuming from another version is subject to following conditions:
- It is not backwards compatible (i.e. a version 2 card cannot be used on version 1 machine).
- Upgrading the card to a more recent machine is permanent.
- When upgrading from one version to another, remaining plays will be carried over and 50 plays will be credited to the card.
There are eleven games in the series so far: eight are for arcades and three for home consoles.
- Initial D Arcade Stage (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage Version 2 (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage Version 3 (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage 4 (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage 5 (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage 6 AA (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage 7 AAX (Arcade)
- Initial D Arcade Stage 8 ∞ (Arcade)
- Initial D Special Stage (PlayStation 2)
- Initial D Street Stage (PSP)
- Initial D Extreme Stage (PS3)
Game modes
- Legend of the Streets
- In the main story mode, players race with different opponents from the original manga in the game.
- Time attack
- Players race against time to rank against other players at the current machine or across the internet.
- Bunta Challenge
- First started in Version 2, the player races against Bunta Fujiwara, the legendary street racer. Each time Bunta is defeated, the player will gain a level. Each subsequent level is harder. And when the player is defeated the player loses 1000 points in version 3. Bunta's car differs across levels. Level 1-6: AE86 Trueno, Level 7-11: AE86 Trueno w/TRD 20-Valve 4AGE Racing Engine, Level 12-15: GC8V Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version V. This mode was discontinued and removed in Arcade Stage 4.
- Tag Battle
- Introduced in Version 6 AA. Team up with a friend in the same location. One player drives uphill, the other drives downhill to race with rivals. Matching will be made based on past racing results. It will match with tag team whose driving technique is close to you and your tag partner. When there is a difference in the level with your tag partner, stronger driver will match with strong, and weaker driver with the weak. Get the A(Ace) panel on the course. High score when you get the same color panel at the same section. Team with highest score wins.
Japanese version: late 2001 / English version late 2002
Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2
Japanese version: late 2002 / English version Mid-late 2003
Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.3
Japanese version: late 2003 / English version early 2004 / Cycraft simulator version mid 2005
Initial D Arcade Stage 4
Initial D: Arcade Stage 4 is the fourth release in the Initial D: Arcade Stage series. Unlike the first three versions of the game, Initial D: Arcade Stage 4 runs on the Sega Lindbergh hardware, uses a new card system, and features a new physics system.
Initial D Arcade Stage 5
Released in 2009, Initial D: Arcade Stage 5 is the fifth release in the Initial D: Arcade Stage series. A few notable differences include heavy physics changes. Opposite to Arcade Stage 4, which took on a "drifting" physics, Arcade Stage 5 had a more realistic driving physics which includes tire and brake wear down. Although the tire and brake wear are not displayed anywhere in game, experienced players can notice the difference in the change in physics as they progress in races.
New characters that appeared for the first time in the game are: Kobayakawa, Satoshi Omiya, Imposter Project D, Kai Kogashiwa (R.T. Katagiri S.V.), and Hideo Minagawa.
Initial D Arcade Stage 6 AA
Initial D Arcade Stage 6 AA was released in March 2011.
A new mode, Tag Battle, was introduced. Like its predecessor, the game saw a change in its driving physics. A drift gauge and an updated tachometer was introduced to help inform players whether they're drifting or not. The tachometer now inform players if their speed is below the gear range. Online network is extended to support regions in which earlier versions of the game was known to be popular in, finally achieving both national wide and international matches. For the first time in series, new cars and courses are added to the game through online updates without upgrade kits like IDAS4 1.5. The game also added a mileage system to show players their total driven mileage. Mileages can be used to redeem exclusive cars that were later available in updates. New characters that appeared for the first time in the game are: Ryuji Ikeda, Hiroya Okuyama, and Go and Rin Hojo.[citation needed]
Initial D Arcade Stage 7 AAX
Initial D Arcade Stage 7 AAX, was released for the Sega RingEdge arcade system board. The game is mostly a carry-over from 6AA, including updates. New characters include Shinji Inui to complete the Sidewinder battles of Project D; new cars include the Toyota Sprinter Trueno 2door and the new Toyota 86 GT (to replace the FT-86 prototype from the previous game). A new class of vehicles is introduced in this game called "Complete Cars". These include pre-tuned cars from several tuning shops in Japan, such as RE Amemiya. Online battles now include tag battles, allowing two in-store machines linking together and with internet access to battle against two other players in tag battles.[citation needed]
Initial D Arcade Stage 8 ∞
Initial D Arcade Stage 8 ∞ was released July 17, 2014. Like its predecessor, this game carries over all game modes from the previous version with a notable addition of Initial D Factory and D Coins. The game added a new feature "1 Day 1 Time Continue" to allow players to have a free continue per day without inserting credits.
Initial D Special Stage
Initial D Special Stage was released on June 26, 2003 for the PlayStation 2 and was re-released on February 26, 2004 under the "PlayStation 2 the Best" label. Initial D Special Stage is based on Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2 and contains many features exclusive to this game. Initial D Special Stage is also the first home-console Initial D game published by Sega.
Initial D Special Stage contains a story mode that allows the player to reenact racing scenes from the Initial D manga series, as well as several new courses then not seen in the arcade versions of the game. In one of these courses, Shomaru went on to appear in Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.3. Real Myogi was later added back in Arcade Stage 4. Momiji Line would not return until Arcade Stage 8. Bunta's Challenge is noticeably absent in the game. Additional features including replays for saved time-attack records and Iketani's car introduction.
Due to PlayStation 2's hardware limitations, the graphics of the game was downgraded from its arcade counterpart. The game is compatible with Logitech's Driving Force wheel series and other wheel controllers made for PlayStation 2. Sega also balanced all the cars in game due to the overpowering Integra DC2 from Arcade Stage 2.
Initial D Street Stage
Initial D: Street Stage is a PSP-exclusive game based on Initial D: Arcade Stage ver.3.
Initial D Extreme Stage
Extreme Stage is a PlayStation 3 game based on Arcade Stage 4.