Phantom Crash

Phantom Crash is a mecha vehicular combat game with two main modes, a single-player 'Quest Mode' and multiplayer 'Versus Mode'. In the 'Quest Mode', players progress through a story whilst engaging in a leaderboard of competitive events, called 'rumbling', to rise in rank across four difficulty classes three different arenas. In these events, players compete in arena deathmatches to defeat as many competitors as possible with the weapons on their SV, and earn money for each competitor defeated, with damage to the player's SV incurring costs for repairs. Once the player has defeated enough competitors in an arena, they are able to face a 'class captain' for a larger reward. The Quest Mode features a day-to-day system in which players compete in one event per day, with matches, shop contents and story events navigated using a map interface.

Using winnings from events, players in Phantom Crash are able to purchase new SVs or repair and upgrade them with a large variety of customisation options. Individual components of SVs are interchangeable, such as melee and ranged weapons on arms and shoulders, and upgrades to the legs and body of the SV. Events have weight limitations, requiring players to balance options between weapons and defences, or upgrade carrying capacity with leg modules. are SVs also can feature optic camouflage, making their SVs invisibile for a limited time, and a rocket-assisted jump. SVs can be further customised with paint jobs and a CHIP, an artificial intelligence interface that affects the range of lock on and attack capabilities.

Set in the year 2031, Phantom Crash takes place in Old Tokyo, a deserted ruin used for Rumbling, a new form of televised combat sport involving mecha known as Scoot Vehicles, or SVs. Players assume the role of a recent, nameless arrival intent on climbing the ranks of Rumbling and confront and defeat its First Ranker, and meets many characters involved in the sport along the way.

Phantom Crash was developed by a team of 20 developers in Genki over the course of two years. Sales and distribution of Phantom Crash in North America was undertaken by Encore following a distribution deal with Phantagram in September 2002. Plans existed for Phantagram to publish a computer port of Phantom Crash in 2003 with planned network support for 32 players, however, this port remained unreleased. Genki handled publishing duties in Japan, releasing the title on 20 June.

In North America, the game was released on 6 November 2002. In the United Kingdom, Phantagram alone published the title, releasing it on 22 November.

Phantom Crash received "mixed or average" reviews from review aggregator Metacritic, with an average score of 72%. Reviewers praised the extent of detail and customisation available in the game. Describing the game as "wonderfully deep", Hyper praised the "astounding selection" of upgrades "in consideration of the fact that it's possible to configure the performance of individual components". IGN highlighted the "interesting twists" to the game's upgrades and customisation system, with a "nice range of accessible and hardcore".

can be a little confusing and occasionally awkward". GameSpot wrote "the level of customization in Phantom Crash is just amazing, and it lends the game a real role-playing feel".