First off, I must say that is the best racing game currently available on
the PSX.  And this statement is coming from a HUGE Ridge Racer Rev. and
NFS fan.

You have three long race courses, seemingly modeled after the real Tokyo
streets, twelve different cars.  The cars range from a Honda Civic
hatchback to an NSX.  They don't have the actual car names, but you can
write in the real name for the car and it will save it.  You can race in
three modes.  Practice(allows you to choose all the cars and practice your
skills).  Vs. CPU(like Head to Head in NFS).  And by far the coolest mode,
Scenario(you race in a tounament style mode).

The graphics are about equal to Ridge Racer Rev.  Very sharp and detailed,
and at a very high frame rate.  There is also almost no pop up and scenery
flickering.  Also the cars are well detailed, even more so than those in
NFS.  When you race in Scenario mode, there is traffic on the road while
you race the CPU opp.  The traffic ranges from cars, city busses, tracktor
trailor trucks, and a few other vehichles, and even with as many as five
traffic cars and you opponent, the frame rate never decreases.  The
opening FMV is also sharp.  The sound is pretty standard, nothing special,
but nothing to take away from the game.  The engine noise is good enough,
and the other effects sound good.  The problem is that the music is too
loud, and you can't change the volume balence.

Now to the control.  The control is the smoothest I've ever felt in a home
racer.  When you steer, you actually feel as is the front tires of you car
are steering you.(by the way, the front tires of your car steer separetaly
from your car).  Its not the somewhat sluggish feel of NFS, but nowhere
near the super tight Ridge Racer steering.   The one problem is that there
is no support for the NeGcon or Mad Catz wheel.  Sorry analog fans.  

Finally, the greatest option of all.  When you race in Scenario, you
recieve a certain amount of points(money) for winning a race, you can use
this money upgrade your car.  Not just a better engine and tire, I mean
SUPER detailed upgrades, and ever time you do, you notice the
difference(HINT: Buy the ROM under electronics if you want to get rid of
the govener keeping your car under 180kph).

In conclusion, if you like racing games, and have the abuility to get
imports, this game is a must.  There is mostly english text as well.  One
warning, don't take your first impression as what you think of the game. 
Once you get into it, improve your car, and get a knack for the gameplay
you will NOT be dissapointed.

Rating:97% (had to leave some room incase something better comes along)

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions,

Bill Martinson
billnfs@aol.com

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GRAPHICS (8)-
+  High frame rate.
+  Nice and solid...
-  Although a little monotonous

MUSIC & SOUND (7)-
+  All that you expect.  Car engines get louder as you approach a car,
echoing tunnel effects.
+  The little thud when you cross a joint in the highway is really
cool.
-  Music is nondescript.

INNOVATION (6)-
+  The highway idea is cool.
+  Car upgrades are more than just "level 2 engine, level 4 brakes",
etc.
-  Major Ridge Racer deja vu.
-  Whoa, a driving game!

GAMEPLAY (8)-
+  Nice handling on all the cars.
+  TONS of car upgrades that really affect driving technique.
+  The thick traffic in later races makes things pretty exciting.
-  Kinda slow at the start, with a max speed of 180 km/h.
-  No 2 player!

REPLAY VALUE (7)-
+  12 cars!
+  Lots of car-upgrade combinations to tinker with.
-  3 tracks?

MISC (added and subtracted from final score)-
+1 under-the-car perspective can be thrilling
-1 vs. computer mode lets you play with all the upgrades before earning
them.

FINAL- 75%

- Jesse Yarbrough