Ridge Racer

UPC: 722674160018

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.

Developer: Cellius, Inc.

Category: Racing

Style(s): Sports Car Racing

Synopsis: Namco's seminal racing series continues on PlayStation Vita with online support for up to eight players. An updated presentation offers advanced lighting effects and fast-paced, arcade-style action that includes an all-new drift system. Players can customize the amount of drift based on their racing style as well as upgrade a variety of parts on their car. New to the franchise is the "Planetary League," where players can join one of four racing teams and challenge drivers from around the world. In addition to online races, players can download and exchange ghost replays in an attempt to beat their rivals' fastest times. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Ridge Racer Gold Pass

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The profitability associated with digital content has placed increased pressure on publishers to consider reducing a game's features and release them a la carte as paid downloads. It's a gamble, of course, and one that risks alienating buyers. Ridge Racer for PlayStation Vita does just that, treating owners like dollar signs instead of the loyal fans who helped make the arcade-style racing franchise a success. Instead of offering a similar experience to previous Ridge Racers on the handheld, the publisher instead pared down content in order to entice (trick?) those who purchase the game into buying what should have been included in the first place. Ridge Racer for Vita offers the fewest courses, play modes, and cars of any previous game in the series, handheld or console. The game includes a paltry five vehicles (five!) and three courses (three!), and no single-player career mode. Instead, the focus is on multiplayer races, either locally or online, but even these have no sense of structure. Your only options are to select the vehicle and course before competing in a single race. As you race, you'll earn points based on your overall finish that can be used to purchase upgrades. You'll also be able to level up your vehicle to receive enhanced attributes over time. Unfortunately, that's all there is to the game. You'll have to play the same courses over and over again, and there's no real sense of progression in terms of developing a career, visiting different destinations across the globe, and so forth. To get more cars and courses, you're encouraged to download various packs at extra cost. The good news for early adopters is that the first pack of five cars and three courses was available as a free download until April 30, 2012. Yet even with this "bonus," the game is too limited in scope to recommend. It's a release that should have been free to play, which would have at least made the extra car and course packages somewhat palatable. Instead, it just feels like a shakedown after being robbed. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.