An easy game to pick up and play, no fuss whatsoever
-Good single player mode featuring some tight races and unlockable cars
-Brilliant drifting mechanic really makes this game stand out from the rest
-The soundtrack will definitely keep you in a Ridge Racer groove
-Tight controls and good layout
-Cars look very realistic
Cons:
-Gets progressively harder during later stages
-Lack of gameplay modes such as time attack and what not
-It’s pretty much “Crash and be burned”
-Limited amount of tracks and cars
Ridge Racer has proven itself time and time again that it is one of the best racing games ever made for consoles……and now it’s dominating the hand-held universe.
Ridge Racer has always been a pioneer of racing games. Vast landscapes, garages full of cars and some daredevil courses are what you should except from a Ridge Racer game, and the PSP version of the popular series is no different.
The graphics are just as good as its PS2 counterpart, sometimes even surpassing it. There are a few tracks to race, but the developers made sure that each and everyone of them stood out on top. The scenery is beautiful and the textures are wonderful for a portable system. The sound is fairly good featuring some rhythmic beats which suit Ridge Racer’s style of gaming. The controls are really smooth and using the analog stick is much easier than expected. The buttons are pretty much the same comparing it to previous Ridge Racer games, so you won’t have any trouble playing it.
The game uses the same gameplay mechanic like the previous console versions of Ridge Racer. Fast paced racing, mixed with stunning drifts is what you would expect from this game. As a trademark of the Ridge Racer series, you’ll be finding yourself trying to overcome tight turns and some very good competition. One fatal flaw is enough for you to lose the race. You’ll have to learn when to throttle and how to perfect your drifts in due time, otherwise you’ll find yourself in a tight spot in the later rounds. But don’t worry, you’ll be able to learn the ropes in no time.
The World Tour mode is exciting, as well as frustrating at times, because some of the later challenges put before you are hard to overcome. But the rewards are sometimes worth the effort. During EX tour, you get to unlock some of the intro movies of the past games, concept art videos and even some tune-up kits to maximize you cars performance.
Ridge Racer is probably the best racing game the PSP has to offer, after Burnout Legends, and it is definitely worth every dollar.