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. When he travel normally he will drive a Nissan 300ZX(Z31). However, when he actually racing, he drives 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 a heavily tuned Fairlady 350Z that is known as "Black Bird", one of the fastest car in the game/manga

• Reina Akikawa is a pop idol at day, and a street racer at night. Her car, a heavily tuned Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 model, is the third fastest in the game/manga. (though it was more due to her driving skill, as during "Legendary Car Time Attack" this is the fastest car)

• Kitami Also known as the "Devil's Tuner", he is the one that tuned both the Devil Z and the Black Bird. In the game, he also tuned the last five tuning points (as well as adding 1 or 2 tuning page after 80 stage) for players.

• Gen Sasaki (Gatchan) His behavior are similar to a sterotypical homosexual, and is actually a much-maligned character in the manga. Drive a Toyota Celsior, one of the worst car in the game/manga (though people may drive it just for fun)

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.