Ridge Racers launched alongside the European and American debut of the PlayStation Portable in 2004, and it had a clear job to do – show that Sony's portable console could do the same thing as the home PlayStation 2, just in your pocket. Namco went for a clever move: instead of an entirely new game, it built Ridge Racers around a compilation of tracks and cars from previous entries in the series, mainly Ridge Racer Type 4 and Ridge Racer V, reworked and fine-tuned for the new hardware, with improved textures and new lighting adapted for the smaller display.
The result is a game that, on the handheld's limited display, keeps the same pace and clarity as its console predecessors – purely arcade drifting with no bodywork damage, a nitro gauge filled by sliding through corners, and exaggeratedly stylized cars from fictional manufacturers. The pocket version also added the Nitrous Car system, specially tuned vehicles focused purely on boost use, and supported local multiplayer over ad hoc Wi-Fi, letting players race a friend sitting next to them on the couch even without internet. The visuals were among the best a portable console could show at the time of release, and combined with music carried over from previous entries, they made playing the game a clear showcase of the PSP's technical capabilities right at launch, something reviewers repeatedly cited as a reason to buy the console itself. The menus and overall presentation also carry over the style of the older entries, so players already familiar with Ridge Racer V or Type 4 will find their way around the controls and cup structure almost instantly.
Why play it: Ridge Racers is an ideal choice for players who want to experience the PSP launch while enjoying the essence of Ridge Racer's arcade drifting condensed into a single pocket game, without having to reach for several older console entries separately.
Game 93 of 122 for Sony PSP
