Ridge Racer 7 maintains the feel of the original, while delivering a comprehensive array of levels, challenges and cars.
The difference among the lineage of Ridge Racers can observed in technical quality and quantity.
Quality:
Ridge Racer has always delivered impressive graphics. The original game blew the Arcade audience away in 1993 and when the PlayStation hit the shelves around 1995, this game convinced game consumers that Sony meant serious business with their brand new console. Namco delivered an arcade racer that was slick, beautiful and fun to play. Subsequent releases have each managed to improve over predecessors in terms of visual quality and sound. Ridge Racer 1 demonstrated the superiority of the PlayStation and Ridge Racer Type 4 proved just how much it could deliver under the perfect conditions. Ridge Racer 5 raised the bar and succesfully launched the PlayStation2. With Ridge Racer 7, Namco once again raises the bar and demonstrates just how beautiful a racing game can be in glorious 1080p HD running at maximum framerate.
Quantity:
The original game had one critical shortcoming that seriously tarnished the validity of it's original $49 price tag. Seeing as the game was originally conceived as an arcade title, it essentially only had one level in three different flavours. This seriously limited the replayability of the game. However, all subsequent releases have adressed this issue and Ridge Ridge 7 feature about 10 different courses, all available in several different versions providing for a rich experience and a plethora of curves and corners to explore. The game features 13 different Grand Prix's to compete in and a huge array of additional challenges from the manufactures and the racing association. These challenges will allow you to unlock dozens of cars and lots of special equipment and upgrades that can be used to customise your cars.
The difficulty increases evenly as the game progresses and there are numerous trophies and records to obtain.
Bottomline:
With Ridge Rager 7 you are getting the most beautiful release yet packed with vivid graphics running in high resolution at maximum framerate combined with a pounding electronic soundtrack and some satisfying sound effects. Top quality.
Furthermore you are getting a ****load of levels, grand prix's, cars, challenges, parts, gaming modes, etc. Top quantity.
I can't find any flaws with this game, but since every Ridge Racer has improved upon it predeccesor, I am sure Namco can find something to improve as well, so it's a 9,5 from me.
If you ever forgot why you bought your PS3 and that sexy 46" Full HD LCD, this the ideal reminder for you.