Ridge Racer DS (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Given that we've almost covered the launch line up now we thought we'd take a look at one of a handful of titles that you'll have to import if you want to play immediately. Today we're looking at Namco's Ridge Racer which gives gamers an element of choice although given that Gameloft's Asphalt Urban was a launch title there a good chance most racing fans already own one racing title. It's not the first time Ridge Racer has appeared in a new console's launch line-up, the classic arcade racer was battling it out with the original Wipeout on SONY's first journey into the console market over a decade ago. EA's Need for Speed: Underground is due to appear in the coming months but for now it's this and Asphalt Urban. The question is 'Which ones a winner and which needs a immediate service?' Read on and see...

Gameplay

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Ridge Racer is a very short game initially because on start up it only appears to have three separate tracks. These are actually areas however and, like the amount of cars available, they open up when you reach the seemingly unobtainable pole position. Essentially you use the same roads, it's just that different sections are blocked off making for different tracks. The first race will be familiar to almost every gamer on the planet and with only a handful of cars to chose from this is an excellent track to ease yourself into the racing. From there on the whole thing is a bit of a struggle, with aggressive AI opponents doing everything to slow you down. This is another notable difference from Gameloft's effort because, rather than simply spinning you around on contact, the cars here appear to 'bump' you back - sometimes over 50 meters making it incredibly difficult to catch up. You also have to contend with the rather narrow tracks and even when it appears that you can deviate from the marked route the collision detection will quickly point you in the right direction, not to mention slow you down considerably.

Other than the main competition mode (or Grand Prix) described above, you can also indulge in the self explanatory 'Quick Race' or the more essential Car Attack. This mode becomes available after each round of three races and beating each of the three opponents allows you to select the cars for your own use elsewhere. Time Attack allows you to beat the current records on each of the many courses whilst Multiplayer is undoubtedly a gaming highlight. This is because it lets you and a handful of friends race with only a single copy of the game. This is an incredibly enjoyable feature and while you can only upload a single track at any one-time success here will reward you with even more unlockable cars. Hopefully this feature will be included more often than not but the fact that you don't need any cables means that you could be enjoying a multiplayer game anywhere with anyone as long as they have a DS of course. We're assured household appliances are not compatible.

Controls

Like all good racers, Ridge Racer uses a gradual learning curve so you'll only really need to throw your car into a controlled slide around corners when you've completed over half the game. It also features a selection of cars, which handle very differently whilst becoming more powerful and sophisticated as you progress. This is all controlled via the various buttons and 'd-pad', selecting either automatic or manual transmission, but the developers have also approached the DS version from a new angle. To see just what we mean head down to the 'Dual Screen Use' section.

Graphics

While not as eye catching as Asphalt Urban there's no doubting that the overall design here is far better conceived resulting in ultimately more satisfying races. The whole thing also runs at a healthy 30 fps making it look good now as it did on the N64. A lot of attention has also been paid to the front end which is less cluttered than the some other racers making the actual racing very accessible.

Sound

Like Asphalt Urban, Ridge Racer has a jukebox facility allowing you to choose your soundtrack before each race. There are a generous amount of these too, with a few extras to unlock along the way. Also retained is the chirpy compere encouraging you every step of the way even when you're coming in last. The engine noises are a little less impressive sounding more akin to a top of the range lawn mower than anything resembling a high powered race car.

Dual screen

You have to applaud the developers for attempting to use the touch screen in a unique and interesting way. It's also one of the few titles, which uses the DS's 'shoe' as opposed to the stylus to offer an alternative control method. You can use the stylus but it does make the whole experience of driving almost impossible to judge and winning out of the question. The 'shoe' method does give you a greater element of control but the learning curve is incredibly steep and difficult to master especially when you meet one of the more severe corners. With this in mind you're likely to dump the touch screen all together in favor of the more traditional 'd-pad' and while it's encouraging to see developers experimenting with different forms of interaction this one requires a little more work.

Final comments

So, you've had your DS for a few weeks now (or months if you have a Jap or US version) and you've decided to invest in a handheld racer. If you're going for cosmetics then there's no doubting Gameloft with Asphalt Urban is the only choice but if it's a well conceived and ultimately more satisfying experience then you'll find this Namco racer still holds its own in almost every department. It doesn't have as many varied environments but the tracks are more challenging and although your selection of available cars is limited the handling is a much more realistic. Added to this is the excellent multiplayer which can be enjoyed with only a single copy of the game and you can quickly see just why this is the only real choice and while Asphalt Urban has an initial 'wow' factor you'll still be playing this one for months to come.

Pro: Great Multiplayer.
Con: Can Be Tough.
Final score: 7.3

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