Made by Taito Japan, Battle Gear 4 Tuned (Professional Version) is the latest and greatest in simulator style racing games. The cabinet is a treat to play with LCD monitors, TXSurround 5.1ch sound and realistic looking roll cage.
There are 4 options of gameplay which are sure to keep you enthralled: Race Mode, Drift Mode, One Make Race, and Time Attack.
The game features a H-shaped gearbox and a clutch for maximum realism. But don't worry if it seems too much at first, the gearbox can be changed to shift-tronic for Initial D style shifting, without the use of the clutch. For beginners (or those who don't care for gears), there's automatic transmission with or without automatic braking. The game also has a handbreak and nitro lever for stopping in a hurry or getting the most out of your car down the straight.
There's 13 brands of cars to choose from with 53 cars total! They're all sorted into a class (A, B, C or D) so that you and your friends can always be guaranteed an even match.
With heaps of tracks there's something for everyone. Joukyuu resembles the Monaco Formula One Circuit, with tight chicanes and long straights. Dokyuu resembles the famous Akina track (as seen in Initial D) for fast paced mountain side racing.
Battle Gear 4 is an awesome all round racing simulator, great for a quick battle against your friends but with plenty of features and physics to master if you're racing game nuts.
SYSTEM
The game runs on the Taito Type X motherboard, and has capability of connecting to the Internet. The typical controls include the gas and brake pedals, a steering wheel, a + / - gear stick, and a handbrake. A "Nitrous switch" is available as well, which triggers either the Nitrous Oxide system on tuned NA cars, or a scramble boost function on tuned turbo cars utilizing forced induciton. Both boosts in engine power come at the cost of reduced handling. A newer variant of the cabinet Battle Gear 4 Tuned Professional Version, sports a further clutch pedal, and an H-shaped gearbox control. They are used together to simulate full manual shifting. The professional version was released in November 2006.
The Type X motherboard has a function to connect to the Internet. This allows the machine to access time attack records and similar information online, and to upload the new records. When coupled with the NESYS network entry key (sold separately), the key users can have their cars "downloaded" from the virtual garage, and used during the play. The BG4 entry keys are not compatible with the BG3 series entry keys. Subsequently, any rewards that a player gained are uploaded onto the server (if the player uses the entry key and the machine is connected). The player can connect to the BG4 garage, and perform extensive modifications to the car.
CHANGES FROM BG3
When compared to the Battle Gear 3, there are certain features changed in this game.
The addition of European models (for example, Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio (Lutecia) V6) and the European stages (with notable examples of the Monaco track and Monte Carlo Rally) representing a departure from Initial D.
- The Takumi Mode in Battle Gear 3 is removed. Instead, a severe speed penalty is implemented into the system, forcing the player to use the brakes.
- A more extensive tuning system is available to the key users. Instead of simply modding the external parts, the performance hardwares are available as well this time. These can be performed in the online virtual garage.
- A player can also activate the "Garage Extension" functions. This includes the benefit of having a team, customizing decals, vinyls and setting names and such. This costs 300 yen per month.
