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I wonder if we have any Initial D. experts here, considering the games were Japan-only. is there an entry worth playing?

Ghegs is the racing game master, since he runs Rolling Start:
http://www.rolling-start.com/forum/

I have been suggested to start with Initial D Special Stage on the PS2, but have never moved on that suggestion.

She wants the initial D

Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence, fastbilly1. I don't actually play Initial D much at all, but I can pave the way a bit, at least...

Like you probably already know, there's three home ports of the arcade game: Initial D: Special Stage for PS2, Initial D: Street Stage for PSP and Initial D: Extreme Stage for PS3.

Special Stage is sometimes considered to be Initial D version 2.5 - that is, it's kind of like the arcade game's version 2 and 3 mixed together. Most serious, arcade-going Initial D players don't tend to like v2 very much, though.

Street Stage is apparently a good port of v3, with some differences, and the arcade original is the most well-loved version of the game. The port's problem is that it's on a PSP, meaning the controls are what they are, and you can't even plug in a steering wheel or any other controller like with the other two home ports. Though I guess maybe playing it on an emulator it could be done, PSP emulation is getting pretty good.

Extreme Stage is based on v4, which was considered a flop and it alienated many of the arcade players because of it's differences from the previous version. But I think there's a bit of "it's different from what we wanted so we hate it" mentality there, it's still a decent racer in its own right.

I'm not the best person to explain all the minute differences between these three, but they have been covered in some degree over on R-S if you're curious. Of course, none of that really matters if you're just looking to get one and haven't played any of the arcade games. Personally, I would recommend either Special Stage or Extreme Stage. They're both pretty cheap, and you can play them with a wheel easily if you want to. And with Extreme Stage you might still be able to get some online racing going. Look at some videos on Youtube of both, see what looks more fun to you.

I must also throw a shout-out to the PS1 Initial D game. It's not based on any of the arcade games, and it lacks the series' signature Eurobeat soundtrack, but I think it's pretty fun. Been meaning to play it more, really.

Babysteps. Play the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series. In essence, this series is the precursor to the Wangan Maximum Tuner franchise which is the direct competitor to the Initial D series.

If you wish to get into the Initial D seires, there is no substitute that can replicate its arcade experience. Even in the states, arcade businesses that have imported various installments of the series has cultivated some sort of a scene that supports it. Find a location near you that has Initial D or even the Wangan series, buy an ID card and immerse yourself into its community.

Thank you all, very informative. Btw, if I got Initial D: Extreme Stage could I plug in my Logitech PC wheel?

Btw I did extensively play a couple of the TXR titles on DC and PS2

My first job was at a waterpark that had an arcade in it, and it had Initial D, I played the crap out of it. I started on 3rd stage, had my card with carstats saved and everything. They kept upgrading it, and last time I checked it had like 6th stage or something.

I have only played the PS2 version for home ports, but it was fun, and was just like the arcade, but all in Japanese obviously. I have wanted to pick up the ps3 version for a while, but dont want to spend a premium on a game I wont put too much time into. I have also heard that you can now emulate the initial D arcade games on PC, and get them to work with racing wheels, I have been meaning to get that working, but have not had the time.

I love the anime, and have watched it through a coupe of times, just recently actually when I learned they finally continued the series, I gave up hope after 4th stage stopped, and almost 10 years passed.

I have Initial D for Saturn and it is absolutely horrible

I, for one, I'm extremely interested in this thread. Were any of these games released outside of Japan Ghegs? (I mean the ports)

Nope, they're all Japan exclusives. There's a fair amount of JPN text in the ports too, more than you might expect from a racing game. Even most of the menus are in Japanese. Luckily there are good guides on GameFAQs to help you navigate the menus, so it's not too bothersome after a while.

As far as I know, the only Initial D game to be released outside Japan on a home system is the PC game Initial D: Mountain Vengeance. And you really don't want to play that...