The Hell with Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer 4 is Still the King!

Intro:

Yep it’s already up to number four and by the end of this year you’ll be seeing another one on the Playstation 2. The Ridge Racer series has always been classified as “pure arcade racing,” and it’s so very true. So forget about what you’ve learned in driver’s ed. and prepare to put the pedal to the metal in Namco’s fourth title that holds the good name of Ridge Racer.

Gameplay:

Unlike the other Ridge Racers, R4 has a Grand Prix mode that can easily be jumped into. Your first step is to choose a team (each team has a difficult setting) and then you must select which car manufacturer you want. Each manufacturer has something to offer in terms of automobile designs. Before each race you must go through numerous dialogue boxes with the manager of your team. These comments simply add some story and life to the game, but otherwise they're just meant to be a distraction. After all this mumbo jumbo the competition heats up and drama begins.

Before I talk about the races I want to discuss the control and the two important cornering methods. The best way to play R4 is by using analog control, cars handle more responsive and the overall feel is very maneuverable. The directional pad works fine, but it’s not able to convey total control of your automobile. Grip and Drift (different manufacturer offer either one) are the two types of cornering skills you must master in order to successful win at R4. The drift method is must suitable for fast drivers that want to fly around corners in a matter of seconds. The only problem is that sometimes it's harder to control, because you car goes into a long tail slide. The grip method is more of a conservative move, yet it’s still very effective. During a grip turn you have more control, but your speed is greatly reduced.

Your first heat pits you against 7 other drivers and you must achieve 3rd place or better in order to qualify for the next round. The first two tracks are rather big and offer lots of turns and straightaways and basically it’s like a practice run. Your car’s top speed is rather slow; on average you’ll get a car that’s goes 105 mph. So the first two races are merely just warm up compared to the later stages.

Instead of buying new cars or upgrading them you are given one by the manager depending on how well you did in the previous races. A good performance equals a good car, and vice versa. Anyway once you get a car that travels over 125 mph the fun starts. The second and third heats provide the game with some much needed action and competition. No longer are you struggling to get up hills and the speed of the game becomes much more intense. Corners are now becoming harder to master because you are traveling too fast and cutting inches off them can save valuable seconds. There’s always a busy moment when you’re on the road, and there’s never a time where you can stop and take a breather.

I think I’m rambling so I’ll start talking about some of the game’s weak spots. My first complaint would have to be how you obtain new cars. Instead of starting the game with a default car, I want to start off with a decent amount of money and buy one that best suits my driving skills. I want to customize various aspects of it and be able to use that car in the next rounds. And when I mean customize I don’t mean give the car a new paint job, I mean change its frame, tires, engine, brakes, etc. But no, Namco thought it would be a good idea if they pick the cars for you and give you no freedom to fiddle around with stuff under the hood. My second grudge with R4 would have to be that it’s too easy. With a little practice and a fast car you’ll have no problem earning first place. Sure there are a couple of hard tracks, but once you get a hang of them they become no problem. The computer AI doesn’t help out either, they stick to the same linear paths and don’t bother blocking opposing drivers.

Graphics:

The beautifully created intro movie gives us a good glimpse of what to expect in the future with the RR series. The in-game graphics are some of the best you’ll see on the Playstation. There are 8 tracks and each one is close to perfection. Ambient objects like seagulls flying high in the sky, airplanes taking off from a nearby airport, and other cool things that manage to grab your attention, can be easily seen. Cars are all made-up and some are designed in an idealistic manner, for instance a car with three wheels. Nonetheless they still get the job done and provide the game with a stylish look. There are five different locales and each one has a theme to them, such as a nearby harbor or airport.

What was most surprising to me was that the game manages to keep up with a fast and very smooth frame-rate; you won’t see one second of slowdown even when you go around corners. I just loved the way the back taillights are motion blurred and the night courses just look sweat.

Sound:

Music has always played a major role in any RR game, and R4 keeps that tradition going. The music still contains its techno roots, yet some songs are a bit Jazzy and almost too harmonious (I still prefer the techno rock that was found in Rage Racer). Most songs are relaxing and the result is some smooth driving. Sound effects aren’t anything close to what you’ll find in other racing games like Gran Turismo. Engine noises sound the same for most cars and crashing into walls provides no crunching metal. The commentator is corny and his voice is too phony, whatever happened to that deep sexy voice chick from Rage Racer?

Overall:

Ridge Racer 4 offers lots of eye-candy and plenty of high-speed thrills. The lack of car options and the noncompetitive computer AI lessen the game’s depth and replay value. Bottom line: if you like arcade racers or racing games in general go check R4 out, just don’t expect to be occupied for a long time.