If you played last year's launch title then Ridge Racer 2 will be instantly familiar. The menu is the same, the layout is the same, even the save icon is identical, albeit with an intimidating, what "might have been" number two placed at the end. The main mode in the game is the World Tour mode, which is like a career mode. You'll begin at a novice difficulty and you'll need to beat your way through the races, gradually unlocking cars and tracks. Just like the original PSP launch title the game begins incredibly easy, but by the time you've reached the later levels you'll need to be using the nitrous to place first.
Looks familiar?
There are a few minor additions that are sure to please the hardcore Ridge Racer fans. There are new tracks from Ridge Racer Revolution, Rage Racer and Ridge Racer Type 4, which brings the total track count to more than twenty. There are also a few new modes (Duel, Survival and Arcade) which aren't quite as appealing as you'd expect. The duel mode pits you against another vehicle, with the objective of finishing first. Survival places four cars on a track, with the last car on each lap being eliminated and the arcade mode will be familiar to the fans from the first game. The objective is to get to checkpoints located around the track before the time runs out or the race will end. Disappointingly (and cheaply) all of these extra modes are just single races, so they feel tacked on, some kind of tournament or reward for beating them would have been appreciated.
Ridge Racer 2 is likely to be remembered for what it doesn't include rather than the small additions to the game. Multiplayer is supported, but it is restricted to ad-hoc only, if you were hoping to go online with this game then prepare for disappointment. The lack of new modes is seriously disappointing as well. It also would have been a bit more forgivable if your save game from the original Ridge Racer counted for something, especially considering you'll feel like you're playing the original.
Like Ridge Racer, the emphasis is on arcade style racing. Power sliding around the corners takes a little while too get used too but eventually you'll be flying around the corners with ease. You're also able to build up a nitrous meter, which increases as you pull off lengthy drifts. The nitrous is essential for winning in the later stages of the game. The collision detection in the game can still be a little bit annoying, it hasn't been fixed from the first game which is damn right frustrating.
I could have slipped in a Ridge Racer 1 screenshot here to fool everyone..
Had I been smarter I would have just copied and pasted my entire text from the original review, but having now linked to it I think it would be a little bit obvious. Graphically the game is (surprise, surprise) pretty identical to last year's version. This isn't a bad thing, the game still looks beautiful, the tracks have a little more detail and the lighting appears to be a bit better but you're not going to notice all of this instantly. The fact that the game looks beautiful and maintains a steady frame-rate is still very impressive.
The game also includes a few new songs, which are sure to appeal to those who live and breathe Ridge Racer. It's not instantly recognisable that the game includes new tracks, though if you play for long enough you'll come across them. The DJ is just as annoying as ever, but you're playing a Ridge Racer title, so a decent commentary track would probably feel out of place now.
Just like it's predecessor, there is plenty in the game to keep you occupied, especially considering there is more content this time around. The first few hours are likely to feel like a walk in the park, but after these first few hours you're certainly in for a decent challenge; The AI can occasionally feel a little cheap but this sometimes works in your favour too. We're still frustrated by the lack of online support. Online multiplayer would have been a blessing for this game, the PSP has been out for nearly two years in Japan and just it's inexcusable that Ridge Racer hasn't gone online for the PSP considering the console versions have and this just adds to the overall feeling of disappointment you'll likely feel for Ridge Racer 2.
The countdown is on..
It goes without saying when you develop one of the flagship launch titles for a handheld and then develop a sequel, the hopes for the game are likely to be pretty high. If you throw a 2 at the end then people expect more than a few tracks and a few new songs. That's the hate part, the love part is the fact that the game still provides a sublime arcade experience that only has a few problems. Unless you're a die hard Ridge Racer fan the game is not worth the upgrade, but if you are new to the PSP and are after an arcade title then you simply won't find better than Ridge Racer 2.
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