The creators of JDM: Japanese Drift Master have announced JDM: Phantom Driver, a standalone spin-off that turns modified cars into weapons against demons from Japanese folklore. The game is coming to PC through Steam, with no release date announced. Its focus is arcade racing mixed with vehicular combat, using ramming attacks, drifting and supernatural destruction rather than guns or blades.
Players enter an alternative version of Guntama, the fictional Japanese prefecture featured in the JDM universe. A ruthless demon has conquered the region with his Oni armies, leaving an open world reshaped by spreading Corruption. Moss-covered roads and deteriorating buildings form a reworked map that players will explore as they push further into enemy territory and prepare to face Shouten Douji, the Demon King.
Classic JDM vehicles have been transformed through dark magic and spiritual forging. Driving skill and the force of a reinforced car are combined with Hakai, a supernatural power used to destroy the youkai standing in the way. Customisation and upgrades improve both vehicle performance and combat capabilities, while exploration provides additional cars and parts with which to increase their power.
Handling is built around agile, responsive cars and the Nitro-Drift system, which combines drifting with boosting. The arcade approach leaves room to experiment with how vehicles move through corners and engage enemies. Pushing nitro builds the Hakai score, and combat skills can be chained while drifting or striking the aggressive Oni charging towards the car.
A single-player campaign tells its story through hand-drawn manga panels and a dialogue system. Phantom Driver does not require knowledge of Japanese Drift Master’s plot, although returning players will encounter references and familiar characters appearing in different roles. A multiplayer component is also in development, but its specific modes have not been detailed.
For readers tracking the game’s release plans, the Playority PC release calendar provides a way to follow upcoming titles, add them to an account and receive updates when launch dates are announced or changed.
