Many racing titles have released in the recent months across various consoles. Big name titles include Gran Turismo 4 for the Playstation 2, Need for Speed Undergourd 2 which has released on numerous platforms, and other racing ventures. The overcrowded racing genre is ever expanding, and even though there has been a limit to the innovation that was once tagged to the genre there are still many titles that stand out and truly shine.

The launch of the Playstation Portable has come and gone, and some truly amazing titles have been released for the handheld across many genres. Ranging from puzzle to action, from role playing to racing, the Playstation Portable has many great offerings for different types of gamers. But one genre stands above the rest, and that is the genre of racing amidst the Playstation Portable launch titles.

One of the best racers to hit the Playstation Portable thus far has been WipeOut Pure, and it truly shines light on what the Playstation Portable can achieve in terms of not only gameplay, but many other aspects such as visuals and sound. But if there is one game that truly exemplifies the strengths of the Playstation Portable, it is Ridge Racer from Namco. Introducing the prettiest visuals on the Playstation Portable and gameplay mechanics that coordinate themselves with the graphics beautifully, Ridge Racer is one of the best racers to hit the scene in early 2005, and not only on the Playstation Portable, but across all platforms.

Features

• New installment in the Ridge Racer series
  
• Race through urban streets and exotic locales in the most realistic looking racer to ever hit a handheld
  
• Choose from a number of vehicles in different race classes
  
• A wealth of modes including Single Race, Time Attack, and World Tours
  
• Compete and immerse yourself into the world of Ridge Racer in the World Tours game mode
  
• Compete against a friend in the Wireless Battle game mode.
  
• Choose from many different Background Music tracks to listen to while you race with all new songs put together for the Playstation Portable version of Ridge Racers
  

Presentation
When you first boot up Ridge Racer, it seems like any other normal games. But soon enough the game introduces you to an opening FMV sequence, and one can’t help but be amazed at the quality, and what they are actually experiencing on a handheld. It is very impressive to say the least. The menu in Ridge Racer is easy to use and is set up nicely, and is not confusing at the least. The loading times are bearable, and only last for up to fifteen seconds at the most. Overall the presentation is very nicely done, and delivers a stunning first time experience to those who are not expecting something this grand on a handheld platform.


The new Nitro boost feature in action.

Gameplay
There is always one thing that you expect to feel when playing a game…a certain immersion that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Well in racing games, that ‘thing’ is normally speed, which is what Ridge Racers revolves around and pulls of so well. Namco has implemented a new Nitro system for the Playstation Portable Ridge Racer, and it expands nicely upon the overall experience and actually benefits the gameplay, and gives the player that extra edge in a race. When drifting and making a tight turn, or kicking in the nitrous to boost yourself ahead of the competition, one can’t help but feel the speed that ensues when experiencing Ridge Racer.

There are many different gameplay modes in Ridge Racer that are sure to keep the player busy for quite some time. These modes include World Tours, Single Race, Time Attack, and Wireless Battle. These entire modes offer up different challenges at the player’s disposal, but the main mode for players is World Tours which provides hours upon hours of racing action in various tournament tours.