Originally released in the arcades in 1993, the Ridge Racer series soon became popular among the first wave of 32-bit, 3D-capable consoles, but more specifically, Sony’s PlayStation. After receiving three sequels on the five-year-old platform, Ridge Racer is now ready to move to successor, PlayStation 2.

Ridge Racer 5, the first Namco game to be seen on the next generation console, is without a doubt the best looking instalment to date. Since developers Namco have not taken the opportun ... more >>

Originally released in the arcades in 1993, the Ridge Racer series soon became popular among the first wave of 32-bit, 3D-capable consoles, but more specifically, Sony’s PlayStation. After receiving three sequels on the five-year-old platform, Ridge Racer is now ready to move to successor, PlayStation 2.

Ridge Racer 5, the first Namco game to be seen on the next generation console, is without a doubt the best looking instalment to date. Since developers Namco have not taken the opportunity to use PlayStation 2’s full potential, it could be said that RR5 would have benefited from extended development time. However, Namco’s racing franchise is so well established that it is likely to sell at least reasonably well as a launch title. Although there are a new set of tracks, Ridge Racer 5 has returned to the old style, traditional arcade gameplay that was lacking in predecessor, Ridge Racer Type 4. You can once again power slide around some of Ridge Racer City’s most treacherous circuits, and pull out of them at high speeds. On the downside, that ignoramus commentator has returned to drive you all mental. Wow! That was a great corner!

While Ridge Racer 5 doesn’t show any significant originality, it’s still Ridge Racer, and that can’t be a bad thing. Just think of it as a retro game from the early nineties and you have Ridge Racer 5. << less