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Yakuza Kiwami Pocket Circuit Guide: Racing Circuits and Strategy

by RPG Site Staff on 02 September, 2017

One of the more difficult mini-games in Yakuza Kiwami is the Pocket Racing Circuit. Pocket Racing is Yakuza's take on RC racing, where contestants must build and modify small RC cars and pit them against others on an RC race track. Which is exactly what makes it such a tough activity, and it's even more involved here in Yakuza Kiwami than it was in Yakuza 0.

How unlock Pocket Circuit racing

First, make your way to Shichifuku Street West, the Pocket Circuit Stadium is on the west end of the street. As you approach you will meet the Pocket Circuit Fighter, after you talk to him for a bit you'll have the option to start The Fighter's Successor substory. You will need to accept that sub story in order to unlock Pocket racing, as he will give you the Golem Tiger(your first RC car) and some spare parts. If you talk to him again after that, you'll finally have the option to enter a tournament, customize your car, and even partake in test runs.

It isn't mandatory to complete The Fighter's Successor substory in order to enter a tournament, but it is recommended as it gives you additional items.

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Completing The Fighter's Successor substory

There is a great engine part you can receive called the Godspeed Motor Mark II if you complete this substory, so you should do it before starting the tournament. After you speak with the Pocket Circuit Fighter and he gives you the Golem Tiger, head to Club Sega on Theater Avenue to proceed with the substory. There you will meet Hideki, after a series of cutscenes he'll challenge you to a race at the Pocket Circuit Stadium, head back there and defeat him in a race. Afterwards, head to Stardust until you see the look-prompt come up. Doing so will trigger another series of cutscenes, then go back to Pocket Circuit Stadium for yet another race. Finally, you will challenge the Pocket Circuit Fighter and race him. 

Where to buy Pocket Racing parts

Purchasing new parts is really important, and they are sold at several different locations. The Pocket Circuit parts shop is the obvious place, but you can also purchase parts from the west park weapons dealer, the Ebisu Pawn Shop, and even Don Quijote. Buy every part from each of these retailers, you're going to need them.

The only way you're actually going to be able to put up serious competition is to buy new parts and switch them out regularly.

General racing strategy

The toughest thing about Pocket Racing is just the random factors are involved. Sometimes you will lose a race just because your car randomly flew off the circuit, and there's nothing you can do about it. You should practice every track at least once just to get a feel for the layout before truly going for the win. It's easy to think you can just hammer on your boost button and get well ahead of the other cars, but if you try to do it this way you'll probably just fly off the track even faster. Use boost sparingly and wait for long stretches of the track to use it.

Every car part has a different cost limit, and so does every track. For example, the beginner cup has a cost limit of 25 while the Pro-am Race has a cost of 35. There is no be-all-end-all car build that will win you every race, so you're going need to experiment and see what works.

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Racing Circuit Overview and Recommended Parts

There are a total of 14 racing circuits you will need to win in order to complete the Pocket Racing minigame. Below are the details for each track in terms of distance your car needs to travel, the cost limit for each, the number of laps, and the parts/cars we recommend. You should also follow our Lockers Guide so you know where to find the Cool Striker car, it'll make some of these races a lot easier. 

Disclaimer: The recommended parts below that worked for us, but as stated earlier there is no-be-all-end-all car build for each track. There is a lot of RNG involved in this minigame and you can go into a race with the same build numerous times and get a different result every time even if your parts and playstyle don't change at all. Be patient with it, and use boost sparingly. Sometimes a competitor will start out way ahead of you but in time you will lap them even without boost. Know that your car can fly off the track for seemingly no reason, regardless of playstyle or build.

Introductory Race

  • Total Distance: 88.1m
  • Cost Limit: 20
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, High Speed Battery, Speed Motor, Balanced Gears, Slick Tires, Balanced Frame

Little Racer Cup

  • Total Distance: 147.3m
  • Cost Limit: 20
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Speed Frame, Speed Motor, Regular Gears, Regular Battery, Soft Tires

Rookie Race

  • Total Distance: 196.1m
  • Cost Limit: 25
  • Laps: 12
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Speed Frame Plus, Speed Motor Plus, Balanced Gears Plus, High Speed Battery, Slim Tires Plus

Beginner Cup

  • Total Distance: 195.7m
  • Cost Limit: 25
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Spiked Tires, Speed Frame Plus, Speed Motor Plus, Balanced Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery

Amateur Cup

  • Total Distance: 179.4m
  • Cost Limit: 25
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Extra Spiked Tires, Extra Metal Frame, Extra Speed Motor, Extra Balanced Gears, High Speed Battery

Standard Cup

  • Total Distance: 194.3m
  • Cost Limit: 30
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Extra Slick Tires, Extra Metal Frame, Extra Speed Motor, Extra Balanced Gears, High Speed Battery, Medium Suspension

Intermediate Cup

  • Total Distance: 220.7m
  • Cost Limit: 30
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Extra Slick Tires, Super Rocket Frame, Super Speed Motor, Boost Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Medium Suspension

Advanced Cup

  • Total Distance: 223.9m
  • Cost Limit: 30
  • Laps: 12
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Super Slick Tires, Super Speed Frame, Super Speed Motor, Boost Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Medium Suspension

Pro-am Race

  • Total Distance: 238.6m
  • Cost Limit: 35
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Slick Tires, Ultra Speed Frame, Super Speed Motor , Extra Boost Gears, High Speed Battery, Medium Suspension

Elite Cup

  • Total Distance: 192.6m
  • Cost Limit: 35
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Slick Tires, Ultra Rocket Frame, Godspeed Motor, Extra Boost Gears, High Speed Battery, Medium Suspension

Expert Race

  • Total Distance: 240.6m
  • Cost Limit: 40
  • Laps: 8
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Slick Tires, Rubber Frame Plus, Godspeed Motor, Super Boost Gears, High Capacity Battery, Medium Suspension

Master Cup

  • Total Distance: 262.1m
  • Cost Limit: 40
  • Laps: 12
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Spiked Tires, Ultra Rocket Frame, Godspeed Motor, Ultra Boost Gears, High Capacity Battery, Heavy suspension

Champion Cup

  • Total Distance: 220.6
  • Cost Limit: 45
  • Laps: 4
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Spiked Tires, Ultra Rubber Frame, Godspeed Motor, Ultra Boost Gears, Regular Battery, Heavy suspension, Bumper Plate

2005 King of Speed Cup

  • Total Distance: 256.8m
  • Cost Limit: 45
  • Laps: 12
  • Recommended Parts: Cool Striker, Ultra Slim Tires, Ultra Metal Frame, Ultra Godspeed Motor, Ultra Boost Gears, High Capacity Battery, Heavy suspension, Bumper Plate