The Nintendo DS sold over one million units within its opening month. Stores throughout America and Japan have been sold out and the demand is immense; from all game retailers there are lists and pre-orders too long to count. Though the handheld console beats all standards to date and will surely give the PlayStation Portable a run for its money, the line-up of titles for the release has not been of the same calibre and innovation.
In the USA there were around four titles for the release; Feel the Magic XY:XX (Project Rub), Madden NFL 2005, Super Mario 64 DS and Ridge Racer DS. Later on other titles began to appear such as Asphalt Urban GT, Mr. Driller and Tiger Woods 2005.
Out of all these titles, there are only a few that are worthwhile and make excellent use of the DS and its capabilities. Though Ridge Racer DS does not use the touch screen as much as Feel and Magic or Super Mario 64 DS does or the microphone at all, it is a solid title that brings the revival of the classic Nintendo 64 game to the small screen.
In terms of how Ridge Racer uses the touch screen, there are a few ways but, as said, although they are not as advanced as games like Feel the Magic that has you not only rubbing, shouting but also it gets you to blow on the screen, Ridge Racer DS brings its own touch screen invention.
As with most of the games for the Nintendo DS, the option and selections are presented below on the touch screen. These are usually in button form, very much when you select to start, load a game or go to the options on any other game. However, it just adds that little bit more of interaction with the game and it pulls you in. You can also select all of the races, cars and even change the car’s colour using the touch screen but in some cases this is slow to respond. It especially happens when you are on the pause screen where you are presented with continue, restart or retire. When you press one of these buttons, sometimes it does not react at all and it is not until you push hard or more than once on the selection that it responds. (Though this might be down to the touch screen of our DS unit we do not know but all of the other buttons in the game respond fine. So this leads to thoughts of the game mechanics itself not working).
The main feature that the touch screen of the DS uses with Ridge Racer DS is the new control system. Below, displayed on the touch screen whilst you race, is a steering wheel that turns according to which way you turn using the D pad. If this is boring and simple to you, then knock it up a notch and change the control settings to that of the touch screen. Using this, when racing, you can actually touch and move the steering wheel on the touch screen to move your car. Now although this is not a groundbreaking invention, it is still something that adds a little freshness to the game, especially for those who have played and completed the original version on the N64. This control system is very hard to get the hang of, as it is very sensitive and at first it will seem very unnatural using the touch screen to control the car. Give it time and soon you will get the hang of it and revel in the new experience.
The game itself, as said above, is a sound and solid title and there are only one or two things wrong with it. One thing that I personally have a grudge against are the other cars that you race against and their AI that seems to be programmed to do nothing but get in your way! This couples with the second problem of the roads being far too narrow on the courses. (Many might be thinking that this is merely because I am crap at the game but I assure you I have completed it.) The roads are too narrow; on all other racing games, the terrain beside the road, say dirt or grass, you are able to drive on or at least skid on. Even though if you do this it will slow you down, that is obvious as it happens with real life racing but in Ridge Racer DS when you just drive a little off of the road and onto such a terrain, you might as well be driving into a brick wall. As soon as you clip the edge of the road then you bash, shale and slow down. By this point, many cars have over taken you and then nip out in front to once again get in your way. Sometimes two or even three will near enough drive right beside each other, creating a blockade to stop you from getting through and then when you try to bash through, it gets worse. No joke, during playing the game, a car rammed into the back of me, it slowed me down but what was worse is that the car literally went through me and in front, yes, actually through the 3D model of my car and then in front. Never has this happened to me in another other game and I was very disappointed to see it in this title, one of which I was thoroughly enjoying.
Moving onto the graphics of the game, this could be better. It looks like a direct port of the N64 title, as it is but in terms of looks too. The DS is only a handheld but I was under the impression that some games would be improved graphically. Asphalt Urban GT is amazing with sleek graphics and an ultra fast frame rate to give that sense of speed. Within the earlier courses of Ridge Racer DS, speed will seem non-existent and you will be going along at a nice leisurely pace rather than a fast and blurred speed. Adding to this are the lines on the roads, no, not the white ones in the middle but the line breaks where the tiles and textures fit together (Or do not in this case). Though they are only minimal black lines, it is still noticeable.
The course themselves, very much like the N64 version, are completely stunning. Ranging from course through beachside towns with the bright sky stretching out, golden sand by the roads, and rays of sunlight streaming down from the hot day, or other tracks that are rushing through tunnels and around tall mountains. All of the textures look great although they are not completely smooth and of the standard from home consoles such as the Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox or Playstation 2 but then, this is not a home console. For the handheld that it is, it handles this game amazingly.
All of the cars are uniquely designed too with different bodywork, fins, and paint designs, the works. The shining metal finish over them is stunning and is very noticeable when racing and the streaks of lights in tunnels shimmer upon the car’s bodywork. At some points it might seem that the block of metal is just moving along on the race course where you direct it but most of the time it will very much seem like you are driving the car as you catch a glimpse of the wheels spinning and skid marks burning on the roads.
Ridge Racer DS also has great sound. The soundtrack for the game has been taken from the original and there are around ten or so in total; not that much seeing as though there are almost double that amount of tracks to race on. The twin speakers of the Nintendo DS have so much power and pump out the music excellently and give that real arcade feel (Remember when you sit down in the drivers seat on an arcade machine and they have the two massive speakers on either side?). Most of the sound track is very much like recent racing games such as Burnout 3: Takedown with a punk rock type score. All of them work well with the feel of the game and rest of the sound effects to create an overall amazing audio experience.
The sound effects of the game also continue on with the overall quality of the sound and the game itself with the revving of engines, screeching of tires, bashing of metal on rock and walls and even the sound of the helicopters as they fly over head to watch the race. Everything is hear! (Yes, that is meant to be spelt like that, it's a pun!)
Another thing that is very noticeable compared to other sport games for the Nintendo DS such as Madden NFL 2005 is the commentary and voice acting. Ridge Racer is all about the arcade style of racing and along with that, there is always the American sounding arcade voice that makes comments through the game. Upon turning on the game you ears are filled with the glorious splendour of an arcade tune and the arcade voice shouting “Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Racer!” with the little echo effect as his voice trails off. Through the rest of the game you hear him too, saying such things like “Great job!” or “Excellent turning!” but sometimes he can get on your nerves too with “He is pulling away!” or “He is in your rear view!” that makes you put your finger on the button to speed it away! The overall atmosphere created by this works wonders.
The opening modes available consist of Quick Race, Single Player, Multiplayer and Options. Most of them are self explanatory and the quick race mode just puts you in the seat of a car of your choice and then off you go, racing it around on any track to just give you your racing rush for the day.
If you want more of an in depth play of this amazing Nintendo DS title, then you will need to enter into either the Single Player or Multiplayer mode. With multiplayer you can connect with up to four other Nintendo DS users to race it off head to head against one another in a simple race or you can go for something more exciting and choose some of the other little modes available.
With Single player, you can take part in the Grand Prix that consists of over twenty different races for you to take part in and win! The first six Grand Prixs are set into groups of three, then when you move onto seven and eight, there is only one race to take part in. At first you will race through the tracks one way, then you will have to race them in the opposite direction, which a lot of the time is very confusing and you will absentmindedly turn into a wall or barrier but then it would not be a challenge if it was easy, would it.
After you have beaten a Grand Prix and set of races, it will then unlock three cars. However, you cannot just simply select them in your next race and use them whenever you feel like it. First you have to chase after them. Funnily enough, this little side mode is called ‘Car Chase’. You will have to race against each of the three cars separately on each on the courses that you have just completed in the Grand Prix that unlocked all of these smooth cars. At first they will be easy but you will find that the cars they give you are even worse than the four that you start with. Even on the fifth or sixth Grand Prix you will find yourself using one of the four original cars rather than the new ones you have unlocked. So, if you beat them to the finish line then the car is yours! There are over twenty cars for you to race with a lot of variety when you get the ones later on.
The Nintendo DS is still very new on the market and a hot piece of unit. Still the list of games available is only around ten and February only has WarioWare Touched! down on the release list. So, those who own the handheld will have to sit tight for a while and put up with the games that are out.
Ridge Racer DS is one of those games and it is most definitely worth the buy. In my book it gets the number two spot just under Super Mario 64 DS. With extensive gameplay, unlockable cars, good looks for the Nintendo DS, Wi-Fi multiplayer link, the car chase mode and a unique control system using the touch screen, there is not much anyone can ask for in one of the first titles for the handheld. This game has spent a lot of time in the cartridge slot of my DS and it should do in yours too.
Seeing that Ridge Racer DS has yet to receive a specific UK release date, you may want to import your US copy now at Play-Asia.com.
Tobias Rowe
