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Find: Games - Movies - Music - Free Stuff! - Electronics - Computers Ridge Racer V PS2 Reader Review by Dan Riley 
What would a console launch be without a high quality racer? Thankfully, the Playstation 2 will not answer that question. Following in the footsteps of the SNES with F-Zero, the Saturn with Daytona USA, and the original Playstation with Ridge Racer, the Playstation 2 arrives backed by Namco's Ridge Racer V. Ridge Racer V is nothing short of a beautiful game. The visuals surpass anything that you have seen on any console up to this point. Reflections roll down the car's rear windows as the driver steers his way through the most amazing polygonal trees anywhere. Helicopters, delivery trucks, and trains add to the realism of the cityscape, while sunsets and palm trees enhance the ocean side. Namco did not miss a single chance to add detail to the experience, which will surely be a memorable experience for the eye candy fans out there. Eye candy alone does not a game make, however. Racing games are all about the control and game play. Veteran Ridge Racers will not be disappointed. The vintage power slide that has graced all four of the previous RR games is back once again. Better yet, the Dual Shock 2 analog stick controls this facet of the game to perfection. Gamers that are new to the series may trouble grasping the power slide, as it is a lot more quirky than the superior cornering in, say, Daytona USA. That, however, is simply Namco's style showing through. Ridge Racer V is easily good enough to make a novice stick around to learn the control system, and that is what is most important. The one area in which Ridge Racer V stumbles a bit is sound. While the background music is very enjoyable, it seems as though the music tracks aren't cut long enough for the race tracks. I commonly noticed the music repeating or even holding parts. That is minor complaint in the grand scheme of things, but if it is noticeable, it is worth mentioning. The sound affects suffer from the same type of issue. The announcer repeats his once-is-enough sayings a tad too often, slipping past the line between tolerable and annoying. Thankfully, the in-game sounds, such as engine noise, squealing tires, etc. are done well, even if a little understated. There are enough sounds to keep it real and make it interesting, but they never interfere with the music. All in all, the sound is a mixed bag. It would have to be categorized as a little below average, especially when comapred to its partners, graphics and control. Challenge is what makes a player come back for more. Ridge Racer V is definitely not lacking in this area. Each Grand Prix consists of four races, and the player must place first in the final race in order to finish it. Even on the "Easy" setting, this will be a challenge for novice players. "Normal" and "Hard" settings are available for seasoned Ridge Racers. Along the way, new cars and engines are added, giving the game a strategic side. The player must pick his poison so to speak, as speed is sacrificed for handling or acceleration. Ridge Racer V will keep the player coming back through all of the track variations, cars, engines, and difficulties. Ridge Racer V is not a perfect game. It has sound issues. There aren't a huge number of tracks. It is, however, a very good game and a great way to show off the power of the first generation of Playstation 2 games. Through the weak launch lineup the Playstation 2 offers, one true gem races by. Don't miss Ridge Racer V.
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