Ridge Racer 6 – 360 – Review

As always, it’s
great to see the Ridge Racer series almost always add their own brand of
quirky, high-speed racing action on most new consoles from the original
PlayStation to the new PSP. While most racing games go for a faithful simulation
the Ridge Racer games were always a lot more loose and thus wild racing
game. Now Ridge Racer 6 is here and it’s come in time for the launch of
the Xbox 360. While it’s not an incredible step in a new direction, it’s good to
see this racing franchise continue on yet another new platform. Step on the gas
because the racing is hot.

Namco’s racing
series was always a fast-paced arcade racer that throws realism out the window
and this sixth game in the series isn’t any different. You’ll still perform some
crazy drifts and go behind the wheel of the most sleek concept cars that all
seem to push the nitro to new ridiculous heights. It’s a game where you’re
rewarded for making the sharpest of turns in the middle of an intense race where
your rivals stop at nothing to win the race. Ridge Racer 6 is still the
racing title to turn to when you want to escape the simulators out there. Is it
better than the Xbox 360’s other racing game, Project Gotham Racing 3? Well, not
exactly but it’s still a game that has a lot to offer fans of the genre.

A funny thing
happens when the game starts up, you’ll get a chance to play a quick round of
the game that Namco built, Pac-Man. It’s a quick round, really but what a good
way to start an arcade-styled racer. The game’s single-player mode, World
Xplorer, is a lengthy mode that has you exploring the Ridge Universe (seen as a
map with various race icons) and has you competing in a number of races with
different rules. You’ll unlock prizes and open the universe further for more
challenging races over 30 courses. It is here that you get to unlock new
machines (cars) to use in the game’s other modes.

The race types
you’ll participate in range from the normal races against a set number of AI
controlled opponents to Duel races that are one-on-one affairs. There’s even a
four machine race but the best races come with conditions like no nitrous used
to nitro used to clear each race. There’s a Single Race, a three lap mode that
allows you to use any course and machine you just happen to unlock in the game’s
World Xplorer mode. Global Time Attack modes has you racing on your own in a
timed race and then try the course again to beat a “ghost” representing your
first time.

The controls are
similar to past Ridge Racer games and they feel right at home on the Xbox
360. The default controls work well enough but you can always set them to fit
your preference. Either way the game feels quite comfortable and that’s a good
thing since you’ll be pulling off some crazy drifts while rounding corners. It’s
not the smooth last-minute turns you manage to pull off in other racing games
but rather it’s like sliding across ice. It’s unrealistic, yes, but that’s the
charm of the Ridge Racer games. Secondly, there’s a nitrous gauge that
fills up and when you punch it for an extra kick your car will jolt and send you
speeding around the course. Each course is nicely designed, although if you’re
looking for shortcuts or hidden areas you’re out of luck. The machines you’ll
drive are inspired by some real concept cars while others are unrealistic in
design.

Ridge Racer 6
is big on
multiplayer and it allows you to play against a friend with Multi Battle mode. A
split-screen race mode fit for two players, you create a race using courses and
machines you managed to unlock and have stored in your Garage (used to house all
your unlocked vehicles). The best feature, though, is the game’s Xbox Live
online multiplayer mode. Up to 14 players can race each another in various race
types and the game moves at a steady pace that doesn’t break up the game’s fast
and furious pace.

Visually, the
game isn’t ground-breaking Xbox 360 graphics but what is here is nice. The race
courses aren’t flashy nor are they particularly impressive in scope but courses
like the Rave City Riverfront do stand out with detail. The cars look decent at
the starting line but once they pick up speed the blur effects just don’t work.
The various cars have plenty of personality and that’s a good thing.

The game’s
sound, however, is where the game really disappoints. The electronica music is
soothing and actually pretty good but sometimes it feels out of place in a game
that’s got loud revving engines and cars speeding past you on a nitrous boost.
You can always use your own tunes, which is a better alternative but if you like
good electronica the tunes fit the bill. What will drive you nuts is the
DJ/announcer/commentator that gets more and more annoying throughout each race.
He doesn’t fail to point out the obvious and hardly has anything helpful to say
but his cheesy comments just make you want to turn down the volume really low.

Ridge Racer 6
for the Xbox
360 isn’t a step forward for the series but its still one of the most
entertaining racing games you’ll want to have with you when you want a break
from a racing simulation. It’s not a game that shows off some serious eye candy
but when it comes to a solid arcade racer for your new console then accept no
substitute. 

Gameplay: 8.0
It’s a
Ridge Racer game, alright, and it plays like the past games in the series.
The racing action is solid as past games in the series and the single-player
campaign is nicely lengthy.  There are a number of interesting machines to drive
but some of the courses are a bit on the bland side. Other than that this is an
exciting racing game.

Graphics: 7.0
A
disappointment for anyone who thinks this game takes advantage of the new
system’s graphical capabilities; Ridge Racer 6 is not an amazing-looking
360 game. It lacks the sharp textures and detailed environments. Even the cars
themselves, while sharp and rendered well enough, just look a bit blurry during
races. It could have been better than this.

Sound: 6.0
When it comes
to the game’s only commentator you’ll either want to strangle him or have the
mute button handy. The music is pure thumping electronica that’s not bad but if
you want to use your own tunes you definitely can thanks to the Custom
Soundtrack feature available.

Difficulty:
Medium/Hard
Early in the
game you will go head-to-head with some serious racers that hardly ever seem to
make a mistake at all. Drifts aren’t easy to pull off and take practice but the
real challenges here are navigating through some of the most unpredictable
courses in the game.

Concept: 8.5

Play a quick
game of Pac-Man while you’re waiting to load up a game filled with more
than 100 cars and just enough courses to keep you from getting bored. There are
some good unlockable goodies to play with in the game and multiplayer options.
Better yet is the promised downloadable content sure to hit the Xbox Live
Marketplace.

Multiplayer:
8.5
Whether you’re
playing a split-screen Multi Battle race against a friend using one Xbox 360 or
racing against up to 14 of them you’ll have a blast online. I ran into no
slowdowns or hiccups but there were less 14-player races out there. Take your
favorite machine and race against players more your, well, speed.

Overall: 8.0
Ridge Racer
6 for the Xbox
360 won’t knock our socks off but if you’re a fan of racing games, its stylish
racing action will not fail to hook you from the starting line. Its visuals
aren’t even as breathtaking as those found in Project Gotham Racing 3 but
if it’s wild racing action you seek then this one won’t let you down.