Conspiracy Entertainment's almost selfless devotion to localizing and releasing quality Japanese games has long been well established. The publisher's latest endeavor is called Gadget Racers, though it's known across the Pacific as the PS2 installment in Takara's perennial Choro Q series--Choro Q HG. Quite popular in Japan, the games revolve around life-sized penny cars and the races in which the cars engage. The series is known for its lighthearted design, deep level of customization, and unique set of physics. Gadget Racers manages to keep all of these elements intact and sports the added bonus of having been translated to English.

Gran Turismo's influence on the Choro Q series is very tangible in Gadget Racers. Heavy customization element aside, the game's structure, as well as its feature set, is nearly identical to that found in the classic racing line. The game's grand prix mode is essentially a facsimile of (or a tribute to) Gran Turismo's simulation mode--it boasts several sets of individual races that you can run for money, as well as several circuits and component-specific events. As you progress through the game, you'll gain access to both new opportunities to race and new shops full of wares that boost the power of your little racer.