Enthusia Professional Racing

History

Enthusia: Professional Racing is a racing game produced by Konami that was released in 2005.

Overview

Enthusia is a highly detailed game, and was arguably more realistic than its main competitors in some areas. Enthusia contains many modes that are unique to Western gamers. These modes are:

• Enthusia Life
• Free Race
• Driving Revolution
• Time Attack
• Versus Racing

Enthusia Life: Enthusia Life is the real meat of the game, as this is where players unlock cars, and take part in the main races. Enthusia Life mode is most comparable to Career Mode in other racing games.

Free Race: This mode is similar to 'Free Run', as it is known in other games. Players are allowed to set up races against the AI and then tailor the match to their choices, rather than fixed race types like those found in Enthusia Life.

Driving Revolution: A mode in which players start on a track with a car and are challenged to pass through gates. However, these gates are made more difficult than in other games, as you must pass them at a designated speed or around that speed. By passing through a gate you earn points, and you must earn a set amount of points to progress to the next level.

Versus Racing: Versus is a split screen mode, where you may race against a friend.

Enthusia contains some extremely realistic car models, and may even have as many unique cars as Gran Turismo 4. Additionally, a number of these cars are relatively obscure for any racing game (particularly a Japanese-developed one), such as the Citroen 2CV.

Gameplay

Gameplay in Enthusia follows a similar pattern to some Japanese RPGs. For example, you have HP in the game, which are actually called "Driver HP" in the original Japanese version or "Enthu Points" in other releases. This HP system is designed to reward clean drivers; hitting walls and other drivers will deplete your overall Enthu Points. The punishment for losing all your Enthu Points is simply not being

able to compete in the next race. You can regenerate points by resting, and by changing to a different car.

As well as having HP, players are rewarded with a 'slot machine' after a race in Enthusia Life mode. Once a race has been completed, you receive a slot machine interface. You are able to stop the spinning. Once the spinning is stopped, you will win a car that was on the track during the race. This system becomes brutal once you've owned most of the cars, as you may not win a new car at all.

Car List

• Alfa Romeo 158 GTA
• Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
• Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2 V6 24V
• Alfa Romeo GT
• Alfa Romeo SZ
• Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
• Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Verde
• Alpine A110 1600 SC
• Audi R8 TEAM GOH 2004
• Audi R8 TEAM GOH 2003
• Audi RS6
• Audi A4 3.0 Quattro Sport
• Audi A8 4.2 Quattro
• Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro Sline
• Audi TT Roadster 1.8T quattro
• Audi Allroad Quattro
• ASL Garaiva
• Aston Martin Vanquish (V12)
• Aston Martin DB5
• Austin Healey SPRITE MK1
• BMW M1 Procar
• BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car
• BMW M3 GTR road version
• BMW McLaren F1 GTR
• BMW M3 Sport Evolution
• BMW Z4 3.0i
• BMW 2002 turbo
• Cadillac Seville STS
• Caterham Superlight R500
• Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
• Chevrolet Corvette Z51
• Chevrolet Camaro Z28
• Chevrolet Corvette STINGRAY Sport Coupe
• Chevrolet ASTRO
• Chrysler PT Cruiser
• Citroen Xsara Rally Car
• Citroen Saxo VTS
• Citroen DS 23 Pallas
• Citroen C3
• Citroen 2CV6 Charleaton
• Daihatsu Sirion X4
• Daihatsu Copen
• Dauer EB110
• De Tomaso Pantera GTS
• DMC DeLorean
• Dodge Viper GTS
• Fiat Abarth 1000 TCR
• Fiat Abarth 131 Rally
• Fiat 500F
• Ford Focus Rally Car
• Ford GT
• 2005 Ford Mustang GT
• Ford Mustang Mach 1
• Ford Thunderbird
• 1969 Ford Mustang GT
• Honda NSX G'zox prospec
• Honda NSX-R
• Honda NSX Type-S Zero
• Honda S2000
• Honda Integra Type-R(DC5)
• Honda Civic Type-R
• Honda Accord Euro-R
• Honda Accord EuroR (Older model)
• Honda Integra Type-R (DC2)
• Honda Civic Type-R (Older model)
• Honda Odyssey Absolute
• Honda Fit 1.5T
• Honda City Turbo II
• Honda Mobilio
• Honda Civic RS
• Honda S800
• Honda insight
• Honda Beat
• Hyundai Coupe
• Jaguar S-Type R
• Jaguar XKR100
• Jaguar XJR 4.0 Supercharged V8
• Jaguar 'E' Type 42
• Jaguar X-Type 2.5 V6 Sport
• Lancia Delta integrale Evoluzione II
• Lancia Rally 037
• Lancia Stratos
• Range Rover
• Lotus Elise 100S
• Lotus Esprit S2
• Lotus Europa Special
• Lotus Elan S.3
• Mazda 787B Le Mans
• Mazda RX-7 Spirit A
• Mazda RX-8 TypeS
• Mazda RX-7 Infini (Savanna)
• Mazda Savanna RX-7 GT-X
• Mazda Atenza 23Z Sport
• Mazda Atenza 23E Sedan
• Mazda Roadster RS-II
• Mazda Eunos Roadster S-Special type II
• Mazda Cosmo Sport
• Mazda Savanna AP GT
• Mazda Demio
• Mercedes CLK-DTM
• Mercedes SLR
• Mercedes S600L
• Mercedes C32 AMG
• Mercedes CL55 AMG
• Mercedes SL500
• Mercedes G500L
• Mercedes 300SL
• MG MGB
• Mini Cooper S
• Mitsubishi Pajero EVOLUTION
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII GSR
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GSR
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI T.M. Edition
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Rally Car
• Mitsubishi Pajero Short
• Mitsubishi Colt
• Mitsubishi EK-Wagon
• Mitsubishi Galant GTO-MR
• Mini-Cooper 1275S MKI
• Nismo R34 Skyline GT-R S-Tune
• Nismo Xanavi GT-R
• Nismo S15 Silvia R-tune
• Nissan R390 GT1
• Nissan PICK UP Rally Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec I Nur
• Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec
• Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
• Nissan Fairlady Z Version S
• Nissan Silvia spec-R
• Nissan CIMA 450XV
• Nissan Skyline Coupe 350GT PREMIUM
• Nissan Stagea
• Nissan Skyline 350GT-8
• Nissan Silvia K's Aero
• Nissan Silvia K's
• Nissan 180SX TypeX
• Nissan Elgrand
• Nissan Primera 20V
• Nissan Wingroad
• Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R (KPGC110)
• Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R (KPGC10)
• Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
• Nissan Bluebird 1600 SSS Coupe
• Nissan March
• Nissan Cube
• Nissan Moco
• Opel Astra V8 Coupe 24h
• Opel Vita Gsi
• Peugeot 206 Rally Car 2000
• Peugeot 406 Coupe
• Peugeot 206cc S16
• Peugeot 106 S16
• Pontiac Firebird Trans AM SD-455
• Renault Lutecia sport 2.0 'Renault F1 Team Limited Edition'(Clio)
• Renault Avantime
• Renault 5 Turbo2
• RUF Turbo R
• RUF CTR
• RUF RGT
• Saab 9-5 Aero 2.3TS
• Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
• Smart Fortwo Cabrio
• Subaru Impreza Rally Car
• Subaru Impreza WRX STi
• Subaru Impreza WRX Sti limited
• Subaru Impreza WRX Sti Version VI
• Subaru Impreza 22B STi Version
• Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 GT spec B
• Subaru Legacy B4 RSK
• Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon GT-B ETune II
• Subaru Legacy Lancaster 6
• Subaru Forester
• Subaru Young SS
• Suzuki Cappuccino
• Tommykaira ZZ-S coupe
• Toyota GT-one
• Toyota Supra ESSO Ultraflo
• Toyota Supra RZ
• Toyota MR2 GT-S
• Toyota Soarer 2.5GT-Twinturbo
• Toyota Aristo V300 'Vertex Edition'
• Toyota Celica GT-FOUR WRC
• Toyota Altezza RS200
• Toyota Celica SS-D
• Toyota Celsior
• Toyota Alphard V
• Toyota Voltz
• Toyota Vitz RS Turbo
• Toyota MR2 'G-Limited Super Charger'
• Toyota MR-S V-Edition
• Toyota Corolla 1.8 Luxel
• Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex
• Toyota Land Cruiser 100
• Toyota 2000GT
• Toyota Estima Hybrid
• Toyota bB
• Toyota iSt
• Toyota Prius
• Toyota FunCargo
• Toyota Sports800
• TVR Cerbera 4.5
• TVR Tamora
• Volkswagen Golf R32
• Volkswagen Golf GTI
• Volkswagen Touareg
• Volkswagen New Beetle
• Volkswagen Polo
• Volkswagen Beetle Type 1
• Volvo S60R
• Volvo V70R

Reception

Reception for Enthusia was generally pleasing. IGN gave the game a 7.2 out of 10, while GameSpot gave a 7.4 out of 10. PSXExtereme scored the game 7.1 out of 10. According to Metacritic's 43 critic reviews, the game has scored a 70/100. The highest score given in a review was by My Gamer, who rated it an 86, and were attributed with a quote reading:

The true disaster here is the likelihood that nobody will really play Enthusia. "Gran Turismo 4's" massive popularity is destined to overshadow it even though both games rank at the top of the genre.

The lowest score given in a review was by AltGaming, who rated the game a mere 40/100, and were quoted to have said:

The simple fact is Enthusia is simply a simulation of life, but has little life itself.

Trivia

On the final page of the game manual, it reads "The legend is only beginning...", a quote that could hint at a sequel, or simply refer to the player beginning the extensive career mode. Either way, as of 2015, no sequel has otherwise been hinted at.