Review:
RIDGE RACER 2
Genre: Racing
Publisher: Sony
Players: 1-8 (AD Hoc)
Online Play: No
Firmware: 2.81
Video: Coming Soon
Annual rehashes might sound like a page out of EA's business model, but in truth the largest video game publisher in the world is only really guilty of doing so with its sports games, which more often than not appeal to a huge audience of casual gamers. Namco, a Japanese company with quite a pedigree, is one of the most respected developers amongst so called 'hardcore' gamers, but it seems even they can't turn down a simple opportunity for a rehash and some easy money. Ridge Racer 2 for the PSP is the sequel to the stunning PSP launch title, but it's one of the cheapest sequels I've ever seen.
Before detailing why Ridge Racer 2 is a pretty shameful release, I'll explain why it's also the amongst the best racing games available on the PSP. Yes, it's a tricky concept to get your head around, but Ridge Racer 2, the cheapest of cheap rehashes, is the best pure arcade racer you can buy (only just beating Burnout Legends) for your PSP. It's a damn fine game, mixing superbly satisfying arcade gameplay (this is drift heaven), with visuals that make most other PSP games weep. Controlled via the analogue nub or the d-pad, it's a real treat, and the AD Hoc multiplayer is a superb way to spend a few hours with your pals.
However, there's simply not enough new content to make the game a proper sequel. At most it could have been labeled Ridge Racer ‘ Special Edition’ and, if it had also been released at a budget price, then it wouldn't have been anywhere near as offensive. Still, Ridge Racer fans are a special breed, so the small number of new additions might well be enough to make them part with the cash.
As a game judged without taking the first game into account, it's a great package. The new tracks take the total to more than twenty, there are twelve new music tracks, and two new game modes. Online play, which is the mode everyone wanted isn't included, but Duel and Survival modes give you something to do outside of the World Tour and Arcade mode. They're pretty much as the names suggest, with Duel being races against a single opponent, while Survival is a simple lap by lap knockout. They feel more like filler than new content, but Ridge Racer fans may well lap it up.
Being a near exact copy of its predecessor, Ridge Racer 2 shares the original PSP game's problems too - the biggest of which is the difficulty. For your first few hours racing in the World Tour you'll barely break a sweat, and if you happen to have played the first game, and played all the way through the World Tour, this slow start will be even harder to put up with. A number of the new cars aren't all that new either, looking like they're fresh off the production line, but in actual fact are just remodeled versions of old cars.
Ridge Racer 2 is a stunning arcade racer which really must not be forgotten about, or criticized on its own. However if you’ve got Ridge Racer, then it would seem pretty pointless in my opinion to splash quite a bit of your cash on this game. The game still doesn’t offer an online game mode, which was a huge loss against its release date rival Need For Speed Carbon: Own The City which really did have some original features to boast about against its previous PSP titles. Needless to say this game is still great fun, so as long as you’re not desperate to have this game, I would suggest waiting a while longer and see what Namco have to offer with Ridge Racer 3.
The verdict:
Uppers:
- Great fun arcade racer
- Stunning visual
- Stylish cars
Downers:
- It’s almost the same as Ridge Racer
- No online play
- Not worth its buck
Overall score: 75%
Henry
18/03/2007
Linear Mode
