Touge Shakai
- January 7, 2023
- Raiyon Studios Pte Ltd
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Touge Shakai" is a racing game that takes place in a dystopian society where illegal street races occur at night. Players compete in various races and challenges while navigating treacherous mountain roads. The game features a variety of cars and customization options, as well as a day/night cycle and weather effects to enhance the racing experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features fun drifting mechanics with tightly designed tracks and a constant Eurobeat soundtrack, providing an enjoyable racing experience.
- Customization options for cars are extensive, allowing players to personalize their vehicles significantly.
- The game has a solid foundation with potential for growth, and the developers are actively updating it with new content and improvements.
- The physics and handling of the cars can feel unresponsive and overly slippery, making it challenging to control, especially for players transitioning from Initial Unity.
- There is a lack of content at launch, with only a few maps and cars available, leading to a feeling of being underwhelmed.
- The game has performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, where frame rates can drop significantly with more players.
- music58 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, particularly for its energetic eurobeat soundtrack that complements the drifting mechanics and overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the ability to add their own music, enhancing customization and enjoyment, while the licensed tracks are noted for their quality and nostalgic appeal. However, some users suggest improvements, such as the option to skip tracks during gameplay.
“Initial D is my absolute favorite anime of all time, and being able to play a game that was branded and modeled after the anime is just perfect to me. Drift and driving physics are great, the cars are accurately portrayed, and the eurobeat music selection was on point.”
“I love that I can add my own music, which makes the game so much cooler. Best touge drifting game on Steam currently, 8/10!”
“It's also pretty impressive that a small dev like this was able to get a licensed soundtrack and picked some great songs to put in it.”
“Just to focus on one item, I cannot understand the majority's taste in music today, from the ugliest of sounds pouring out from the electronic equipment, to the most boring oozings from popular vocalists (e.g. the incessant pounding of an electric bass versus the muted thoughtful output of a stand-up bass).”
“Game could use skip-able music tracks; this would make recording rounds a bit more enjoyable for those who play with in-game music.”
“-bugs, glitches and music that gets faster when you change your vehicle.”
- gameplay44 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features enjoyable drifting mechanics and well-designed tracks, enhanced by a consistent eurobeat soundtrack, creating a fun and engaging experience reminiscent of classic street racing games. However, some players have noted issues with vehicle control and physics, comparing it unfavorably to previous versions, and expressing a desire for more content and polish. Overall, while the core mechanics show promise and provide a solid foundation, further development is needed to fully realize the game's potential.
“Very fun drifting mechanics with tightly designed tracks set to a constant eurobeat soundtrack.”
“Fun and challenging mechanics make for a fun experience, whether it be wanting to just casually cruise to hone your skills or try your hand at the challenging passes to set your best times; this game will give you countless hours of joy.”
“As someone who mostly played arcade racers in the past, Touge Shakai is a nice step up from the basic 'go fast and don't hit anything' style of gameplay into something that feels a little more like manipulating a real vehicle, without crossing into hardcore realism.”
“The driving mechanics feel so much worse than in the initial version; some feel like I am driving a boat on ice, and some seem to not want to take corners at all.”
“If a wheel can't save the gameplay, then it's worthless as a game.”
“Maybe I still need more time on it, but I'm not entirely sure how this isn't a straight downgrade from the original free version in terms of gameplay.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the reserved and believable visuals reminiscent of earlier arcade racing games, while others feel they lack polish and optimization, leading to performance issues on lower-end systems. Many users express a desire for improved lighting and effects, as well as more customization options, but overall, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern to gameplay. Despite some criticisms, the nostalgic charm of the visuals is acknowledged, particularly in comparison to past titles.
“Love Initial D, love how it stays that arcade racing game. The graphics, while probably can still be improved, are pretty good.”
“The visuals are quite reserved, which I actually appreciate in this day of over-the-top reflections and blinding colors, leaving the levels looking much more believable.”
“It reminds me of Unity x Initial D, because the graphics are really good and all the little details.”
“The graphics seem worse, and it doesn't give me that same feeling that Initial Unity does.”
“Now that a year has passed, I can say they've added enough content to be worth the price by itself, though I think the visuals are where this game falls flat.”
“$15 feels well worth for all of this stuff, though I still wish the visuals were a bit more polished, with better lighting and effects.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a significant concern, with many players reporting performance issues such as freezes and stutters, particularly at specific track points. While there have been some improvements since launch, the overall experience remains unpolished, and players suggest that adjusting graphics settings can help mitigate some performance problems. The game is still considered fun, but it is clear that further optimization work is needed to enhance gameplay.
“Notably, performance has been improved, and 2 new high-quality tracks have been added to the game.”
“Only con I can think of is the game isn't perfectly optimized, but just turn down your graphics settings and you're good.”
“The game needs serious optimization.”
“I get freezes and stutters at specific points of the track consistently, and this has happened since the game was released.”
“It has improved since launch with optimization improvements and some changes, but overall still looks very unpolished.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress and customize vehicles. While some appreciate the variety of cars and the skill-based progression, many express frustration with the game's controls and the focus on grinding over other features. Overall, the grinding system is seen as a double-edged sword, enhancing gameplay for some while overwhelming others.
“Incredibly grindy, barely any maps, game controls like shit, super slidy unlike inital Unity which controlled really well. Devs are focusing on the wrong things like adding Eurobeat when I think a majority of players have their own MP3s to play in the background, and adding cars which you need to grind excessively to customize the way you want.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“- Tuning level is a little bit too grindy.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game lacks a substantial story, with users expressing a desire for a simple campaign mode featuring a narrative and illustrated characters, similar to Initial D. Overall, the absence of a compelling storyline is noted as a missed opportunity.
“There is no story.”
“Maybe a simple campaign mode in Initial D style would be nice, with a small story and drawn characters.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by persistent bugs and glitches, including issues with music tempo changes when switching vehicles and a malfunctioning timing indicator in the custom cinematic mode. Players also report consistent freezes and stutters at specific track points, indicating ongoing performance problems since launch.
“I experience freezes and stutters at specific points of the track consistently, and this has been an issue since the game was released.”
“The default uphill replay camera has been fixed, but now there's another problem: the red bar that indicates the timings in the custom cinematic mode doesn't move anymore and stays stationary, leading to a very buggy editor.”
“There are numerous bugs and glitches, including music that speeds up when I change my vehicle.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as enjoyable, particularly for fans of Initial D cars, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a comedic gaming experience.
“I recommend this game if you're looking for a funny experience with the Initial D cars.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong desire for games that evoke a sense of accomplishment and emotional satisfaction upon completing challenges, highlighting the importance of emotional engagement in gameplay.
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users suggest that the monetization strategy could benefit from improved advertising methods.
