Arguably the most down-to-earth, nostalgia-filled racing game release of the 2020s. This game can technically be considered a shadow drop depending on how unfamiliar you've been with the scene as of late, but one thing's for certain: there are people out there who wholeheartedly want to restore the soul of the racing genre. And TXR is the starting line. One one hand, you have the mainstream franchises that have been keeping racers "afloat" in the modern age: Assetto, Gran Turismo, Forza, etc. On the other, we've got the elusive group that is not as well-known but scratches the itch that many of us have had for decades, the itch to just get out there and red line it until our hearts burst from the adrenaline while blasting Running in the 90s: the likes of NFS Underground, Midnight Club, Wangan MMT3, Initial D, and of course TXR.

Congratulations, Genki. You brought back the soul of racing games with a soon-to-be beloved and cherished single-player game that will be respected, talked about, and supported by many in the years to come.

I thought the first of my "Project V" reviews would be dedicated to NIGHT-RUNNERS on full release, but it looks like Tokyo Xtreme Racer was one step ahead of the curve. Taking a snippet from my NIGHT-RUNNERS PROLOGUE review since these two games will be similar in so many ways when EA ends: "The old-school VHS vibe, waging money, and meeting up at the shady streets to go 1:1 against other racers bring me back to when owning a car MEANT something." Also, whoever designed the C1 Loop, you have my utmost respect.

Thank you for being there for us when we needed you most, Genki.

Current Verdict: 10/10 S
There's a plethora of content even in EA. I can't imagine how much more Genki will be adding on launch (more than double the current content, from what I heard), and that's exactly the kind of love this genre needs to survive in the new age. None of those live-service, MTX-filled, cash-grabbing blueprints here.. just the pure love & soul that many video game companies post-2015 seem to have forgotten are the main ingredients for the 'next project' to truly thrive.

I probably don't need to tell you that i really enjoy playing TXR. It's a Loveletter to the Community. Genki brought back the Arcade Racing in all it's glory. There really is no need for any Multiplayer, Microtransactions or Subscriptions. Old School gaming Baby! Since i played almost every Genki Racer out there i made up a List of stuff that COULD fit into the game. please keep in mind, this is only my small opinion and since nothing is set into stone and stuff still can change or is already in the works. Anything can, nothing must. So buckle up for the List.

* Steam Workshop Support – A feature for custom content, like stickers, mods, aero parts, music, and more.

* More Starter Cars – A handful of additional starter cars would be great (probably planed for the full release).

* Customizable Player Emblem – It would be fantastic to have an emblem editor, with the ability to edit rival emblems as well. (similar to the Editor feature from TXR 3)

* New Game+ Mode – A mode where you can keep your cars, skills, perks, and money but start the game over again for a fresh challenge.

Yes, i saw the leaks, and i'm aware Honda is coming, i simply want to mention Models i didn't saw on the List:

* Additional Car Models –
Honda: CIVIC EG6, CRX ED9, NSX NA1, CRX EH6
Subaru: Legacy Gen 1 (BC/BF), Gen 2 (BE/BH), Gen 3 (BL/BP)

While i do love the Japanese collection, i also would enjoy a few foreign Cars that would not only fit the lore of a few Clubs in game, but also open wider Rival conditions for Wanderer aswell.

* Foreign Vehicles (European & American) – Focused mostly on cars from the 70s to early 2000s, excluding hypercars or supercars, inspired by past Tokyo Xtreme Racer games.

Now for the customization part. During my playthrough, I stumbled upon a few things that would be cool to see, while a few of these probably are already in the works i still note them down the line.

* In-House Tuners & Their Parts – The addition of brands like Mazdaspeed, Nismo, TRD, etc., with custom aero parts and wheels.

* Motor Swaps — Unlockable after certain mileage per car or available in New Game+ for all cars. This would make slower vehicles viable for endgame content and add up to replayability.

* Turbo High Boost Option – Low, Medium, and High boost levels that can be toggled via Button press in Races similar to TXR 3 together with:

* Engine & Oil Temperature – A small but meaningful addition, along with designated skills or perks to manage these factors.

* Additional Aero Parts – Better variety of aero parts, such as ducktails and lips to avoid the overuse of huge GT wings on every car.

* More Customization for Cars – Some cars currently have very limited options, so it would be great to add more custom parts, such as:
Widebody kits and overfender options
Customizable mufflers/exhausts (not tied to the rear bumper)
Customizable headlights/tail lights/grills (style, tint, color, etc.)
The option to transform any aero part into carbon fiber
Car horn customizations
Full repaint options for wheels, neons, and other parts with sliders for outer and inner wheels

* Livery Editor Enhancements – Some features that could enhance the editor include:
More body paint options (e.g., pearlescent, carbon colors)
Repaintable nitro/nos flame color
Window decals/stickers (currently disabled)
Customizable windshield banners (perhaps tied to the player emblem, like in TXR Zero)
A wider selection of fonts and full Latin alphabet support
Cut/Copy/Paste options for liveries (you may not want to mirror everything)
Brand & manufacturer stickers (for tuning companies and car manufacturers)
Optional:
Upload/download community-created liveries via a library (and possibly through Steam Workshop in the future)

* HUD Customization – More options for adjusting the HUD, such as different speedometer styles, extra dials, or even repainting HUD elements. An odometer in the HUD under the speedometer would be a nice touch as well.

* Rival Rematch Option – The ability to battle already-beaten rivals again via the “References” menu.

The rest is just for inspiration and not really needed, but could also be cool for future Updates or even another TXR Game, who knows.

* Unlockable Traffic Cars – I bet a few of you would like to Engine Swap the Truck and beat some Rivals on the Wangan with it. This could also be tied to a few Wanderer aswell.

* More Utility Vehicles in Traffic – Vehicles like Taxis, Big Trucks, and the Toyota Hiace Wagon would add to a better immersion.

* More and Better Wanderer Requirements – More encounter conditions for Wanderer, such as limiting their appearance to certain days (e.g., only on days that are multiples of 2, 5, or 10) or requiring specific number plates (e.g., "7777").

* Return of Iconic Rivals – It would be amazing to see classic Rivals and Teams from past games, such as Speed Box, ZERO, Glamorous Mami, Straying Idol Freak, Bloody Mary, Death Driver, Cutie Hip, Mark of Outburst, Golden Wolf, No Loser, and Hyper Groove just to name a few.

* Addition of Shinjuku & Shibuya Lines – Similar to those in Import Tuner Challenge.

* Map Expantion – The return of Nagoya and Osaka could be an exciting future update, DLC, or even a separate game.

Even though this is a long list, I want to thank Genki for this outstanding game and the experience so far. I'm more than hyped for what is yet to come. Thank you for reading!

Absolute peak of the series, and we are just scratching the surface. Welcome back Genki, we missed you.