Ridge Racer 6

By Tom Bramwell Published 8 December, 2005

Enough drive?

Visually, Ridge Racer 6 serves as a bit of a cautionary tale. You can give developers all the horsepower in the world, but it's the artists that have to make the world look nice.

Ridge Racer 6 doesn't really look nice. It's just bland. The cars look like shiny toys and the sun bounces off road textures, but neither's a more impressive look than the one we saw on the PSP almost exactly a year ago. And the scenery's awful. Rows of boring radar towers, forests of identical trees, streets lined with blocky brown houses - none of which is up to the technical standard of the average wing-mirror in Project Gotham Racing 3. It might be alright if there was a kind of house style to it all, but while it's all very slick it feels like a world devoid of identity as well as imagination and atmosphere. Surely even the developers can tell that designing one forgettable object and then loading five of them in a row isn't going to impress anybody?

The horsepower may not be put to good use under the console's bonnet, then, but there's barely any sense of it at all on the track. Cars zoom along at a fair speed, but while aesthetically and mechanically similar to Ridge Racer on PSP, the wider straights and corners and plodding AI opposition conspire to rob the game of any sense of pace until you've daydreamed your way through a fair chunk of the single-player game. We could put up with the PSP game's slow start because it got faster, harder and tighter later on. Whether this does or not is something I can't comment on yet because I haven't finished it, and yet I've spent more time playing it than it took to complete some of the Xbox 360's launch titles. If it's going to hot up, it should have bloody well done it by now.

The impossible drifting remains, dragging your arse around practically in front of your face until you've made judicious use of the analogue stick to reset your nose, and the nitrous boosts that coiled the springs of your head-spinning passage through the last game's latter stages returns here as well. But the game discourages you from using nitrous, putting little ears on your completed-track icons when you use it to demonstrate where you wussed out or fell short. Even so it's perfectly possible to win without it most of the time - the AI opposition, like the early bits of the PSP game, vanishes completely after a couple of laps in all but a couple of races, and far from enjoying those, you simply snort at the inconsistency of the difficulty curve. Mastering the three different drift types might keep you going, but I've barely had to go near them to ensure victory. By the end of lap two.

'Ridge Racer 6' Screenshot 1

It's more likely it's gritting the road than kicking up the dust.

The single-player World Explorer mode sets you up on a hexagonal grid of little red car icons nestled in amongst blue race icons, and the idea is to thread your own way to the very end of the game by selecting chains of races annex new cars and open up classes as you go. It's a nice theory, but it obviously breeds repetition - and that's repetition of racing that, while perfectly engaging on a purely mechanical basis, hasn't yet shifted into an enjoyable gear. If the classic PSone-era Ridge Racers were rollercoasters, this is the teacups. It reminds of watching a chap at the arcade absent-mindedly looping backward through each turn, the challenge of the early stages long since diminished.

My mission between now and reviewing the game is going to be getting truly stuck in to the Xbox Live modes. Racing against real people is something I haven't been able to do, because whenever I fire it up there's nobody to play with, but the idea of globally ranked races on courses deliberately selected because you can actually see both sides of a straight without using binoculars certainly appeals to me. One thing I have been enjoying in the meantime is the Global Time Attack mode - it's Time Trial with leaderboards and downloadable ghosts. Sure, I'd rather be comparing times in one of the other Ridge Racers, and time-trialling in Mario Kart DS (my principle pastime at the moment) is far more entertaining thanks to that game's wonderfully layered drift set-up and track design, but if you can bring yourself to settle for slightly less than you deserve on the track, I can see this devouring entire evenings. That said, I've been perfectly happy letting PGR3 devour them in much the same way - and that's a better game on every level, and far more varied.

'Ridge Racer 6' Screenshot 2

The dynamic drift class demands a feathery touch, but the game doesn't seem to demand the dynamic drift...

I'm not going to draw conclusions yet, but you can tell how I feel about it all: completely nonplussed. The only excitement I've experienced so far was that of the hilariously animated announcer, whose drivel-tastic repertoire of clichéd commentary merely served to narrow my eyes until one too many "All haaail to the CHIEF!" comments sent me in search of the "off" button. Thankfully there is one. The game itself hasn't had me reaching for the Xbox's yet, but it's going to have to work quite hard in the next few days to score anything beyond the numerical reach of the average gearbox.

Ridge Racer 6 is due out in Europe on January 20th.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • KingOfSpain #1 6 years ago

    oh dear. what have they done now?

  • myiagros #2 6 years ago

    Sounds like a glossier online version of the PSP one. By the way that is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. Definately one to get when i can afford a machine.

  • Scientist #3 6 years ago

    "Developer: Namco Europe"

    Really!?!

  • Eighthours #4 6 years ago

    I think I'd be more worried about Ridge Racer fanboys coming in and insisting that it's amazing and PGR3's bland, rather than 360 fans who've been able to predict this game's mediocrity right from the early screens and footage.

  • arnoldo_strikes_back #5 6 years ago

    looks similar to the PSP version, which got a 9 here right?

    *sticks to PGR3*

    oh and that kameo score, wtf? it's an awesome game!

  • myiagros #6 6 years ago

    whats the rekoning on this appearing on PS3 for launch?

    wheter or not it happens i doubt it will make much difference as i don't expect this to sell particularly well on either

  • morriss #7 6 years ago

    PLease. NO. MORE. DRIVING. GAMES!! ffs

  • groovychainsaw #8 6 years ago

    Meh. Thought this looked poor on the videos anyway. I've got project gotham, I'm happy with that!

  • Talha #9 6 years ago

    @disc: You were right.

  • LOLLERS #10 6 years ago

    looks rough! That orange car is awful, I don't think I could stand to look at the back end of that for an entire race!

  • Darren #11 6 years ago

    I don't really care what Eurogamer think of the game (5/10 anyone?), I know I'll like it anyway so I'm getting the game. It's been averaging around 7/10 overall from the US reviews and that's good enough for me. I enjoyed every Ridge Racer game I've played since the first one on the PlayStation and I don't see it being any different for the 360 version.

  • Talha #12 6 years ago

    @Darren: Go ahead and get it by all means, but 7s from US sites means the game is WAY below average. Ask anyone.

  • bionutz #13 6 years ago

    Darren, if you're a fan, of course you should buy it. After all people buy Ipods not exactly because they're really good (because they're not).
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 10:31

  • sleepless #14 6 years ago

    If only Ridge Racer 6 was Xbox 360 EU launch title...my shiny new overheating Xbox 360 could have been sitting under shiny new HD telly right now. Instead, I have to shell my money to someone else :)

  • Cyhwuhx #15 6 years ago

    .::: Shame the tracks are pretty bland in this one. I'm still getting it, but more out of a collector's point of view rather than a gamer's. Ridge Racer (PSP) is far more enjoyable.

  • arnoldo_strikes_back #16 6 years ago

    ipods are actually really good.

  • Jesskaah #17 6 years ago

    People should run in horror if something is getting a 7 from a US site. That basically spells AVERAGE, or a 5/10 in any sane person's language.

  • Dizzy #18 6 years ago

    Ridge racer seems to have a fair share of fans.. I never understood why. PGR3 is *the* racer to get on the 360 but I have seen a lot of my friends drooling over this. I don't think it is the quality... I think people just like racing ;) and RR series has a long history and a certain play style that a lot of people like. Maybe you should judge this game as compared to the other RR games, not against other racing games.

    The Live stuff could be good... but it is a big "meh" from me.

    /hopes that Rallisport will get a 360 version
    Edited by 3 at 08/12/05 @ 10:35

  • Talha #19 6 years ago

    @Dizzy : Actually RR has been in a lot of arcades and on a lot of platforms for considerably longer than PGR.

    I just hope RalliSport 2 gets a PC port. Eh, how about it, MS? After all, Windows is the premiere gaming platform, right?

  • Razz #20 6 years ago

    Told you so. This game sucks.

  • captainrentboy #21 6 years ago

    Ahhh,talking of pgr3 ,I was in work the other day(Game) and a couple of particularly dull chavs gathered around the xbox 360 pod,and gave pgr3 a go,so I stood behind and watched them play,basically trying to avoid anything resembling work,here's what I heard.
    *After playing the game for no longer than a minute and REPEATEDLY crashing into anything and everything in that short period,*
    chav 1:Man this game is crap look at the graphics,they're better on the ps2,I can't wait until the ps3 comes out it'll be 10 times better.*lets go of pad in disgust*
    chav 2:Yeah I know man it looks shit,you know the best thing about the ps3 dont you?
    chav 1:What?
    chav 2:It's got bluetooth controllers.....
    I had to leave then as it was all too much,of all the promising features on the ps3 he picked the fooking controllers.God they're thick.
    And why can't the dullards get into their heads that the ''x'' button on a pad doesn't always accelerate a car,and that there are triggers on an xbox pad,which feel considerably better.
    Fuck,I really hate chavs.
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 11:02

  • Dizzy #22 6 years ago

    >chav 2:It's got bluetooth controllers.....

    Excellent!

    Best feature ever!
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 11:04

  • neon #23 6 years ago

    Looks very average. The cars look higher tri than Xbox1, but some how the screen shots donot impress as much as those for GT4 on Playstation2 :)

  • myiagros #24 6 years ago

    chav two probably fancies walking round with a boomerang behind his ear.

  • Talha #25 6 years ago

    @captainrentboy : And do we say 'non-chavs' just keep busy posting pointless stories which are not even funny, instead of playing their beloved game?

    EDIT: ;-) (missing earlier - but probably too late)
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 11:20

  • Furbs #26 6 years ago

    Well I found it funny Talha. Certainly more entertaining than some of yours :)

  • Talha #27 6 years ago

    @Furbs: Oops, I forgot to add ;-) at the end of my post. Now I guess I am in for a good spanking! And hey, don't you dare accuse me of not being funny - I can be funny with my eyes closed and hanging upside down!!!

  • TripSkyway #28 6 years ago

    I wasn't to keen on the demo I played, seemed a bit bland. I'm not a massive fan of Ridge Racer anyhow though. It did however stand out as having the best, most stable frame rate of the games in the Tokyo Lounge.

  • Beano #29 6 years ago

    It may look a bit bland and non-next-gen, but I love the RR series and will buy this one also :)

  • Hicksy #30 6 years ago

    Ridge Racer games are so simplistic they make my brain melt

    May as well be playing pong

    Not taht there is anything wrong with pong mind :D But that lasts 10-15mins tops... RR lasts for 15hrs :(

  • AgentCooper #31 6 years ago

    "Ridge racer seems to have a fair share of fans.. I never understood why. PGR3 is *the* racer to get on the 360 but I have seen a lot of my friends drooling over this. I don't think it is the quality... I think people just like racing ;) and RR series has a long history and a certain play style that a lot of people like. Maybe you should judge this game as compared to the other RR games, not against other racing games. "

    See, I've never understood the fascination with MSR, it never ever appealed to me in the slightest, same with PGR, PGR and having played PGR3 on my mates 360 same there.

    I guess it's just different tastes for different people. For me RRType 4 was and maybe still is the best racer I've ever played.

  • MrGrumpy.au #32 6 years ago

    Sorry about this but what is a "chav", is it as an Australian would call a "bogon"?

    i.e.
    a/ Loves heavy/death metal.
    b/ Loves living/ripping off welfare.
    c/ Has multiple children which are all around 5-6 years younger than their parents.
    d/ Fights anyone just cause it's their right to.
    e/ Doesn't know what a shower or a bath is.

    Is that right? I read this all the time here and being on the other side of the world I haven't really a clue what it meant.

    I apologise for going so off topic.

    Edit: Fixed spelling, yes there is a bit of sarcasm in this post. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 14:24

  • Feanor #33 6 years ago

    "I'm not going to draw conclusions yet, but you can tell how I feel about it all: completely nonplussed."

    Why are you completely "filled with bewilderment"? (That's what nonplussed means, it doesn't mean unimpressed.)

    I love how so many people are bagging American websites for too high scores. There are dozens of American websites that review games, and they're not all the same as IGN. And it wasn't an American website that gave FIFA Street 8/10.
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/05 @ 14:25

  • Scientist #34 6 years ago

    Sorry about this but what is a "chav", is it as an Australian would call a "bogon"?


    Go to www.chavscum.co.uk and you should get an idea as to what they are.

  • Aretak #35 6 years ago

    They'll never match R4 on the PSone. Time to stop trying.

  • l_p_4_7 #36 6 years ago

    But the thing is, I'm not sure they're trying to top R4. Every RR since that one has been merely a rehash and as a result actually gone backwards...

  • MrGrumpy.au #37 6 years ago

    Thanks Scientist I now understand. lol