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Ridge Racer 7
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But let’s be honest. Ridge Racer has been and most likely will always be about game play. Eschewing the simulation path taken by games such as Gran Turismo and Project Gotham Racing, Ridge Racer has become synonymous with arcade racer. For the seventh iteration though, gamers have been thrown a bit of curve with some new wrinkles that you might not expect from the series.

Beautiful scenery, yes, but you’ll be too busy winning to notice.

Of course the nitrous makes a return from previous versions, but Namco Bandai has also included a visual slipstream to aid you in drafting. Additionally, the inclusion of plug-ins to customize your car’s performance is an added feature this year. On the game play front, expect a hefty touring mode, aptly titled Ridge State Grand Prix. This adds an extra element to the single player game that gives the player an incentive to play through the various races and experience the nearly twenty tracks available.

Lest I forget, Ridge Racer 7 also serves up online multiplayer for those that want to rub fenders with the lucky few gamers who managed to snag a PS3 on launch day. The good news is that the sessions I participated in were virtually lag free. There might have been a drop in frame rate occasionally, but it was barely noticeable and did not detract from the experience one bit.

A driving education instructor’s worst nightmare.

Ridge Racer is either a “love it or hate it” racing game for most fans of the genre. There are those on one side of the fence who live for the simulation found in Gran Turismo, conversely there are those that want a simpler experience that provides immediate arcade gratification. With Ridge Racer 7, Namco Bandai tries to throw in a bit of game play to appease both sides. Although not groundbreaking in terms of game play, this is certainly a solid racing title to help fill the PS3 launch.

Review by Michael Harris.

Highs
Superior high definition graphics; steady frame rate; upgradeable cars; comprehensive touring mode in single player; addictive online play.

Lows
Still Ridge Racer through and through…you either love that or you don’t.

Final Verdict
Considering that the only other decent racing title at launch is Need For Speed: Carbon, Ridge Racer seems to be the safest choice for gamers who have a need to burn rubber on November 17th. Its legacy will be the same as all the previous games in the series; a solid launch racing game that will tide you over while you wait for “the next big title.”

81%

Nov 17, 2006