Straddling a motorcycle, cutting through the wind to unknown lands. How many people keep such a longing for travel tucked away in their hearts? “Fuuraiki 4” is a work that carefully gathers those feelings into a game and delivers them into the player's hands. In this latest installment, released at the milestone of the series' 20th anniversary, the setting moves away from previous locations like Hokkaido and Okinawa to the very “heart” of Japan—Gifu Prefecture. Not many people might instantly think of Gifu as a tourist destination. But that's exactly what makes it interesting. Feeling an unknown land with your own eyes and feet (or tires, to be precise). This game reminds us of the true pleasure of travel.

What's most surprising is the sense of presence in the scenery reproduced by a 360-degree camera. It is a world apart from traditional “still-image backgrounds”; every time you look around, you fall into the illusion that you are truly standing in that place. While looking around is strictly prohibited during actual touring, it's perfectly safe in the game. The sky, mountains, rivers, and even the shops tucked away in small alleys stand there as if speaking to the player. Each time you ride, the scenery that catches your eye is different, and no two moments are the same. This immersion elevates a mere adventure game into a true “travel experience.”

The appeal of “Fuuraiki 4” is that it doesn't end as a simple touring game. As a mid-career reportage writer, the player accepts a request from the Gifu Shimbun and embarks on a four-week journey to participate in “Nohikon,” a magazine article competition. This project, where the quality of your articles is evaluated, requires a reporter's perspective—deciding where to cover and what angle to take—rather than just a tourist's mindset. Talking to locals, touching on history and culture, and capturing the “present of Gifu” through your own lens—the accumulation of these experiences becomes in-game articles, leading to evaluations in a structure filled with reward and discovery.

Familiar to the “Fuuraiki” series, the interactions with heroines at travel destinations remain. This time, three unique heroines illustrated by Yuu Kotachi appear, each accompanying your journey while carrying their own different stories. Meeting by chance in nature and growing closer as you exchange words. However, a journey must eventually end. That transience makes the encounters shine even brighter. Though it's a game, the depictions that cherish a realistic “sense of distance between people” resonate deeply.

The greatest charm of this title is the ability to experience a “grounded reality” that goes beyond mere fiction. Through collaboration with local sightseeing spots, companies, and media, the information and scenery in the game are closely linked to the actual Gifu, giving you the sensation of traveling there as a real reportage writer. Gaining knowledge while enjoying the view and interacting with people—it is truly precious to be able to experience the full joy of travel in a single game.