Ridge Racers 2

Ridge Racers 2 followed the first pocket entry two years later and addressed the main complaint leveled at Ridge Racers – that it consisted largely of recycled older tracks. Namco therefore added new circuits to the sequel, more cars including machines from Ridge Racer 6 on the Xbox 360, and above all a substantially broader Race Case mode that structures the player's progress into a clear career with classes, cars, and bodywork color schemes to unlock.

The core gameplay remains faithful to the series – arcade drifting with no damage simulation whatsoever, a nitro gauge filled by drifting, and an emphasis on smooth, fast driving rather than realistic physics. But Ridge Racers 2 offers noticeably more content than its predecessor: an expanded music selection, new competition types focused on drift scores rather than just finishing position, and improved ad hoc multiplayer support for more players at once. The graphical leap over the first game isn't dramatic, but there are so many new tracks and cars added that the game feels like a full-fledged sequel rather than an expansion pack – something reviews praised as the main step forward compared to the 2004 launch title, which was most often criticized precisely for its lack of content. Race Case also lets players track their progress across the individual cup classes more clearly than in the first game, so players have a better sense of how many races still stand between them and unlocking the fastest machines.

Why play it: Ridge Racers 2 is for those who enjoyed the first pocket entry but wanted more new content from the sequel than just cosmetic tweaks – it offers a wider selection of tracks and cars along with a more elaborate career, without abandoning the series' fast, uncomplicated arcade pace.