What's so good about Initial D?

chubsta

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I keep seeing Initial D cabs spoken of on various forums, I have never played the game and was just wondering why it is so popular, particularly as most modern racers are pretty much ignored.

Anyone care to enlighten me?
 

strykr

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Good question, ive never played it either despite owning an intial d cab
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(shell)

How does it rate to the mighty OR2?
 

IDCHAPPY

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I've not stuck as much time in about mine as I should have TBH, but it just felt right from the few games I've played of it mate, you want to win and I enjoyed throwing the car round corners, add in some cheesycatchyjpopeurobeat music and it's a recipe for win.

Now I have my card reader I can upgrade the car and get proper into the game, just need a fully working shifter and my cabs 100%

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chubsta

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Or2 is the best racer ever I reckon, but you never really hear people talk about it so much, perhaps the cabs ae more expensive or something. Quite fancy a racer and want to make sure I get something good...
 

JohnnyChaos

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It's not as accessible or as easy as Or2. If you want a quick blast you can't beat that.
ID is a bit more like playing something like forza. You need to take time to upgrade your car and learn the tracks to have any chance of beating your rival.
If you're in to racers and can spend a bit of time on it you'll probably love it.

As for the first three versions, each one just adds more to the series rather than being different games, so you kinda might as well just play the later versions.
ID1 afaik is the hardest. ID2 is supposed to have the best balanced difficulty. iD3 is harder again, but not as hard as 1.
 

strykr

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thechop said:
It's one of the few Sega racers I've never played at some point, often wonder what the appeal is myself.

Indeed, I certainly dont remember ever seeing one in an arcade, but tbh i wasnt really going to the arcs in that mid-late90s era
 

ZedEx48K

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I've played it, but only via emulation, and found it to be a very average drift racing game, but everyone (who likes it) keeps saying you need to have a card/upgraded car to really experience it.
 

guddler

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I owned a twin for a bit and can honestly say I loved it.

Yes, the japanese pop music while very cheesey is downright superb (and that's coming from someone thats into goth mostly!) but the actual racing game I found to be very accessible, regardless of card reader or upgrades.

I'm normally pretty hopeless at racing games but I found I could really get into this one. I feel they've got the difficulty level just right. I could get quite a way into it without too much practice and when you really get going you really start throwing the steering around. It's a real physical work out when you're doing it right
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But yeah, I'll agree that OR2 is probably all the more accessible it just doesn't have the cult following that the manga based InitD series has.

[EDIT] Oh, and since the world and his mother wanted to convert everything in sight to OR2, they're so damn expensive to get. Even the Chihiro system which, let's face it isn't good for much other than OR2 is an arm and a bloody leg. InitD is a lot of bang for your buck.

guddler2013-10-27 01:59:15
 

chubsta

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guddler said:
Even the Chihiro system which, let's face it isn't good for much other than OR2 is an arm and a bloody leg. InitD is a lot of bang for your buck.

i started checking out the cost of a chihiro system last night as i figure i need a driving cab and couldnt believe the prices! will stick to getting an Outrun, they seem very cheap in comparison...
 

AndyGeezer

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Cheaper to do outrun2 on Lindbergh. As chihiro PCBs cost more than Lindbergh PCBs.

Funny id5 exp 2.0 is also Lindbergh and far superior to the Naomi 2 versions.

Shame they the id4 card reader is so friggin expensive.

Or2 is certainly most accessible to all, my custom one seems popular even some contractors from Sega played it on Friday.
 

stevearcade

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What's so good about Initial D? A Corolla AE86, Drifting down Japanese mountain roads in illegal night time street racing, all whilst delivering bento boxes and tofu. What's not to love...? Sounds like the perfect premise for a street racing game if you ask me.
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But on a serious note. It's a very polished street car racing game. Very nice mechanics with awesome hi spec Japanese cars. Initial D the Manga has a real cult following with Japanese Fanboys (both gaming and cars) and the cab is wickedly nice to play on. All things considered, it ticks many boxes the way something like Outrun would have done in 1986.
 

muddymusic

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The Chihiro setup is expensive, but with OutRun 2SP you get a hell of a lot of game for your money. I've had mine almost 2 years and still play it all the time. All the different cars, tracks from both variants of the game, different game modes....it never fails to put a smile on my face when the sub is booming and the classic tunes are in your ears. I think it's possibly the last arcade gem.
 

bbz149

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I'd also like to know what know whats so special about it apart from I liked the card reader system! I had a near mint ID3 and all I ever played on it was OR2
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So traded it in for a NNC and bought a Jap F355, another pants game IMO but it's only ever going be playing OR2 and the odd Naomi 2 game
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muddymusic

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The cheapest option used to be doing a conversion from F355 or initial d but the kit is getting harder and harder to get so it's probably easier and cheaper to buy one that's ready to go. Probably £1200 for a tidy single. It may be better to get a twin & split it between 2.
 

AndyGeezer

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Lot of or2 twins are getting skipped due to chihiro and the monitors going bad.

Shame operators don't put them on eBay, but seems claiming as a loss is better for there taxes.
 

IDCHAPPY

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AndyGeezer said:
Lot of or2 twins are getting skipped due to chihiro and the monitors going bad.

Shame operators don't put them on eBay, but seems claiming as a loss is better for there taxes.

Your full of good news today Andy
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AndyGeezer

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If I had the space I could save a lot. But sadly I live in Cambridge where a unit would cost a small fortune.

Also its a case of having the ability of collecting stuff on the day, something which I couldn't do.
 
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