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Ridge Racer DS

 

 

SCORE: 80

 

Ridge Racer DS 

 

Could someone please explain to me this association many game developers have with fast cars, and undressing women? As if exploiting women somehow enhances the racing action. As if enticing young (and maybe old) men to lust is a worthwhile goal. It adds nothing to the game, and in fact takes away from it. Ridge Racer DS takes Namco's well known racing franchise on to the Nintendo DS. This is the franchise that has always done a great job at drifting around the corners. Once the player has that down pat, they will win almost every time.

Graphically this game is okay for its time era (released in the fall of 2006 for the launch of the Nintendo DS). The knock this reviewer has on the graphics is they are scaled down models of earlier Ridge Racer games. A lot of the race tracks seem borrowed from the Nintendo 64 version. Of course there is the woman with her zipped down top, exposing a huge amount of cleavage. This is on one of the starting menu screens, so it can not be avoided. Why must developers force this upon impressionable minds, and the ESRB say that is for everyone? The graphics range for different times of the day, which makes dusk driving much more difficult. The brake lights of the vehicles have a nice after effect that is pretty cool. The whole screen shakes as the player hits a wall, or another car.

The sounds are really nicely done, as there are quite a few techno tracks to be picked from. These are also recycled from previous Ridge Racer games on other systems. The announcer who tells you that you won, or someone is on your tail; comes across very crisp, and clear. Crashing into walls (or other cars) has a distinctive crunch sound.

Like most racing games, there are a few tracks to race, and the rest are unlockable. Sadly many of these courses are the same courses reversed. Racing games have done this for awhile, and it is done to trick the player. Most players memorize the curves, and when to turn. Running a course backwards, of mirrored reverses all those, and will trip up the player. After each set of three races are beaten, cars can now be raced, and when beaten used. If multiple people have the same cart, then they can race each other. It is a toss up whether this game is worth the money or not. The enticement to lust is a real annoying feature that did not need to be there.

Ridge Racer DS can be controlled with the D-pad, or with the touch screen. The touch screen has a steering wheel that the player can use. It is a most interesting interface attempt, however the D-pad seems to work better in my humble opinion. The drifting works great on hard corners, that is actually a lot of fun. Other racing games I have tried have a problem with winding up facing a wall after even some of the smallest curves. Thankfully Ridge Racer DS does not have this problem. As far as racing action goes it is more arcade style, and this reviewer prefers that. The racing action is a lot of fun.

Speeding down the road at breakneck speeds is certainly not something this reviewer would recommend in real life, in fact it is discouraged. The enticement to lust, and exploitation of women are additional problem. If Namco could take that away from the game in a sequel, it could be a lot of fun for the entire family. Some video games are like this one, where they have some good in them, and they have some bad in them. I was embarrassed to be playing this game when anyone would see that screen with the scantily clad woman.
- Paul

 

Graphics: 72%
Sound: 89%
Replay/Extras: 80%
Gameplay: 94%
Family Friendly Factor: 67%
System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Rating:
'E' for Everyone
{Mild Suggestive Themes}


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