History VideoGame / InitialDArcadeStage

There also have been a few console releases, though in Japan only: ''Initial D Special Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2''), ''Initial D Street Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.3''), and ''Initial D Extreme Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage 4'').

Compare and contrast ''VideoGame/WanganMidnight''.

* TheBusBringBack: "Bunta's Challenge Mode", a [[ShooOutTheClowns no-nonsense]] NintendoHard mode, was removed after version 3, with callbacks to this mode appear in ''8 Infinity''. However, it made a full-return in ''The Arcade'''s July 2022 update, complete with Ver.3's music and effects.

Currently the latest and last installment of the series is ''Initial D Arcade Stage Zero'', or ''Initial D Zero'' in short. Though, the series still lives on as ''Initial D The Arcade''.

Currently the latest installment of the series is ''Initial D Arcade Stage Zero'', or ''Initial D Zero'' in short. There also have been a few console releases, though in Japan only: ''Initial D Special Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2''), ''Initial D Street Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.3''), and ''Initial D Extreme Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage 4'').

Currently the latest installment of the series is ''Initial D Arcade Stage Zero'', or ''Initial D Zero'' in short, which is the latest installment of the series. There also have been a few console releases, though in Japan only: ''Initial D Special Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2''), ''Initial D Street Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.3''), and ''Initial D Extreme Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage 4'').

* DifficultySpike:
** Tsuchisaka Outbound in ''Version 3'' starts off fairly simple from the start right up to the end of the long straight tunnel to a literal ''rollercoaster'' section from there to the finish line.
** Tsukuba in ''4'' and ''5'' goes from "fairly nice and easy" in sections 1 and 2 (assuming you're going outbound) to "{{oh crap}} what the hell is this" in sections 3 and 4.

* GenrePopularizer: Though not the first of its kind by a long stretch, it's ''the'' game that brought the multiplayer arcade racing game scene to competitive levels on a worldwide scale.

Currently the latest installment of the series is ''Initial D Arcade Stage Zero'', or ''Initial D Zero'' in short, which is the latest installment of the series. There also have been a few console releases, though in Japan only: ''Initial D Special Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2''), and ''Initial D Extreme Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage 4'').

* NintendoHard: [[TrueFinalBoss Bunta Challenge]] in Ver. 2 and 3.
** Shomaru in Version 3 and Special Stage. The single-lane road makes passing opponents extremely difficult. In addition to that, it has very few straights, if any, at all, making for a grueling racing experience, especially in vehicles that suffer from bad understeer, yet the Mazda RX-8 managed to become THE fastest vehicle on either direction of this course.

A popular series of competitive racing games for the arcades by Creator/{{Sega}}, based on the UsefulNotes/{{Seinen}} manga and anime series ''Manga/InitialD''.

A popular series of competitive racing games for the arcades by Creator/{{Sega}}, based on the manga and anime series ''Manga/InitialD''.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Players used to other racing games will generally have a tough time getting used to ''Arcade Stage'''s gameplay, especially if they're fans of the simplified slides of ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer''-esque games; it doesn't help that for a series famous for drifting, for the first few versions of the game cars technically can't even drift. The series itself exhibits this as well, with changes between versions ranging from slight differences in car handling, completely new physics engines, and even the location of the physical shift knob on the cabinet.

** DiscOneFinalBoss: Takumi, in every single ''Arcade Stage'' installment.

* GreenHillZone: Myogi in ''Initial D Arcade Stage'', Lake Akina in ''4'' and ''5'', Usui joins in in ''6AA''.

Compare and contrast ''WanganMidnightMaximumTune''.

Currently the latest installment of the series is ''Initial D Arcade Stage 8 Infinity'', which is also the last installment of the series. There also have been a few console releases, though in Japan only: ''Initial D Special Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage Ver.2''), and ''Initial D Extreme Stage'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (based on ''Initial D Arcade Stage 4'').

A popular series of competitive racing games for the arcades by {{Sega}}, based on the manga and anime series ''Manga/InitialD''.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Players used to other racing games will generally have a tough time getting used to ''Arcade Stage'''s gameplay, especially if they're fans of the simplified slides of RidgeRacer-esque games; it doesn't help that for a series famous for drifting, for the first few versions of the game cars technically can't even drift. The series itself exhibits this as well, with changes between versions ranging from slight differences in car handling, completely new physics engines, and even the location of the physical shift knob on the cabinet.

* JackOfAllStats: The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and Subaru Impreza WRX STis are both newbie-friendly and can take on all tracks in any orientation decently... just don't expect to set course records outside the home courses.

* ExtremityExtremist: The AE86's forte is downhill racing. The RX-7's forte is uphill racing. Both the FC and FD RX-7s excel in dry conditions, while the GT-Rs dominate on wet pavement. The Celica GT-Four and other 4WDs that would normally understeer excel on Akina Snow, but can still be very difficult to handle.

* ExtremityExtremist: The Hachi-roku's forte is downhill racing. The RX-7's forte is uphill racing. Both the FC and FD RX-7s excel in dry conditions, while the GT-Rs dominate on wet pavement. The Celica GT-Four and other 4WDs that would normally understeer excel on Akina Snow, but can still be very difficult to handle.

A popular series of competitive racing games for the arcades by {{Sega}}, based on the manga and anime series ''InitialD''.