Initial D Goes Next Gen
Sega updates its arcade hardware for new entry.
byAnoop Gantayat

September 15, 2006- Sega has finally taken its hit series of Initial D arcade racers into the next generation. While the three previous entries have appeared on the aging Naomi 2 arcade board, Initial D Arcade Stage 4 runs on the Lindbergh arcade board, the same board that powers Virtua Fighter 5.

This means a few things for Initial D fans. First, the game's visuals have officially surpassed the crappy CG found in the anime. Second, the game now makes use of a 1360x768 resolution wide screen display. It's a small wide screen display, but a wide screen of any size makes the high speed drifting feel even better.

Sega has also made upgrades in areas outside of the visuals. The game now makes use of an IC card (rather than the magnetic card of previous versions) for storing your data. The card looks somewhat like a license, complete with a character illustration drawn to reflect your own customizations. You'll be able to view and edit your character and team data via the Initial D.net online service, which will begin once the game is released.

New modes are being added, and old modes are being updated. The game makes use of Sega's All.Net service for nation-wide online battles. You'll also find improved shop-wide battle and time attack modes. The game's one-on-one "Koudo Saisoku Densetsu Mode" now features 3D character artwork instead of the 2D illustrations from previous titles. The 3D conversion was done using a new technique which maintains the look of the original manga.

We got a chance to see the game first hand at the Amusement Machine show, now being held at a convention center just outside Tokyo. Running on the Lindbergh, the game certainly looks like a step up from its predecessors, although the visuals still aren't anything to write home about.

Initial D has always provided a thrilling racing experience, though, regardless of visual mediocrity, so we can't wait to sample the latest version, first in the arcades, then hopefully on the PS3 or Xbox 360.