Ridge Racer Critic Reviews

A dream come true for most racing gamers. It takes the very best elements of the home console series so far and presents an incredibly slick racing experience -- all in perfect 16:9.

It's focused, detailed, highly tweaked on gameplay, and loaded with options galore. It's got the old-school greatness of the series and a shiny new gloss rolled into one, with nothing ruined or tarnished in the process.

Thanks to the responsive controls, the over/understeering necessary for drifting soon becomes second nature. The d-pad and analog nub both provide for excellent handling, with neither having a clear advantage over the other.

Namco blows the doors off the PSP with this beautiful arcade racer, and leaves all of the other launch titles in the dust.

Offering silky smooth visuals with some of the most frantic gameplay we’ve seen to date on the diminutive, yet highly capable, machine.

The slick visuals and awesome sound and music rival anything you have ever played on a console.

The verdict is clear, this is the epitome of great racing, handheld or otherwise. It's a greatest hits collection of the greatest arcade racer of all time, presented as stylishly and lovingly as possible. The words 'fast,' 'exciting' and 'beautiful' applies equally to the cars, tracks and gameplay.

To call Ridge Racers on the PSP a satisfying game would be a lie. The entire experience is euphoric, a game that is beyond satisfying and is quite easily one of the finest racers on a handheld to date.

Simply put, it's the best racing game we've played since "Burnout 3," and an amazing portable achievement.

Anyone doubting the power of the handheld will be left eating their words after sampling just one lap of this unbelievably accomplished first effort from Namco.

Serious racers and arcade fans alike are going to love this.

The only requirements needed to have a blast playing Ridge Racer on PSP are (a) a pulse, (b) the skill to be competitive in a driving videogame (not everyone’s cup of tea) and (c) some historical perspective of what this series has meant to Sony in both sales and as a measuring stick of its then-new systems’ power.

Like the Takedown system in "Burnout 3," the new Nitro system in the PSP Ridge Racer takes a great game and, by maximizing one mechanic, makes it even better.

With just enough simulation style presentation to wow gamers and blending in just enough arcade style gameplay to ensure that everyone can enjoy the title, Ridge Racer is a definite pick.

Packed with replayability. There are so many races that this game may take you some time to beat. Plus, this game is perhaps one of the best racing games I have played including any console racing games.

If I had to put a score on it, it would very likely be an eight edging towards a nine, and, in this hypothetical scenario, I'd probably also spend tonight lying awake - not excited about tomorrow (Merry Christmas, by the way), but haunted by the suspicion that I was being too harsh.

The sheer thrill of being able to play better-than-arcade versions of the Rave Racer tracks (probably some of the best in the series) in the palm of your hand is almost worth the price of admission alone... The best Ridge Racer game to date? Without a doubt.

It's simplicity is it's beauty, and it's a testament to Namco's skill that they've managed to make basic arcade racing so fun and so damn addictive. It doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, the AI isn't great (indeed, in places it's seriously poor) and there is no real selling point - apart from the overriding fact that it's pure, unadulterated arcade fun.

Everything racing fans could want: solid graphics, tight controls, expansive courses, unlockable secret vehicles, and (of course) the multiplayer option.

After playing Ridge Racer we can never look at portable racing games the same away again.