Drift Away
HIGH Charming visuals and a cool car list.
LOW Rough handling and lack of polish.
WTF I need to play the old Sega Initial D games.
I love racing games and I will always be down to check out any new, virtual driving experience that comes my way. Over the years, I’ve looked at everything from large-scale open-ended racers to hardcore simulators, all of which fulfill the enticing power fantasy of getting behind the wheel of a nice car and zooming through the streets or down a track at unimaginable speeds.
That love of racing stems from my real-life love of cars, specifically those in the Japanese domestic market (JDM) category. Basically, vehicles from manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Nissan and more are my bread and butter. While my real-life Toyota Corolla might not be a speed demon, Gaming Factory’s JDM: Japanese Drift Master might be the perfect way to experience these machines.
JDM is a racing title set in Japan with a strong emphasis on tuner culture, similar to that seen in movies like The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift or anime like Initial D. Players control Touma, a young foreigner from Poland who wants to make a name for himself as a drifter in Japan. That Initial D comparison is apparent early on, as the story is delivered via manga panels, committing to the aesthetic of late ’90s/early ’00s anime. Adding to that is a cool animated intro showcasing the characters.
Gameplay primarily consists of driving within an open world or across drift and race events. Players are given options as to what kind of experience they want, such as choosing between an arcadey driving style or a simcade one. The former forgoes some player control for easier maneuvering and maintaining a drift, while the latter grants that control to the players, allowing for much more ‘realistic’ driving. Either choice can be changed at any time, and I appreciate options for all skill levels.
Driving itself is a bit of a mixed bag, as the focus on drifting makes the cars feel more ‘slippery’ than other arcade racers — trying to turn any sharp corner results in spinning out if players aren’t careful to maintain a drift. The cars also feel floaty, with little weight or traction. Even a slight venture off-road caused frequent loss of control.
This driving model gets worse in regular-grip events, in which players partake in either point-to-point races or turns around laps. Granted, a lot of these issues could be alleviated with some tweaking to the handling, but even with all the work I did outside of the track, nothing felt quite right. It doesn’t help that most events force players into drifting anyway, as a means to earn points to outdo the AI opponents. I would have liked a tighter focus on drifting-based events and seeing the devs save traditional circuit or street racing for a separate game.
The open world here in JDM isn’t that interesting, mostly serving as space between events. I do appreciate the slight variety on offer, however, with side missions involving things like delivery jobs and even a dedicated training course allowing players to refine their skills.
While the world might be a bit ho-hum, a surprising and welcome aspect of JDM is its car list. There are dozens of real-world licensed cars here from brands like Nissan and Honda. Being able to see beautifully-realized versions of rides like the 1988 Honda Civic or the 2022 Subaru BRZ II is awesome — and while Toyota isn’t featured, fans will be able to spot some fictional cars sporting looks similar to the likes of the famous Toyota AE86, among others.
Also great is that JDM nails the vibes associated with its inspirations. Driving through long, winding roads at night is an unmatched feeling, reminding me of the most iconic moments out of Initial D. Hell, the devs even included an in-game radio station full of Eurobeat music to add to the immersion (including one of my favorite tracks), as well as food delivery missions ripped straight from the aforementioned anime. There are also a variety of different camera types, like an interior cockpit view as well as one that simulates a camera being mounted to the rear wing.
I’ll bemoan the lack of voice and some rough visual elements like blurry textures and pop-in, but there is a strong sense of style here that I appreciate.
Overall, JDM: Japanese Drift Master is a stylish racer with a lot of anime charm. I am in love with the anime aesthetic and as a huge fan of classic Japanese street cars, I was happy to see my non-Toyota favorites here. Unfortunately, its handling model makes the entire package turn out to be an inconsistent ride.
Score: 6 out of 10
Buy JDM: Japanese Drift Master – PC – PS – XB
Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Gaming Factory S.A. It is currently available on PS5, XBS/X, and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PS5 . Approximately 8 hours were spent in the single-player modes and the game was not completed. There is no multiplayer.
Parents: According to the ESRB this game is rated T for Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Tobacco, Language. The game pulls from a lot of anime tropes in terms of sexual content, with characters making suggestive remarks and dressing in suggestive ways. A lot of the violence in the game stems from the manga panels, which isn’t too bad. It’s mostly car crashes and fist fights with no blood. I would say this game is okay for older teens.
Colorblind Modes: There are no coloblind modes available.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Subtitles and on-screen instructions (see examples above) cannot be adjusted but audio is not needed to enjoy this game, thanks to the abundance of visual cues and constant speech bubbles/text boxes. I’d say it’s fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, the controls are not remappable but there is a control diagram.
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