Tokyo Xtreme Racer is not your typical racing game. Instead of racing around a track attempting to finish in first place, Tokyo Xtreme Racer has players trying to outdistance a single opponent on a Tokyo highway. Players can choose different sections of the highway to race on as well as which direction to drive. Also, races only take place over a portion of the track so each race is slightly different depending on where the race began and how long it lasts.

Four modes of play include Practice, Quick Race, Versus Battle, and Quest Mode. Practice allows users to drive around the highway in order to learn all of its twists and turns. Quick Race is where single races occur against a time limit or as a Speed Point Battle. Versus is the two-player split-screen mode where friends can race against each other with any of the supplied cars or the ones they specially tuned in Quest Mode.

Quest Mode is the primary mode of play. Players begin with 25,000 credit points to put toward the purchase of a car. Next they select a portion of the highway to drive around on where they will look for rivals (the cars that can be raced against). While driving through traffic rivals will be the cars with a red arrow above them. If you wish to challenge them pull up behind their car and flash your highbeams. As soon as your highbeams are flashed a Speed Point, or SP, Battle begins.

SP Battles begin with each player having a full meter bar. The car not in the lead will have its meter deplete for as long as it is not in the lead. If that car is able to pass the leader then they will stop losing points and the other car will begin losing points. A race will end as soon as one car's meter bar is fully drained or if one car goes down an exit ramp. After a race ends, if the player won they receive the rival's strength, remaining speed points, and credit points for the distance raced. However, if the player lost, they only receive credit points for the distance raced.

At any time during Quest Mode players can spend their credit points. With credit points players can purchase more cars or new parts. Parts that can be upgraded include: engine, wheels/suspension, drive system, and chassis. Along with parts, players can also change a number of settings: steering response, brake response, brake balance, clearance, shocks, damping power, transmission ratio, and final gear.

None of the cars in Tokyo Xtreme Racer are called by their real life names due to the game having no licensing. However, the cars are modeled after actual cars and players can change the names of the cars to whatever they wish. Some of the cars that can be found in the game include: a Honda Civic, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra, Acura Integra, Nissan 240ZX Coupe, and Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer (Sega Dreamcast, 1999)