Video games - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

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	Video games - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune is an arcade racing game based on a manga entitled Wangan Midnight, which follows street racing on Tokyo's freeways.

Summary

Based on the storyline of the actual manga, this arcade game races the player through the actual Shutoku Odaiba highway of Japan, and of course, running for top speed on the famous Wangan Line (They won't go far though. After the underwater tunnel, they are dumped onto the Yokohane line heading back towards Tokyo). The popular highway tuner cars in Japan are all present, such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, the Nissan Z cars, and in the Japanese version, the Porsche 911 (represented by the Gemballa 3.8RS and RSR in the game). They race through certain Racer Levels eg. C, B,A, A+. With victories they gain ranks, and the ranks change continuously if they choose to accept the rank change. With a re-writable card system, their power, rank and "in-game advancement" changes after each play. This makes Wangan Midnight one of the most updated and popular games around. With upgrades being given to the player's car once they finish your points bar (they get points after each race) players can choose to upgrade handling or power.

Gameplay

Like Initial D Arcade Stage, this game employs the magnetic card system, which stores the data of the player (car type, tuning, story mode progress, time attack, outrun status). Also as in Initial D, it is not backwards compatible (i.e. a WMMT2 card cannot be used on WMMT1); the user must upgrade his or her card, which is permanent, if he wishes to transfer his/her data from WMMT1 onto WMMT2, and after 50 plays (60 in WMMT2), a player must renew his/her card. However, unlike initial D, once a player completes 20 story mode stages in WMMT2, his/her card will be ejected, but retain the game data as a back up. This allows for two clone cards, each with up to 20 points of tuning to be made. The cloned cards will be of the same car model and color. Name, rims, and aero/carbon-parts tuning can be repicked (unless driving a car with only one setting, namely the Corolla and HiAce).

While Initial D is focused on the curving mountain roads in Japan's gunma prefecture, Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune (denoted WMMT) focuses on the Tokyo Metropolitan Highway system. As such, the roads are straighter and wider than the mountain passes (even though there are plenty of sharp turns and chicanes), there are also numerous street vehicles that act as moving roadblocks, ranging from small Corollas, the larger van, HiAce, and the large moving trucks referred to as ToyoAce.

As such, when choosing a car in WMMT, one has to account for not only power (determines speed), cornering and handling capability, but also its weight and stability; for a lower weight, there is an increase speed and handling, making it easy to bump another car (be it the CPU or a human player) 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.

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 to certain actions you commit. Also, occasionally it features Pac Man characters as your rival, driving "traffic cars" (corolla and HiAce respectively) that are even faster than both the Devil Z and the Black Bird.

WMMT2 also has extra tuning pages available once all story stages are completed. If one completes WMMT2 through the entire 80 story stages with no losses at all (not completely impossible to Initial D/WMMT veterans, with a right car and good basic tuning), he/she gains two additional tuning page, allowing the player to have an extremely drifty 815hp car. Otherwise, they will only gain one additional tuning page for a 810hp car. However, now with the new update patch (aka. Version B), 815hp can also be obtained by completing 80 stages (losses are acceptable) and accumulating a mileage of over 5000km.

Criticism

Many complain that the Hakone stage in WMMT2 has been simplified a bit too much compared to the real Hakone (and the Hakone in the Kaido Battle series). Also, many Wangan Midnight players complain about the early lock of the wheel which locks after 120 degrees. As the game uses shifting just like in real cars, (H-configuration), many people believe that a clutch should have been included as well.

With the release of ver.B, another complain emerged from some players (usually the aggressive types): mainly, they are complaining about the massive boost the trailing car receive, and bumping is almost impossible.

Game modes

Story Mode :Player plays against different opponents, which is usually 1 per stage, but later stages may have up to 3 opponents. Also, some are split stage; one must complete the first half before continuing the second half of the stage. 20 stages make up 1 story, and 4 stories completes one cycle (80 stages). This is the only way to earn tuning points, as oppose to Initial D that give tuning points on all game type.
Outrun mode :Available only in WMMT2. Player will have to pass the opponents that challenge them. There are 10 opponents in each level and 10 levels in each of the 5 stages. This is the quickest way to earn rankings. Once all 10 levels in a stage are completed satisfactorily, there will be a "28 Outrun" mode where a player has to outrun all 28 rivals.
Time attack :Player races against time to rank against other players, both in internet and in the arcade. However, this is also the game mode where the player can earn interesting titles by force retirement on certain section of the stage. (e.g. "Dirt Fetishism" by retiring in a dirt section of Hakone).
Battle mode :This is a 2 player race mode, in WMMT2 it can accept up to four players, as long as there are 4 cabinets available.

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Video games - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune

Summary

Gameplay

Criticism

Game modes

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