Tokyo Xtreme Racer DRIFT 2

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Crave
  • Release Date: Apr 17, 2007
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 5 out of 42
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  1. TakumiFuji01
    Dec 1, 2013
    9
    Here's my review for TXRD2
    *NOTE: The highway versions of TXR are called Shutokō Battle while the mountain versions of TXR are called Kaido Battle in JP.
    The game is not meant for arcade-players or for people who play Crash Team Racing, Mario Kart, etc. this is a Touge Simulator racing game! This game is meant to express difficulty in physics because it was done by 2 Japanese Racing    Here's my review for TXRD2
    *NOTE: The highway versions of TXR are called Shutokō Battle while the mountain versions of TXR are called Kaido Battle in JP.

    The game is not meant for arcade-players or for people who play Crash Team Racing, Mario Kart, etc. this is a Touge Simulator racing game! This game is meant to express difficulty in physics because it was done by 2 Japanese Racing Drivers who both compete in Japan's Super GT/JGTC and D1GP, Manabu "Max" Orido and Nobuteru "N.O.B./No One Better" Taniguchi. This game was actually released in 2005 so therefore is the reasons why the graphics aren't too good when it was release over here in North America.

    This game is meant for enthusiast who actually know how to setup the cars in game, I bet half of the people (who are arcade racers) didn't know what a piston, conn. rod, turbine, or intercooler was. TXRD2 is better than the TXRD1 because that was actually release in 2003 in Japan. For those saying the first one was better, uh actually it isn't. You're just not used to the realistic physics. This is basically the "Street-Racer" version of Gran Turismo.

    Now everything like physics and car choices are perfected but there's some flaws I have to call out.

    1. A.I. programming.
    Now maybe the A.I. programming may have been screwed up because I've seen the Japanese Version of TXRD2 (aka Kaido Battle 3: Touge no Densetsu) and the A.I. are perfect but the US version seems to be screwed up.

    2. Sound Samples.
    The car sounds are perfect but it's just the way they sound when the engine revs. Like the S2000 doesn't sound like it's 9000RPM when it hits max RPM or the 5Zigen ITR DC5 has 10k RPM and doesn't sound like it either.

    3. Limited Gear Box modification
    Like in most TXR games, if you try taking manufacturer's in-house transmission kits data into TXR; it won't work. I tried using Spoon Sports 1-5 B-Series Crossed Mission for the B-Series Hondas and didn't work, tried using the TRD Crossed 5 and 3 Mission for the AE86 and didn't work. I wish it had fully adjustable ratio like LFS

    4. Can't modify Special cars.
    Some of these Special cars have some flaws like the 5Zigen's ITR DC5 Gearbox, Amuse/Genki S2000 is a bit loose, Amemiya Greddy 9's gearbox, etc. these cars unfortunately can't be modified. I would prefer to fix the suspension, get the car's real life gearbox ratio data, increase downforce for better stability, etc.

    But overall, the game is really great. Now to GameSpot, I don't know why the f*ck you would say that the game has poor vehicle handling when you don't notice it's actually a simulator? Like I said earlier, this game are for true car enthusiast who actually know their sh*t and aren't for little kids or arcade people. This is for sim-racers!!! Look at the way I told specific modifications and settings for the car like downforce. Those are things a car enthusiast knows.

    For all those critics out there, replay this game and try it without having an arcade-racer mind.

    Overall score: 9/10    … Expand
  2. Takuminightcore
    May 25, 2023
    10
    Please do not believe what the Metacritic score says the game is a awesome game and it’s much more related than just drifting, but more related into the touge racing seen in Japan the customization is awesome and it has a wide variety of JDM cars and even a small of euro cars too and the trucks are great and highly detailed and the handling is really awesome. Of course you’re gonna have toPlease do not believe what the Metacritic score says the game is a awesome game and it’s much more related than just drifting, but more related into the touge racing seen in Japan the customization is awesome and it has a wide variety of JDM cars and even a small of euro cars too and the trucks are great and highly detailed and the handling is really awesome. Of course you’re gonna have to do practice a little bit but once you get used to it, you’ll love it and the people with the meta-critic reviews need to re-review this game and actually get somebody who knows how to play this game then with reviewers that have massive skill issues… Expand
  3. GryffinDarkBred
    Aug 29, 2023
    1
    It looks good, but the driving model sucks. Why call a game "Drift" if every damn car drives so **** stiff you can't actually drift?
  4. xa5it
    Apr 21, 2015
    10
    fast review

    + lots if jdm cars
    + big amount of mountain roads to drive
    + great graphics (for ps2 of course)
    + carrier mode with hundreds of rivals
    - drifting is hard (because of drifting requires proper parts and tunning and lots of practice)

    great mountain jdm drifting game, must have for entusiasts
  5. KadiusD
    Jun 27, 2016
    8
    Its a decent little gem of a game. Is it Gran Turismo? No. But what it does, it does very well. Its mostly (with a few exceptions) a one on one downhill racer. Has a story, and a unique way of finding opponents. Story is done in the style of people posting to a forum (checkout some footage on Youtube for an idea). Easy to play, but VERY hard to master.
  6. CaroFDoom
    Mar 5, 2016
    9
    TL;DR: With most of the critic reviews, it sounds like they never bothered to check everything in the game, so they gave a uncomplete review to their uncomplete experiences, so you should ignore them and play this game, especially if you like cars.

    Please, ignore the critics who say that you can't drift, this is the best touge(mountain pass) racing game to have ever existed. You'll be    TL;DR: With most of the critic reviews, it sounds like they never bothered to check everything in the game, so they gave a uncomplete review to their uncomplete experiences, so you should ignore them and play this game, especially if you like cars.

    Please, ignore the critics who say that you can't drift, this is the best touge(mountain pass) racing game to have ever existed. You'll be missing out if you listen to some uninformed critics. There's a very simple answer to why they can't drift. It's called Traction Control. Go into the tuning menus and turn off ABS(optional, though extremely useful) and Traction Control. After doing this, you will probably want to use the sticks for accel, braking and steering, or consider getting a racing wheel of some kind.
    The game has a nice varied car list, from everyday kei cars to Japan's top tier sports cars, with the exception of imported cars.(This take place in Japan, so American and European cars would be imports) However, I'd dismiss it due to the fact that it adds to realism. Not everyone can afford to import cars.
    Car customization is limited in terms of body kits(you only get one choice per car), though the GT wings are customizable to an extent. You can also get mud flaps, a "rally kit"(A roof scoop and some antennae) carbon hoods and trunks, and most importantly, (to some) a large variety of wheels. However, most of the focus on car customization should be in choosing the right tyres for the occasion and finding a setup that fits you, as well as improving the performance of the car.
    The story is fairly simple and is basically repeated in all Tokyo Xtreme Racer games. Big racer goes missing, other people take over, you come in, other people say that you remind them of that big racer, you kick everyone's butt in a race, big racer comes back, you race with the big racer, and you beat the game.
    I can't really talk about driving physics other than saying they're good and fun, unless I go through every car in the game, because all of them have a different feel. IGN says that the cars never feel like they have any go, but I highly doubt that they even unlocked any of the more powerful cars. However, I must note that while the game doesn't seem fully realistic, it does a pretty damn good job of having some realism.
    The difficulty is extremely mixed, though generally easy. Sometimes you'll have the Slashers be total pushovers and other times you'll have a Hi-Gambler be an utter PITA.
    The graphics are pretty decent, at least for the PS2's time. It's no Gran Turismo 4 with 1080i support, but everything is identifiable and looks relatively nice. One complaint I do have is that the road surface looks really grainy when it's in direct sunlight.
    All of the race types aren't very varied, but there's 5 types: [Note that in the case of a tie that the car in front will win]

    SP: Spirit Points. In this mode, both drivers have a "SP" gauge. If this gauge runs out, then you will automatically lose, and same with the AI. The SP gauge depletes if the lead car is getting too far away or if you have contact with either walls or the other car.

    CA: Corner Artist. These are the drift events. You must get a certain number of points and complete the course within the time limit. You will have areas marked as drift sections. Slide with a combination of speed and angle to get points. If you tap a wall, even slightly, you will lose all points for that section. TIP: Consecutively getting over 1000 points in a sector will award bonus points, which is extremely useful.

    TA: Time Attack. These are exactly what they sound like. Just get to the goal within the time limit.

    TAC: [I don't actually know what this stands for] It's just a TA event with an SP bar.

    CAT: Literally Hell. These are like CA events, except you must get a specific number of points in each sector, or else you will fail. The biggest reason these are hell is because you are forced to drift in each sector, no matter how many points you got previously and as with CA events, any hit to a wall in a drift section will lose all points for that sector, meaning hitting a wall in a sector is an automatic failure. TIP: Practicing getting that combo bonus in CA events may make these events easier for you.

    FL: Follow-Lead. One car is placed directly behind the other. If the driver starting in front gets ahead by over 200yd, they will win. If the driver starting in the back gets ahead by over 100yd, they will win.

    Overall, this game is a very good experience that I wish I could give a 9.3/10, rather than just a 9.    … Expand
  7. AppleWillance
    Jul 7, 2020
    9
    This game is basically a near perfectly balanced simcade, a mix of initial D Special Stage and Gran Turismo 4. It's just sad that there's no new sequel of this game since it's pretty much a special series which only selling point is that it's sharing the culture of mountain racing in Japan. Also **** X-Play Classic
  8. TimoDaKid
    Apr 25, 2021
    9
    Critics had it wrong on this. If you appreciate touge, you will have a lot of fun with this game. The career mode is very addicting, and the game is jam packed with all kinds of cars. There’s lots of tracks and many more to unlock along the way. There is some pretty poor translation in this game, and also a very small soundtrack, but these aren’t major issues and there’s a lot of fun to beCritics had it wrong on this. If you appreciate touge, you will have a lot of fun with this game. The career mode is very addicting, and the game is jam packed with all kinds of cars. There’s lots of tracks and many more to unlock along the way. There is some pretty poor translation in this game, and also a very small soundtrack, but these aren’t major issues and there’s a lot of fun to be had here if this is your kind of thing… Expand
  9. TakumiFoojiwara
    May 16, 2022
    10
    In my opinion this is one of best racing games. We have there: rare jdm cars, that cannot be seen in other games, wide tuning spectre, 2 player mode, drift battles, time attack, duels. The game has quite realistic physics, but it's not only for simulation nerds. You can use in-game control assist, ABS, stabilzers etc. Styling is included too: classic shiny retro car?Rally turbo poweredIn my opinion this is one of best racing games. We have there: rare jdm cars, that cannot be seen in other games, wide tuning spectre, 2 player mode, drift battles, time attack, duels. The game has quite realistic physics, but it's not only for simulation nerds. You can use in-game control assist, ABS, stabilzers etc. Styling is included too: classic shiny retro car?Rally turbo powered monster? - As you wish!… Expand
  10. MidnightRacer06
    May 25, 2023
    0
    I have not played this game nor have anything against it I just don’t want MC3 to lose its top 5 spot
  11. Favorable
    Mar 28, 2023
    9
    This game is honestly one of if not the best racing game I have ever played. The game itself does so many things right and barely anything wrong. There's lots to do even after you finish the game. Fight new opponents after beating the 2 final slashers (bosses), go out and try Gymkhana in whatever car you please, try out some time attack, or just buy a car and mess around with it any wayThis game is honestly one of if not the best racing game I have ever played. The game itself does so many things right and barely anything wrong. There's lots to do even after you finish the game. Fight new opponents after beating the 2 final slashers (bosses), go out and try Gymkhana in whatever car you please, try out some time attack, or just buy a car and mess around with it any way you want! I love the wide variety of cars this game lets you choose, like the early Subaru Legacy wagon, or the Daihatsu Storia. Another detail I love is the backstory behind the people you race that you race as well. The only things I'm not a fan of is the drifting. Its not very good and is difficult to pull off well. Other than that, I highly recommend this game to someone looking for something fun and different!… Expand
  12. VRH15
    May 1, 2023
    10
    This game is the best game that Genki has ever made, whether it was Shutokou Battle or Kaido Battle. The car and track list are honestly some of the best that has been conceived in a racing game. It is because it encapsulates the Touge Racing aspect very well, in addition to introducing a lot of cars and tracks never seen before or since in a racing game. The physics also deserves a majorThis game is the best game that Genki has ever made, whether it was Shutokou Battle or Kaido Battle. The car and track list are honestly some of the best that has been conceived in a racing game. It is because it encapsulates the Touge Racing aspect very well, in addition to introducing a lot of cars and tracks never seen before or since in a racing game. The physics also deserves a major praise, as it is a proper sim-cade that is well executed and a lot of fun while also somewhat realistic. The BBS and rivals are also really great, as they are interesting to read and quite enjoyable as well. The weather system has been improved as well, and the addition of a tool to change the weather at will is also a nice change of pace.

    However, even Genki's best game isn't without faults. The game is a bit easier than previous entries, largely due to how the A.I. are not as difficult and more prone to making mistakes as in the previous games. The tuning can be a bit more difficult to pull off, as some cars are incapable of tuning such as the special cars. But all of these aren't nearly enough to bring TXRD2 down with it.

    Overall, Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift 2, or Kaido Battle: Touge no Densetsu in Japan, is an underrated masterpiece that any true car enthusiast must check at least once. The amount of content and variety this game offers, along with good graphics and even better physics, makes this game one of the best racing games for the PS2.    … Expand
  13. Nitepinkeve22
    May 25, 2023
    10
    some say this game have bad handling. but i say you just bad at the game. if you play the game long enough and played plenty of racing game. you get hang of the handling. it got pretty accurate Touge Road thanks to them lazer scanned the mountain roads. Haruna(Which most people call it Akina because of Initial D), Akagi, Hokaido, And Many More are included in 20 Touge Mountains Course. yousome say this game have bad handling. but i say you just bad at the game. if you play the game long enough and played plenty of racing game. you get hang of the handling. it got pretty accurate Touge Road thanks to them lazer scanned the mountain roads. Haruna(Which most people call it Akina because of Initial D), Akagi, Hokaido, And Many More are included in 20 Touge Mountains Course. you start from the bottom feeders like the Toyota Yaris or Daihatsu Copen, and you work your way up to save up for the jdm beast like Nissan Skyline R34, Honda NSX-R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR. Or You can choose the European line up such as Mercedes Benz 190E Evolution II, Volkswagen Golf R32, Renault Clio V6, And Many More. and Drift 2 have the most cars in tokyo extreme racer/Shutoko Battle series with whopping 218 and majority of the have customization too. oh, when you done with the touge roads. you can play the gymkhana mode. only con i can say is wish the game is bit harder since the slasher is bit a joke even when you are in the starter cars. i highly suggest you play this game when you got the chance.… Expand
  14. JimC.
    Jun 4, 2007
    10
    This game is sick!!! very addicting, easy to tune, fun to play, still cant let go of the controller.
  15. AlexR.
    Jun 8, 2007
    8
    This game is sick and all but it would be sicker if they could put in a free roam enviroment.
  16. MarcusV.
    Apr 28, 2007
    10
    This is the best of T.E.R.D.2 in the world and any racing fans of drifting will love this game.
  17. LeeC.
    Nov 13, 2008
    8
    game story line sequence starts slow-fast-fast-fast-slow. the longer you've been in the game, the harder it is to find new rivals. like mentioned already, a free roaming course like NFS mostwanted would be a plus. overall- action and graphics are not so bad for being a PS2 game, just the that story line lags at the end.
  18. TylerM
    Nov 25, 2008
    9
    I feel like this game is very well done... It is by far one of the better-made racing games...especially when popular series (cough NFS cough) are steeply declining. I have to say the physics are a little off, but once you get the hang of it, driving/drifting becomes easy. I have no idea as to why critics hate this game so much.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best PS2 Game of 2007
12
#12 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
72
#72 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
46

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 5 out of 8
  1. GamesRadar+
    60
    While the graphics are not as shiny and sleek as the cars are in real life, and there are no damage affects, this game is great for its price. You can’t find a better deal on a new game; 20 dollars for all these options and challenges should be considered grand theft video game.
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  2. GameSpot
    52
    Tedious gameplay, poor vehicle handling, and an unfriendly interface are just a few reasons why you should leave this game in the bargain bin.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    40
    The inability to drift still sucks, but now, there's no reason to attempt to legitimately progress through the game since you can avoid these races entirely, and rivals aren't challenging either.
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