Indie developers “PLANET JEM” have launched a free-to-play prologue of their retro-style racer “NIGHT-RUNNERS” on the Steam store.
Set in Japan during the 1990s to 2009 era. Players engage in street races against various corrupt street crews, vying for dominance in power struggles and striving to conquer the region.
The game’s meticulous car depictions stand out as players acquire vehicles from authentic used car auctions in Japan. Offering extensive customization for exterior, interior, wheels, engine, handling, and beyond, it demonstrates a commitment to catering to car enthusiasts.
With its procedurally generated events, the game is brimming with character due to its authentic VHS filters and energetic drum and bass soundtrack.
For me, NIGHT-RUNNERS feels like a spiritual successor to Genki’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer series. Its focus on highway racing in Japan, climbing the ranks against different street racing crews. Or more rather you’re indebted to the mafia and engage in high stake street races to pay off your debts.
It has been far too long since a game of this nature has come along, and I’m genuinely intrigued.
Since the last entry, Import Tuner Challenge on the Xbox 360 in 2006, I’ve yearned for a game reminiscent of Tokyo Xtreme Racer. While the pure racing aspect within NIGHT-RUNNERS falls short compared to larger-scale releases, it compensates with rich character and features.
In the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series, you’d often navigate to one of the many parking lots lining the highway, mainly for racing against teams or lone wanderers, while occasionally chatting with others to gain insights on rivals or delve into the game’s lore.
NIGHT-RUNNERS mirrors much of that experience, but with an added open-world flare, alongside being able to explore on foot in various locations, such as the garage. The interactive car dealership, the pixelated faces and license plates, along with the various customization options further enhance immersion in a genre that has often felt routine and predictable.
The intentional shabbiness and old-fashioned stylization, the atmosphere enhanced by VHS filters, are portrayed effectively, evoking a sense that the Highway battles have reverted to a gloomy and perilous world.
PLANET JEM has launched the NIGHT-RUNNERS Prologue as a free-to-play demo on the Steam Store. They are also seeking financial support through Kickstarter, where they have currently raised over $23,700 USD out of their $44,000 goal.
While I typically oppose the idea of paying for a product before its release, after witnessing NIGHT-RUNNERS and personally trying out the demo, I firmly believe that the game, slated for completion by May 2025, is definitely worth purchasing once it officially launches.
