Square Enix’s Cult Classic Driving RPG “Racing Lagoon” Gets English Fan Translation

22 years ago, Square Enix (then Squaresoft) released Racing Lagoon for the PlayStation. A unique blend of street racing and JRPG mechanics, the game was never released outside of Japan. But as with many examples of “the one that got away,” the game has since developed a cult status among Square devotees. Now, thanks to a group of dedicated translators led by Hilltop, an English fan translation for this high-speed RPG is finally available. 

Racing Lagoon takes place in Yokohama, Japan, where players step into the shoes of greenhorn street racer Sho Akasaki, the newest member of Team Bay Lagoon Racing who is attempting to uncover his forgotten past and the mystery of the “Fastest Legend.” The game is notable for being an early scenario writing credit for Motomu Toriyama (Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy VII Remake), as well as the first musical credit for Takahito Eguchi, who worked alongside the game’s lead composer Noriko Matsueda and would go on to contribute music for Final Fantasy X-2 and several Sonic the Hedgehog games. The duo would eventually marry in 2009.

You can download the Racing Lagoon translation patch from Hilltop’s Patreon. Stay tuned to RPGFan for more coverage of your favorite games!