JDM: Japanese Drift Master attempts to carve a niche in the arcade racing genre by focusing on drifting and a Japanese setting, but ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive experience. The game aims to revive the thrill of Japanese street racing, mixing it with drifting mechanics that are satisfying to master.
At the heart of JDM is its drifting feature, which is its most compelling aspect. Players can easily enter controlled slides using rear-wheel drive cars, and a balance meter assists in gauging drift angles. However, the game’s scoring system can be inconsistent, often punishing players for collisions or spin-outs in ways that feel unfair. It sometimes resets score multipliers unexpectedly, complicating the experience.
The game presents two modes—simcade and arcade—that ostensibly alter difficulty levels, but differences are subtle. Many players may find the lack of distinction frustrating, particularly when certain assists complicate the drifting experience rather than enhance it.
JDM also features events that blend traditional racing with drifting, creating a clash that can lead to awkward gameplay. Players must balance the need for speed with generating drift scores, which results in frustrating mechanics. Moreover, poorly labeled events can waste time as players navigate the need to switch cars for specific racing types.
The campaign comes with a weak storyline, presented through manga-style pages, that feels forgettable and serves mainly as a transition between events. Outside the story mode, players can engage in repetitive side quests or underground drifting competitions, but the options for extended enjoyment diminish after the initial 12-hour campaign.
Exploring the open world is visually appealing, showcasing various aspects of Japanese culture, from neon-lit streets to picturesque cherry blossom trails. However, the driving experience is marred by dense traffic in narrow lanes, which hinders the thrill of drifting, and a barren feel on highways.
Customization options in JDM are abundant, offering an impressive array of visual upgrades. Players can modify performance aspects to refine drifting capabilities. While this depth is commendable, it often feels wasted in a game that does not cater well to racing modes outside of drifting.
In conclusion, JDM: Japanese Drift Master showcases an impressive ambition to revive drifting culture in racing games, yet fails in delivering a satisfying experience across the board. The focus on drifting is strong, but other gameplay elements suffer, making it hard to fully enjoy racing through the enticing streets of its Japanese setting.
