Ok, I've been a fan of Ridge Racer since the PS2 version.
I also have for the PSP the 1st and 2nd version. When I saw a version for the 3DS, I immediately bought it!
Though I wasn't completely satisfied with the results, and even wonder how this game has passed Nintendo's Quality check???
BUGS!!!:
I mean, the game is seriously lagging when using a nitro boost; framerates drop to less than 20fps, in my estimation, a good 15fps. The image appears shaky, and the game slows down.
This in my opinion is unacceptable for a console game! Console games may strain the console, but should never strain it so much, that the console can not display fluid framerates anymore!!!
About bugs in the gameplay:
The game play is just as 'crappy' as the other versions. Why 'crappy'?:
You can drift left instead of right in a right turn(car pointing in the wrong angle), and just as long as you're drifting, you'll make the corner. Try that in real life!
Heck, you can even drift backwards (with nose pointing behind, where the trunk should be), and still not lose much speed in corners, and make them without hitting walls!
Also, the gameplay has been made even more annoying. This time you just have faster cars, that drive really slow in front of you, and once you pass them, they will pass you again unless you can grab the next racer's slipstream quite up close.
You can be quite sure that the driver behind you will continue to do impossible overtakes, until you've reached the next driver. Then you can be fairly sure that the previous will leave you alone, and the battle begins with your other opponent.
The basic "pass the opponent, and use a nitro" technique becomes quite boring after a while.
All these where original RR bugs, going as far as in the Playstation versions..
Concerning the music:
There's no doubt that "Call of Aspara" may be the game's main and most popular track. A mix of Indian (Native US Indian, not India Indian) voices, and Arabic flutes mixed with techno in quite an amazing track!(you can youtube it).
However that's about all for the music. They've done some lousy voice overs on older, existing tracks; and mainly focused on techno/hardcore house, and heavy rock. They got rid of the remixes and remix styles.
To me it feels like they've just thrown in a couple of tracks on a pile, but lost the feel and sensation to put some effort into RR2 songs on the PSP!
The tracks are mainly all the same, some okay ones, some just plain out boring!
And my favorite track "Disco Balls" of the PSP RR2 version has not been included.
On the positive side, they got rid of the nineties house and dance tracks, that sounded like Initial D's copies, as well as the older Playstation 1 tracks (they just kept 1).
But they lost quite some remix art, and fun disco music in the process...
3D Effect and resolution:
Unlike another reviewer, cars are not floating out of the screen, however the screen does look like a deep tube, almost like you're looking through a peekahole into a real 3D world, with the car's back bumper the same height as the buttons on the screen. In fact, I've not yet seen any game (Kid Icharus excluded), where an image comes outside the screen.
After a while you do get used to the 3DS'es 3D effect, and it becomes second nature, just like driving the game in 2d. In fact, after a while you won't even notice the 3D effect of the 3DS anymore.
Because of the low resolution of the game, the 3D effect does not help in corners. Certain fields in a track you still can't see if you need to make a left or a right. A problem which could have been avoided when the red corner arrows would be displayed in a higher resolution; however with the 3DS already maxed out graphically, that would be impossible.
Quite strange actually, because I remember playing an old version of RR on the PC, on a 166Mhz, and it was able to run the game quite fine!
IMHO, the reflection on the window is not working well, and consumes too much CPU.
They easily could have applied a mirror effect like in the car, but then on the window. The rear window really doesn't show a lot of reflection, but when it does, it's unacceptably pixelated! (talking about pixel blocks worse than DOOM or Wolfenstein 3D games of the early 1990's, as reflection, where the jagged lines of the cars are like kids play to; and totally out of place on a game like this).
The resolution of the 3DS is just like the PS2 version, in fact, it's pretty clear that they used the same engine to calculate the polygons and play back the game, as for their older versions. The road and car edges appear jaggy; however you won't notice much about this in the race. Only in still or especially slow moving frames, like when modifying your car.
The graphics of the street are quite sharp, up'till where your car ends. The road ahead of the car does not look sharp, but blurry.
On a pc they use this feat to relieve the hardware from some stress, however it is visible and noticeable!
On some tracks, in the evening sun (Orangy), the light reflected on the cars are RED! Yes, it does not make a lot of sense... I guess they overlooked that one.
The improvements:
They did a few improvements, like more customization to your car's exterior, more colors, more patterns. They also added a few extra (to me rather annoying) details like waterdrops on the screen (which look quite good when you're driving through a paddle of water though), and some tracks have confetti at the start/finish line. However those extra details, basically just end up on the screen blurring out parts of the screen.
Conclusion:
There are more cars, as well as some new race tracks, and the cars go way faster!
Overall I think this game is not upto par with the PSP RR2 improvements, as they slacked off on music field, as well as the many bugs in the system have not been ironed out!
Would I buy it again? I probably would think twice before buying this game!
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Product description
Product Description
Drift into victory with high octane 3D racing battles! The Ridge Racer series returns to set the racing world on fire with brand new features, breathtaking stereoscopic 3D visuals, a wider variety of machines, new environments, expanded customization and updated drift mechanics. Ridge Racer 3D will be the hottest racing game on the Nintendo 3DS. Drift through hairpin turns at blistering speeds to edge out the rest of the pack with powerful drift-tuned cars. Using the stereoscopic 3D power of the Nintendo 3DS, players will be able to experience a level of intimacy with the on-screen races like never before. Players can now accurately judge the distance between them and the competition with 3D depth of field for some of the most intense arcade racing available.
From the Manufacturer
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The Ridge Racer® series returns to set the racing world on fire with brand new features, breathtaking stereoscopic 3D visuals, a wider variety of machines, new environments, expanded customization and updated drift mechanics. Ridge Racer® 3D will be the hottest racing game on the Nintendo 3DS.
Drift through hairpin turns at blistering speeds to edge out the rest of the pack with powerful drift-tuned cars. Using the stereoscopic 3D power of the Nintendo 3DS, players will be able to experience a level of intimacy with the on-screen races like never before. Players can now accurately judge the distance between them and the competition with 3D depth of field for some of the most intense arcade racing available.
Key Game Features
- 3D Graphics:
- Dirt will fly through the screen on rough terrain
- Nitrous flames will burst out of tail pipes in a brilliant show of the game's particle effects
- New Machines:
- Highly powered muscle machines join the traditional lineup
- All New Drift Mechanic:
- Enjoy the thrill of drift racing with ease using the new Drift Button
- Attack and drift through tight corners without losing speed and position
- Breathtaking Environments and Courses:
- Drift through exciting and vibrant courses
- Brand new canyons and snow-capped mountain courses as well as other favorite courses from the past
- Play with Friends:
- Up to 4 player high impact, competitive races using Nintendo 3DS Local Play
- Choose use a registered Mii, tag, or your very own photo during a race and know exactly who you’re racing against
- Playing with friends has never been more heated and fun
- StreetPass Compatible:
- Swap Ghost Data with other players through StreetPass
- Create your personal “My Ranking” profile by swapping course records with your friends
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Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Christiane Brûlé
Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2017Verified Purchase
Tina
Arrived earlier then expected.
Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2018Verified Purchase
Thomas J Martin
Great transaction
Reviewed in Canada on March 25, 2018Verified Purchase
