Wangan Midnight

Wangan Midnight is a 80's manga that depict highway race. However, it was much more famous as an arcade racing game, when it first come out as Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune, in 2004. A sequel of the game was made in 2005.

The story, from a little excerpt, stated that In 20XX, Japan moved to a new Tokyo, which feature a vast extensive paid highway that criss-crossed the metropolis. At night, however, it became a race track for those who dared.

Characters

• Akio Asakura is the main character of the manga. Drive a heavily tuned Fairlady 240Z that is known as "Devil Z", one of the fastest car in the game/manga

• Tatsuya Shima is the main rival of Akio. Drive Drive a heavily tuned Fairlady 350Z that is known as "Black bird", one of the fastest car in the game/manga

Gameplay

Like Initial D Arcade stage, this game employ the magnetic card system, which store the data of the player (car type, tuning, story mode progress, time attack, outrun status). However, while Initial D focused on curving mountain roads, Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune (denoted WMMT) focus on highway battle. As such, while the roads in most case a straighter then mountain passes (even though there are plenty of sharp turns and S-curves), there are also numerous vehicles that act as moving roadblocks - considering that the speed are actually much higher in Wangan, this create a need to be able to have equally good driving skill as Initial D

Also, bumping in Initial D's battle race is frowned on, even though it basically does nothing. In WMMT, however, bumping is an expected staple, as bumping to create significant effects on the outcome of the race.

As such, when choosing a car in WMMT, one have to account for not only power (determines speed), cornering and handling capability, but also its weight and stability, for a lower weigth, while in crease speed and handling, make it easy to bump and harder to bump back. Also, in WMMT (after 1st play through), the tuning attributes can be changed before the actual gameplay, switching between power and handling.

Compared to Initial D, drifting is more visually evidental.

Finally, compared to Initial D, it gives a more "relaxed" feeling, as story characters will keep on talking to you while showing their expressions, and may react you any actions you commit. Also, occasionally it features Pac Man characters as your rival, and starting from WMMT, you can drive two of the "traffic vehicle" (through entering codes): the Corolla (a bit drifty) and the HiAce (grippy, and best at bumping)

In WMMT2, a mountain passage stage, Hakone, was added.