Career
The career mode (or Conquest mode in the game as it is called) features a single driver (with name provided by the player, default name is "k_taro") on their quest to become the best racer in the Osaka Prefecture area. The player, depending on the first three letters of the name they enter, [1] which would correspond to the first three digits, starts with anywhere between 1,700,000 and 2,990,000 CP to buy a car. The Conquest mode has been significantly changed from the first game, with several new real-life locations being added. Hakone and Haruna return from the original game, while several new locations, like Shiga Kusatsu, Hiroshima, Nikko and Mount Rokkō (divided into two roads, Ura and Omote) were added.
With the original tracks in the game, a new option in the game has been added, that being "Short Courses". There are only eight short courses in the game, which, in line with their name, are much shorter than the normal courses. These courses must be unlocked by winning a special invitation event, which is done by beating a significant opponent in the game and winning a number of prizes. Several sponsors and many high-stakes drivers are on short courses, and several drivers from the original Tokyo Xtreme Racer are featured in short courses.
Tuning of the car was significantly changed as well. The sequel features vinyls which can be put on the car, although the sticker scheme has been changed and now only one sticker of the team can be applied to the car. Several body modification changes were made, with the ability to add mudflaps, custom hoods and spoilers, as well as carbon fiber parts. Performance tuning lets the player choose which manufacturer to install a part from, which have varying effects on the car's performance. Naturally aspirated engines can be turbocharged, and also shifted back to natural aspiration. However, turbocharged cars from the factory cannot have their turbos removed.
As with the original, the goal is to defeat all "Slashers" (bosses) to win the game. Unlike in the first game, a course only has one Slasher, and number of Supporter drivers (more powerful drivers, serving as a prelude to a Slasher) have been added. Slashers drive special vehicles with unique body kits, paint and stickers. In Conquest mode, the player has the ability to unlock some special cars as well to buy them, which have custom body kits, paint jobs, vinyls and rims. Every driver in the game have their own biography, often with a comedic tone, as well as their own unique car. The player can participate in bets during races, with the ability to win car parts or new vehicles.
Category races have been changed as well, consisting of three types: Standard Races, Advanced Races and Gymkhana. Standard Races allow the player to progress through levels, which in turn allows the player to race in Advanced Races. Advanced Races have special medal prizes, which can unlock some new equipment, new cars and also short courses. Gymkhana features a parking lot with cones, where the player must score the most points to win.
The game's plot revolves around two racing teams, Thirteen Devils and Kingdom Twelve. Thirteen Devils is a team from Tokyo, seeking to dominate the racing scene. They are a group of thirteen drivers with high-performance cars, all of them having a distinctive yellow paint job and custom vinyls. Opposed to them are Kingdom Twelve, a group of twelve professional racers who race to "protect" their courses. They also bear custom vinyls and high-end performance cars. During the course of the game, the player will have opportunities to race drivers from both groups, and they are regularly mentioned during the game via messaging.
The game's story consists of four stages. Each Stage features a set of locations, and usually only one has to be beaten in order to advance to the next Stage. As Slashers are beaten and new locations are unlocked, new cars, sponsors and car parts are unlocked. Regardless, every event must be beaten to achieve 100% story completion.
Slashers & Last bosses
1st Stage : -Kazuhiko Ooaza, aka MMC Ooaza (Mr. Mitsu in EU & US version) : A regular café patron who loves Mitsubishi cars, he's a well-known fixture in Hakone. He has decent technique, but it was his upstanding character above all else that made him a leader in Hakone. His vaunted FTO is tuned almost to perfection, and he continues to thwart the ambitions of those racers who would conquer Hakone. (Note : his FTO is equipped with a L4 engine instead of a V6).
- Yūya Takuma, aka World Supremacy (Dominator in EU & US version) : He holds numerous records in Hiroshima-Noroyama. But he's not very socially adept; he doesn't team up often, and he doesn't talk about himself to other people much. But he's incredibly passionate about racing, training rigorously even on Sunday mornings in his Sileighty when not many people are out.
2nd Stage :
-Shin'ichi Tamaki (Shinichi Tamashiro in US & EU version), aka Haruna Guardian (Guardian in EU & US version) : After losing once to a racer that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, he realized how vulnerable his position was. He changed his machine from a Galant VR-4 to a Lancer Evolution IV and made a fresh start. His old car was a pretty nice ride, but it was nothing compared to this Lancer. And so began the pursuit of the new Haruna Guardians...
-Eiji Kurihara, aka Lonely Wanderer (Eternal Wanderer in EU & US version) : It was a long time ago, but the name "Kurihara" used to strike fear into the hearts of racers in Haruna. Then a new champion suddenly appeared, and Kurihara moved here to Akagi. Since then, countless races have made him virtually unbeatable in Akagi. His car, a Supra JZA80, is starting to show its age.
-Masaya Tendō, aka Metal Wizard (Alchemist in EU & US version) : He used to be fairly well known on the highway course at Omote Rokko, but he never really stood out. Then one day, Tendō suddenly and unexpectedly disappeared from Omote Rokko - only to reappear as the top racer in his NSX-R NA2 on the new course : Ura Rokko.
3rd Stage :
-Shū Asuka, aka Final Leg (Last Leg in EU & US version) : Asuka is into rally racing, and he's traded in his old Lancer Evolution VIII for the more advanced Lancer Evolution VIII MR. This may not seem like a very big step up, but in the able hands of Asuka, who has always been good at handling powerful cars like this, the difference is obvious. His racing is tighter than ever.
-Chōmei Jō (Nagaaki Jyo in US & EU version), aka New Moon : For the time being, he's the fastest racer on the new Shiga Kusatsu course. He thinks he's cool because he drives an ordinary FR 25 GT-S instead of a GT-R, but no one else seems to think so. Despite his obnoxious personality, he's got pretty good technique.
-Hiroyuki Okamoto, aka Global Winner (True Champion in EU & US version) : Okamoto is that rarest of rarities : a samuraï racer. He drives only the most expensive, most prestigious cars, like his RS6. And his technique is even better than it used to be. Maybe it's because he's smarter than the rest of us...
4th Stage :
-Kyōichi Imaizumi, the Absolute Emperor, aka Yeti Fang : Once known as the fastest man in Zao, he was knocked from his perch one day by a new racer who made it look easy against his Clio V6 Phase 2. Since then, there's been something truly frightening in Imaizumi's racing. Even people who used to hang out with say they're afraid to talk to him now. One day soon, the storm is going to hit.
-Tatsu Zōshigaya, the Miracles Summit, aka Supremacy Murder (Reign Supreme in US & EU version) : When Emotional King suddenly disappeared from Aso, in his place came a next racing phenomenon : Zōshigaya, all of 19 years old. With his natural racing instincts and technique and his car, a black Impreza Rally Car Prototype, in just 3 months there was no one left who could beat him. He's currently focused on creating the perfect line.
Final Stage :
-Taiju Kōkami (Hiroki Koukami in US & EU version), the Emotional King, aka Forever Knights (Blackout in US & EU version) : Once the fastest man in Aso - no, the fastest man on ANY course (since he is the hero in Kaido Battle / Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift) - the only person who could rival Kōkami was Kōkami himself. Realizing this, he disappeared completely from the night battle world. He show no interest in the up-and-coming talents of the racing world, focusing solely on improving himself and his car, his black-red Lancer Evolution III GSR. His racing style is truly emotional.
