"Namco, you've got no reason not to bring this one home!"

You've got to admit it, the way racing games were developed really got a big boost thanks to Namco and their classic Pole Position! Ever since then, it seems they've always had a new type of racing game to add to the video gaming industry, whether it was motorcycle endurance racing with Suzuka 8 Hours, racing through a large (not to mention scenic!) city with Ridge Racer, or even playing a game of knockout with their little known 'Speed Up!' Now they've entered the 'battle' racing genre with a game that's apparently based on a manga series from Japan, called Wangan Midnight. Sure it may be a weird title, but the gameplay is still fun!

Graphics: 10/10
Sure, you may not see any wrecks like you'd expect in racers like San Francisco Rush or Burnout, but that isn't what this game is about! What you will see, though, is an incredible use of realistic lighting effects and reflective surfaces. When you trade paint with the guardrails or another car, you'll see some sparks fly! In single-player mode, when you encounter an opponent, you'll see an occasional black-and-white manga style drawing of their face as they react to your performance.

Sounds: 10/10
A high tempo soundtrack will get your pulse going as you prepare to race against your opponent, whether it's a human or computerized. You'll hear everything from your motor revving up, collisions with the walls or cars, and tires screeching, just like you'd hear in any other racing game! Plus, thanks to built in speakers in the seat of the game, you'll be able to sit back and feel it as you play!

Controls: 10/10
You've got brakes, accelerator pedal, and your steering wheel. To change gears, you tap the shift up or down to increase or decrease your gear's position (1st through 6th) though whether you're using manual or automatic transmission, it's still simple to pick up and play!

For those who have played the Tokyo Highway Battle games for PlayStation 2 or Dreamcast, you'll know what this is about. You race across a huge highway that's interconnected in many ways creating a huge racetrack with many different ways to race. When you meet a rival, the objective is to maintain a steady lead for as long as you can, thus decreasing your rival's tension gauge. The first person to reduce their rival's tension gauge wins that race. In a 2 player game, it's best of two out of three. Another addition is the fact there's also a timer. If it runs out, the person who was in the lead when it ran out wins.

Replay: 10/10
While it's just one huge highway, there are many different ways to go each time around, and the tension builds just as you try to pass your opponent and grab the race from them just as time's about to run out. Plus, since you can always take on either the computer or a human, and either one can be pretty tough, it's always worth playing another round or two!

Overall: 10/10
I don't know the exact translation of the Japanese-to-English translation, but I can tell you this much: If Namco doesn't bring it to our home consoles for us United States gamers, then they'll be black flagging themselves! For now, go to your local arcade and take Wangan Midnight for a test run at least once. It's one battle racer you'll be glad you revved up!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/01/02, Updated 06/01/02