Review
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Review (PS2)
The Fast and the Furious represents yet
another movie – game conversion, this time stemming from the largely
ignored big screen outing of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Despite the obvious franchise inheritance the game comes with, this PS2
adaptation of the film feels more like a shameless recreation of Need
for Speed rather than standing out as a conspicuous triumph amidst a
seemingly endless array of movie cash ins on the market.
The main problem with the game is that it’s simply a stripped down version of everything that’s been released in the car modding genre since its inception with Need For Speed. With Tokyo Drift, the aim of the game is to simply cruise around an abbreviated section of Tokyo in hopes of defeating various crewmembers and earning yourself some hard cash to ‘pimp’ out your choice of ride. You’ll compete in a variety of matches, such as Destination, Drift, Top Speed and Grip battles, which, provided you win, will eventually allow you to beat out the crew boss and receive discounts on upgrades, as well as unlocking new stores and race hot spots.
These matches should prove familiar to anyone who has played a similar game of this kind; Destination battles are where you simply have to race to win, top speed has you surpassing your opponent’s top speed to take the match, while drift and grip has you proving you are in complete control of your car by performing a variety of drifting stunts or steering your way through the twists and turns of hazardous canons. Needless to say, with the exception of drifting, which requires a lot of precision, the remainder of these modes are simple to get the hang of. Naturally, to keep you on your toes, there are a number of instant races that you can participate in on the fly, simply by flashing your headlights when the appropriate message appears on screen. These races are generally pure luck, as you could be facing up against an opponent who has a considerably more potent racing machine than yours, leaving you eating their dust in seconds. If, however, you win, there’s a handy bonus of $2500 for you if you manage to eclipse more than 200 meters ahead of your adversary. The drift battles are unquestionably the most engaging, requiring some dexterous finger use, as well as a lot of patience. Button mashers will soon think twice about this section.
Of course, for fellow car aficionados, the meat of the game is upgrading your car through a variety of customisable options in the local tune up shops. You can purchase literally dozens of handy upgrades such as new paint jobs, turbo chargers, nitro kits, suspension, tires, breaks and many more body parts to ensure you have the upper hand over your fellow racers. Needless to say, anyone not familiar with the intricacies of modding cars will probably feel a little lost, although the game still provides enough information to get you the basics. This aspect of the game is also where The Fast and the Furious shines through, offering up a plethora of the hottest cars on the market through both Japanese and US dealerships, that’ll have motor heads salivating at the lips. You can also purchase more than one car, and store several of them in one of the many garages you come across, ensuring your current motor meets the necessary requirements of the various tasks ahead of you (for example, some cars may not suite drift races as well as others)
Sadly though, the games lacklustre presentation and gameplay fails to reach expectations. Whereas titles like Need for Speed put you in the heat of things, with gameplay mechanics such as high speed police chases, wingmen and more, Fast and the Furious fails to include either of these features and feels rather flat as a result. The area of Tokyo that you are limited to is moderate in size, but virtually devoid of any redeeming features. AI cars drive past like mindless robots in a straight line wherever you may go, and the surrounding landscape is made up of the same dull, uninspired colours and visual presentation that results in horrid repetition. While some areas include obstacles such as bridges and some impressive neon-lit skyscrapers, there’s little else to substantiate the impact the game has on you. As a result, it never feels like you are part of a living, breathing city, but instead, rather feels like you are participating in Wacky Races, with the same, repeated backgrounds going past time after time. Speaking of wacky races, a lot of the time I found myself relying on my additional ‘gadgets’ to win a race, rather than skilful driving. Securing an impressive lead is all very well, but maintaining it is even harder, with your opponent suddenly cruising past you at an exorbitant speed even though you have upgraded your motor to the point of beyond recognition. The worst crime any driving game can commit is poor handling, and, sadly, Fast and the Furious is strictly divided – sometimes it works fine, sometimes it’s atrocious. For what its worth, though, the cars in the game look particularly nice, especially when fully kitted out, with subtle attention to detail included for every piece of kit you apply.
If there are any redeeming features in the game, aside from the array of cars on offer, it’s the aural presentation. Fast and the Furious incorporates an impressive, varied soundtrack which feels very much like that of the film, and, while its artists aren’t quite as prolific as those in Need for Speed, they certainly create the right atmosphere. Likewise, the games sound effects are top notch, and it certainly sounds like you’re driving a 565 BHP speed demon, even if it doesn’t necessarily feel like it at times. Sadly, there’s little dialogue in the game, and virtually no storyline whatsoever. In fact, the only times when you are reminded of the presence of human beings is the occasional banter from your friendly sideman. In fact, while I mostly refrain from encouraging a storyline full of hip gangsters and ghetto talking wannabes (blame MTV for the self-confessed stereotyping), such an inclusion would have probably upped the immersion factor a considerable notch as it did with NFS: Carbon.
Overall, while there is no shame in attempting to replicate something successful, The Fast and the Furious ultimately feels like uninspired, lifeless attempt to recreate the Need for Speed series or indeed any other franchise in the genre. Sure, it takes some of the fundamental principles, but it fails to stand on its own to feet among the pack. The world of Tokyo is dull, repetitive and the gameplay subsequently feels devoid of any excitement because of it. In the end, the game feels like more the appetiser of a main course, only to find out somebody else has already scoffed the lot. Strictly an average motor, this.
Top Gaming Moment: Speeding past your fellow rivals in a lavish sports motor you kitted out yourself never felt more satisfying.
The main problem with the game is that it’s simply a stripped down version of everything that’s been released in the car modding genre since its inception with Need For Speed. With Tokyo Drift, the aim of the game is to simply cruise around an abbreviated section of Tokyo in hopes of defeating various crewmembers and earning yourself some hard cash to ‘pimp’ out your choice of ride. You’ll compete in a variety of matches, such as Destination, Drift, Top Speed and Grip battles, which, provided you win, will eventually allow you to beat out the crew boss and receive discounts on upgrades, as well as unlocking new stores and race hot spots.
 |
 |
|
| You can customize your motor in anyway you like | Destination battles are the good old-fashioned race to the finish line |
These matches should prove familiar to anyone who has played a similar game of this kind; Destination battles are where you simply have to race to win, top speed has you surpassing your opponent’s top speed to take the match, while drift and grip has you proving you are in complete control of your car by performing a variety of drifting stunts or steering your way through the twists and turns of hazardous canons. Needless to say, with the exception of drifting, which requires a lot of precision, the remainder of these modes are simple to get the hang of. Naturally, to keep you on your toes, there are a number of instant races that you can participate in on the fly, simply by flashing your headlights when the appropriate message appears on screen. These races are generally pure luck, as you could be facing up against an opponent who has a considerably more potent racing machine than yours, leaving you eating their dust in seconds. If, however, you win, there’s a handy bonus of $2500 for you if you manage to eclipse more than 200 meters ahead of your adversary. The drift battles are unquestionably the most engaging, requiring some dexterous finger use, as well as a lot of patience. Button mashers will soon think twice about this section.
 |
 |
|
| It may look impressive from up here, but down there, it’s another story | That being said, some areas do throw in some nice detail |
Of course, for fellow car aficionados, the meat of the game is upgrading your car through a variety of customisable options in the local tune up shops. You can purchase literally dozens of handy upgrades such as new paint jobs, turbo chargers, nitro kits, suspension, tires, breaks and many more body parts to ensure you have the upper hand over your fellow racers. Needless to say, anyone not familiar with the intricacies of modding cars will probably feel a little lost, although the game still provides enough information to get you the basics. This aspect of the game is also where The Fast and the Furious shines through, offering up a plethora of the hottest cars on the market through both Japanese and US dealerships, that’ll have motor heads salivating at the lips. You can also purchase more than one car, and store several of them in one of the many garages you come across, ensuring your current motor meets the necessary requirements of the various tasks ahead of you (for example, some cars may not suite drift races as well as others)
Sadly though, the games lacklustre presentation and gameplay fails to reach expectations. Whereas titles like Need for Speed put you in the heat of things, with gameplay mechanics such as high speed police chases, wingmen and more, Fast and the Furious fails to include either of these features and feels rather flat as a result. The area of Tokyo that you are limited to is moderate in size, but virtually devoid of any redeeming features. AI cars drive past like mindless robots in a straight line wherever you may go, and the surrounding landscape is made up of the same dull, uninspired colours and visual presentation that results in horrid repetition. While some areas include obstacles such as bridges and some impressive neon-lit skyscrapers, there’s little else to substantiate the impact the game has on you. As a result, it never feels like you are part of a living, breathing city, but instead, rather feels like you are participating in Wacky Races, with the same, repeated backgrounds going past time after time. Speaking of wacky races, a lot of the time I found myself relying on my additional ‘gadgets’ to win a race, rather than skilful driving. Securing an impressive lead is all very well, but maintaining it is even harder, with your opponent suddenly cruising past you at an exorbitant speed even though you have upgraded your motor to the point of beyond recognition. The worst crime any driving game can commit is poor handling, and, sadly, Fast and the Furious is strictly divided – sometimes it works fine, sometimes it’s atrocious. For what its worth, though, the cars in the game look particularly nice, especially when fully kitted out, with subtle attention to detail included for every piece of kit you apply.
 |
 |
|
| In order to beat your latter foes, you’re going to need an expensive piece of kit | Drifting requires a lot of patience and skill, and is best practised in the parking lot |
If there are any redeeming features in the game, aside from the array of cars on offer, it’s the aural presentation. Fast and the Furious incorporates an impressive, varied soundtrack which feels very much like that of the film, and, while its artists aren’t quite as prolific as those in Need for Speed, they certainly create the right atmosphere. Likewise, the games sound effects are top notch, and it certainly sounds like you’re driving a 565 BHP speed demon, even if it doesn’t necessarily feel like it at times. Sadly, there’s little dialogue in the game, and virtually no storyline whatsoever. In fact, the only times when you are reminded of the presence of human beings is the occasional banter from your friendly sideman. In fact, while I mostly refrain from encouraging a storyline full of hip gangsters and ghetto talking wannabes (blame MTV for the self-confessed stereotyping), such an inclusion would have probably upped the immersion factor a considerable notch as it did with NFS: Carbon.
Overall, while there is no shame in attempting to replicate something successful, The Fast and the Furious ultimately feels like uninspired, lifeless attempt to recreate the Need for Speed series or indeed any other franchise in the genre. Sure, it takes some of the fundamental principles, but it fails to stand on its own to feet among the pack. The world of Tokyo is dull, repetitive and the gameplay subsequently feels devoid of any excitement because of it. In the end, the game feels like more the appetiser of a main course, only to find out somebody else has already scoffed the lot. Strictly an average motor, this.
Top Gaming Moment: Speeding past your fellow rivals in a lavish sports motor you kitted out yourself never felt more satisfying.
