Not for everyone but some fun can be had with this game and if your a fan of the series be sure to check it out!
Ridge Racer 6
Ridge Racer 6 is one of the first games of the series to appear on a non Sony based games console, with the exception of the n64 but that was like Ridge Racer 64 but this instalment is the real thing it’s Ridge Racer 6! The game plays like an arcade game which has been done before but can prove to be fun in its own right. The game is slightly disappointing as an Xbox 360 game as it’s supposed to be next gen and this game is certainly not next gen.
Firstly the graphics are a big let down. It’s a release game so not many people were expecting much from this instalment of the game but it really does look disappointing and certainly more than a bit drab at times. The textures really aren’t sharp at all and the car models certainly don’t look that good if you have seen or played Project Gotham Racing 3 or Need For Speed Most Wanted you will find that the cars in Ridge Racer 6 certainly are disappointing and aren’t even real makes. They are named after old Namco classic games that many won’t be familiar with but it does add a nice touch for those slightly older gamers. The announcer from the previous games is back and is really distinctive to the Ridge Racer games and is annoying as always.
The games sound really dosent has that much to offer you. Its car sounds are disappointing and sound weak and the overall sound of the game is disjointed. The music is disappointing but does have a few good tracks on it to offer to your musical tastes.
The gameplay of the game remains somewhat untouched in a way and hasn’t really changed since its Playstation preceders, it still revolves round the basic element of drifting franticly around corners and if you break you are really doing something wrong kind of gameplay. The game does play ridiculously fast but this does help to keep the arcade style gameplay flowing which isn’t always a bad thing. The gameplay can be quite fun and might be good fun for those who don’t want ultra realistic gameplay which can be found in pgr3 and nfsmw and want something more frantic and arcade like and who are not into the car customization and police chases which feature in nfsmw. When you do occasionally crash into walls and things your car doesn’t take any damage at all and doesn’t have a damage meter. The game does have a nitrous meter which can be filled by pulling off drifts and overtaking opponent cars whilst racing. You can use your nitrous all at once giving you a short but very fast boost or you can use it over along period of time to your advantage or whichever suits you best.
The game has a great single player mode where there is roughly around 200 or so races to complete, the game tries to make it stretch longer by making you do you some races backwards or by making you only be allowed to drive in certain types of car and disabling the nitrous function which can make it feel a bit careless in the making. The game has great online too which can handle up to 16 people per game but the game does recommend 8 but its very rare to receive lag at 16 players. A lot of fun can be had on Live which adds replay ability and lots of it too.
If you cannot find anything you like in pgr3 or nfsmw get this game instead it has its moments and you can have some fun with it. The graphics are somewhat last gen and the sound is nothing special but the Gameplay is still great as ever and online modes and extended single player are one of the things that help the game to be a good racing game in its own right.