, previously known as , is a series of racing video games developed and published by

Taito is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, vending machines and jukeboxes into Japan. It b ...

, first released in arcades with ''Side by Side'' in 1996. The series was later released for various home consoles, such as the PlayStation and PlayStation 2.

''Side by Side'' series

''Side by Side'' episodes allow the player to select import sports cars from a Japanese maker either,

Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...

Nissan , trade name, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells ...

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

Mazda , commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...

, later

Mitsubishi The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries. Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group historically descended from the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company which existed from 1870 ...

and

Subaru ( or ; ) is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first ...

were available as well, and race downhill in Japanese mountain passes known as

touge A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both human and animal migrat ...

''Battle Gear'' series

The ''Battle Gear'' evolution allows online play in both arcade and home versions and add a tuning feature for the cars. Battle Gear 4 saw the adding of European and American makers for the first time,

Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...

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Mini The Mini is a small, two-door, four-seat car, developed as ADO15, and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 through 2000. Minus a brief hiatus, original Minis were built for four decades and sold during ...

Volkswagen Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German Automotive industry, motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a ...

and

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

''Tokyo Road Race''

The PlayStation 2 version of ''Battle Gear 2'' was licensed by

Midas Interactive Midas (; grc-gre, Μίδας) was the name of a king in Phrygia with whom several myths became associated, as well as two later members of the Phrygian royal house. The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ...

and released as a budget game named ''Tokyo Road Race'' by various distributors in PAL territories, hence the different packages in Europe and Oceania. Online play mode was deactivated in the ''Tokyo Road Race'' version and the game was not distributed in the American market.

Series timeline

1996

*Japan 08: ''Side by Side'' (Taito JC System Type-C) *Europe ''Side by Side'' (Taito JC System Type-C)

1997

*Japan 06: ''Side by Side 2 Evoluzione'' (Taito JC System Type-C) * ''Side by Side 2'' (Taito JC System Type-C) *Japan 12: ''Side by Side Special'' (

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...

)

1999

*Japan 06: ''Battle Gear'' (Taito Type-Zero) *Europe ''Battle Gear'' (Taito Type-Zero) * ''Battle Gear'' (Taito Type-Zero, distributed by

Innovative Concepts in Entertainment Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, abbreviated as ICE, is an American electronic game and redemption game manufacturing company based in Clarence, New York, United States. The company was founded in 1982 and has since become the leader of the ...

) *Japan 11: ''Side by Side Special 2000'' (

) - bargain re-edition

2000

*Japan 07: ''Battle Gear 2'' (Taito Type-Zero) *Europe ''Battle Gear 2'' (Taito Type-Zero)

2001

*Japan 03: ''Battle Gear 2'' (

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

)

2002

*Japan 11: ''Battle Gear 3'' (

Namco System 246 The Namco System 246 is a development of the Sony PlayStation 2 technology as a basis for an arcade system board. It was released in December 2000 on its first game ''Bloody Roar 3''. Like the Sega NAOMI, it is widely licensed for use by other manu ...

) *Europe ''Battle Gear 3'' (

) *Europe 11: ''Tokyo Road Race'' (

) - offline only

2003

*Japan 12: ''Battle Gear 3'' (

) *Japan 12: ''Battle Gear 3 Limited Edition'' (

) - deluxe edition with goodies *Japan 12: ''Battle Gear 3 Tuned'' (

) Europe ''Battle Gear 3 Tuned'' (

)

2005

*Japan 07: ''Battle Gear 4'' ( Taito Type X+) *Europe ''Battle Gear 4'' ( Taito Type X+)

2006

*Japan 11: ''Battle Gear 4 Tuned'' ( Taito Type X+) *Europe ''Battle Gear 4 Tuned'' ( Taito Type X+)

External links

Battle Gear series homepage
- BattleGear.net {{Square Enix franchises Video game franchises introduced in 1996 Racing video games Square Enix franchises Taito games Video games developed in Japan