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Road Spirits

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NEC PC Engine CD Racing Pub Telenet Japan 1991 Japan 1 Player 5 (0) 11

Road Spirits

Road Spirits - Racing Classic

Compiled by the Retro Games Online Editorial Team · Updated June 24, 2026

Road Spirits is a racing game that came out for the NEC PC Engine CD in 1991. It was developed and published by Telenet Japan, a studio known for several arcade-style titles on the platform. The game was released exclusively in Japan, which means menus and text are all in Japanese. If you are into obscure CD-ROM racers from the early '90s, this is one you might have missed.

You control a car and race through a series of point-to-point courses, each with checkpoints and a time limit. The view is behind your car, similar to other road racers of the era. You steer with the D-pad, accelerate and brake, and need to avoid traffic and obstacles. The goal is to reach the finish line before time runs out while managing your speed around curves. Between races, you can save progress to the CD memory if you have a backup RAM cart.

Road Spirits isn't a classic that everyone remembers, but it's a solid example of what the PC Engine CD could do with early 3D-style racing. The redbook audio tracks give the game a full arcade feel, and the difficulty ramps up steadily. If you enjoy Sega's OutRun or Namco's Final Lap, this is worth a few runs. It's a niche title, but for collectors of Japanese PC Engine CD games, it's a neat piece of the library.

How to Play Road Spirits Online

Getting Started

When you first boot Road Spirits, you will see a title screen in Japanese. Press Enter to start, then select a game mode from the menu. The main options are likely "Start Race" (or similar) and maybe a time trial. Use the D-pad to highlight and press X to confirm. The game will then present a course selection screen, where you choose your route from several options. After that, you pick your car - each has different stats for speed and handling.

Once on the road, you accelerate with the B button (S key) and steer with the D-pad. There is no brake button I think; instead you release the gas to slow down. Watch for oncoming traffic and signs indicating corners. You must reach each checkpoint before the countdown reaches zero - if you fail, it's game over. Between stages you can save progress if you have a backup RAM cart inserted. Since the game is in Japanese, familiarise yourself with the menu layout by trial and error, or look up a translation guide.

Road Spirits Keyboard Controls

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: I button
S: II button
Enter: Run / Start
V: Select

Frequently Asked Questions

Roughly how long does it take to finish Road Spirits?

A single race can be completed in under 10 minutes, but to see all courses and beat the game you are looking at 30 - 60 minutes of play time. It depends on your skill and how many continues you need.

Is there anything iconic or memorable about Road Spirits?

It is one of the early CD-ROM racing games with redbook audio, which gives it a distinct arcade feel. The soundtrack is composed by Miki Higashino, known for her work on other Telenet titles.

Who developed Road Spirits?

Road Spirits was developed and published by Telenet Japan. The team at Telenet also created several other PC Engine CD games, though exact staff details are not widely documented.