Ridge Racer 8

[Karzee]

Properly getting into this now... won the first set of events and had a dabble with the rather excellent Track Creator.

Ive published a quick Time Attack event.. just search for Rllmuk City. It's nothing special at all, barely touched the eadvanced editor but the scope for what you can do is immense!

I've just had about 15 attempts to beat the "Creator's Score - 19,800" and finally succeeded with over 22k. The problem I have is that when I reload your track it still only tells me your score and no mention of mine. If you load your track do you see any indication that your score has been beaten?

[Yewone]

Will take a look in a sec..

Just tearing my hair our in frustration at a Time Attack event.. Need 1.45:00 for three stars.. I got 1.45:01!

Think the difficulty level is pitched perfectly, its nice to play an arcade racer where the career offers a good challenge right from the word go.. 3 stared the first two zones now (some of those Frag attack events are bastards!)

[Yewone]

Hmm not sure what went on with that.. my best score is 21,750 but I dont think it published it correctly. No sign of your score either. Ive just republished the event to see if that makes a difference.

By the way does anyone know what the domination points do?

[Dimahoo]

Can't you use them to unlock the RR cars?

[Ben]

Who the fuck is this aimed at? It's such an unwelcoming game - the lack of tutorial (especially as it changes the drift mechanic of previous RR games) is bizarre and it really throws you in the deep end; I'd have probably given up if I hadn't read the positive reviews. The game encourages you to crash into the environment but then certain, virtually identical environment features make you crash? Great! No indication of how to successfully drift (unless you are lucky to get a sentence on one of the loading screens)?

I don't really play that many games anymore so I'm sure my opinion is moot in this folder but I'm a fairly seasoned veteran of Burnout (Revenge especially), Flatout, Ridge Racer 6, Split Second and Blur but this just made me want to not enjoy it - unfair and just not fun. I've only given it 3-4 hours of play so I'm sure it improves after you unlock more cars etc but with a billion other things to occupy my spare leisure time this can go back to Blockbuster tomorrow.

[Yewone]

Can't you use them to unlock the RR cars?

Nope, pretty sure they are just unlocked via leveling up.

[df0]

Ugh, what a disappointment. I find it to be a weak Split/Second, a weak Burnout and a weak Flatout. It lacks any soul and does not even try to be something worthwhile. Cleared three cities, don't see any reason to continue.

[NickyDrinks]

Without turning this into a PC graphics thread I'll just say it's undemanding hardware wise and doesn't seem like a shoddy port. A single 460 can easily keep a constant 60fps at 1080p and it looks pretty nice. Plus it fully supports the 360 pad (with proper icons etc) which oddly isn't listed as a feature in Steam.

I've only played a couple of hours but I'm enjoying it despite the totally blatant unfair crashes. Feels more like Split Second 1.5 than RR though but I loved SS. So far the only thing sticking out as being Ridge Racer for me is the music, found a few tracks I already really like and flick to when the race begins. Needs Rotterdam Nation though, all Ridge Racer games should have the original version of that on there by law.

[mr_woo]

Man where did the last few hours go ? I started playing this around 1am and now it's 3am ? Fuck, it only felt like 30mins!

As for the game, well it's bloody excellent as far as I'm concerned and an excellent arcade racer. I love how wide the roads are, you get plenty of room to maneouvre and it's so satisfying drifting through small walls going round corners etc. I haven't felt that the races were unfair at all really, you can frag the opponents and they can frag you. You keep an eye on them and make sure to use your Power at the appropriate times both as defence and offense as they can't take you out whilst you're in power mode. Your Power meter also goes up whilst behind any opponents in their Power trails.

One thing to note, don't feel so bad when you fail badly at a race. It's honestly not so bad. There's a few obvious reasons for this such as not knowing the track, the aggressive AI etc but also this game hands out levelling up points like candy. You fail a race ? Fine have some points! You failed it again ? Have some more! Even if you're near the end of a race and you've found yourself at the bottom of the pack finish the race instead of retrying. It doesn't restrict the number of points you can earn even on retries so keep hitting them power points during races and rack up them points nicely. This in turn leads to unlocking better cars and you can go and do much better in the races. You can complete the races with the cars initially unlocked but it's obviously much harder and requires more skill from the player. I'm not saying it becomes super easy with the cars you unlock, afterall you can still make mistakes, but it does become easier to some extent. You can even earn points from the World Cities online so if someone creates some sort of super easy track you could rack the points up on that! I did notice whilst online that Bugbears put up some more tracks/cities in the World Cities online section and they seem pretty cool. Various types as well such as Stunts, Pro Racers etc

I can't really agree that this is a game with no 'soul' If anything it feels like a lot of love and attention has been put into it. It's a really well designed arcade racer, from what I've played so far anyway, which knows exactly what it wants to be. It may be a little bit obtuse in explaining a few things but I'm having a great time with it so far. Maybe it's because I'm playing on PC but the sense of speed seems pretty damn good as well. I'll give the 360 version a whirl tomorrow and see how it compares.

[Dimahoo]

I don't think its one to go back too after its over - well apart from creation and MP modes. Split second was the same - once you' seen what it did, i didn't feel there was much too go back too although thats only (and always) because there was a ton of racers i could choose. That said i played Flatout 3 much more.

[Robo_1]

Had a great session on this yesterday evening. Not sure if it was the new cars, the new cities or Karzee's excellent drifting tips which did it, but I ended up making sustainable progress throughout the challenges, and just really got into it a lot more.

I think many of my previous comments still stand, but there's certainly a tipping point where you instinctively get to grips with it a lot more, and begin to have fun with it.

[Gotters]

really oddd game this, think the comments of it being a bit joyless and soulless aren't far wrong

the handling has started to click for me and I can't say there is no enjoyment to be had in the game but I don't feel anything for it, I'm sure I'll play it a bit but it just lacks any spark or wow

I'm disappointed as Flatout never lacked for those things so I had high hopes, I didn't want a Ridge Racer so that bit missing doesn't bother me.

[Hoodedclaw]

i do agree its fairly souless as well but as someone who gets little time to play games in MP this as a pick up and play arcade racer is perfect for me , prob wont keep it when something else comes along tho

[Dimahoo]

Its pretty hard to better what arcade games have already been before. Most of the exciting mechanics are out there in some form...

Large areas : Fuel, TDU2

Jumps : Pure

Huge buildings collasping : Split Second

Smash game : Burnout P.

Drifting : NFS Hot pursuit, Outrun

Weapons : BLUR

Semi-sim circuit racing : Shift, Forza

Rallying : DiRT Series

Offroad : Motorstorm or FUEL (or that other cheap offroader i must buy thats meant to be quite good!)

Racing across America/Snow : NFS - The run

More snow : NFS : Hot pursuit...

Simmy/Arcade : PGR 3 or 4.

Point is, theses all remain good games.

Still theres always TD : Ferrari....i hope.

[df0]

A -1 for Mr woo, really? Have a +1 for your post to balance out the negativity.

[Dimahoo]

I must admit i'm playing the PC version too so maybe thats tainted my view a bit.

[df0]

In a positive or negative way?

[mr_woo]

Its pretty hard to better what arcade games have already been before. Most of the exciting mechanics are out there in some form...

Large areas : Fuel, TDU2

Jumps : Pure

Huge buildings collasping : Split Second

Smash game : Burnout P.

Drifting : NFS Hot pursuit, Outrun

Weapons : BLUR

Semi-sim circuit racing : Shift, Forza

Rallying : DiRT Series

Offroad : Motorstorm or FUEL (or that other cheap offroader i must buy thats meant to be quite good!)

Racing across America/Snow : NFS - The run

More snow : NFS : Hot pursuit...

Simmy/Arcade : PGR 3 or 4.

Point is, theses all remain good games.

Still theres always TD : Ferrari....i hope.

Yeah I certainly can't argue that there's loads of games with Ridge Racer Unboundeds type of mechanics but I guess I just find them really satisfying as a whole in the way they work together in this game. The way BugBear handles those elements just really gels for me and I'm really enjoying the track design as well. The way it uses a bit of Split Seconds mechanics but doesn't focus on them, just uses them as a side way of getting points. The way it uses the drifting to quickly boost your power bar to destroy shit, aggressive AI etc. Really liking the mix tbh.

I'll be honest, I'm a right fickle fucker when it comes to arcade racers as well. You see around half the games you've listed ? I don't really like them. Games like the Motorstorm series, Burnout Paradise, Hot Pursuit, Test Drive Unlimited 1 and 2, Forza and Dirt 2 and 3. I didn't get on with any of them really. I'm certainly not going to sit here and go 'oooh my god so awful' or any such silliness like that, just that they didn't click with me for whatever reason. Hell my two favourite racing/driving games this generation would be Flatout Ultimate Carnage and Driver San Francisco and they'd be nowhere near as popular as the ones listed above. I still need to put a lot more time into Unbounded, I could play more and really start to hate but so far I'm very impressed anyway I'm certainly enjoying reading the impressions from everyone here, good and bad

I must admit i'm playing the PC version too so maybe thats tainted my view a bit.

Like df0 I'm interested in what you mean by this as well. Most of my time's been pretty good with the PC version, so far anyway. Going to try the 360 version today.

[Dimahoo]

In a positive or negative way?

Positive. Its HD for a start and as Mr Woo says 60fps so without trying to sound all "PC snob" it only adds to the effect of it being like an arcade game.

[mr_woo]

I will say one thing, I am really missing a lot of the multiplayer modes from Flatout. I'm enjoying the single player of course and the made cities online is cool as hell but flinging your driver towards big, firey targets with friends was always hilarious. The destruction arenas were brilliant as well. Anyone remember the Flatout mode where you could turn round and try to take out your friends going the opposite direction ? Such fun.

[Yewone]

After further extended play I'm firmly in the loving it camp now too...

I still have a large number of issues with the game, but none of them detract from the fact that it offers a really intense and challenging racing experience. Also no idea where the criticisms over speed came from but it shifts along at a blistering pace (easily on a par with Burnout etc).. and thats the 360 version.

My only concern at the moment is that like Split Second, once the single player campaign is done and dusted (which granted will take quite a while) there will be very little incentive to go back to it.. mainly due to the lack of leaderboards etc.

[Dimahoo]

Yeah i think thats fair point. If you've got the time to hammer through it, games like this do that. Its very exciting for a weekend but you'll have seen most of it in a weekend if you put your mind to it. I must say i'm impressed with the destruction - it feels very satisfying and i can't say i've had issue with hitting things i shouldn't hit as most of these objects carry over levels, and many walls guide you back and face on walls your heading towards can be destroyed once you have boost.

[mr_woo]

To be honest I think you can consider the online a bit of a moot point at the minute. You can get fuck all races on the PC and on the 360 there's a few people max to each race. I think this is one of those games Namco just shipped out to bump up end of financial year reports without really caring about it regardless of how good or bad it is.

[df0]

I have a feeling I will have a blast with the Creator mode. Unfortunately ( ) you need to finish or at least get very far into the single player campaign to unlock all blocks. Bit disappointed with the "budget" bar in Creator mode which is nothing more then a "whoops, you track is too long/complicated" cap. I understand why it is there, but that does not mean I have to like it

[df0]

Fucking hell, the physics are all over the god damn place in the Stunt runs

edit: and another bug that SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE RETAIL VERSION: when you car flips 90 degrees the hood cam stays the way it is. Seriously, what game did EDGE and Eurogamer play? I feel like I am beta testing this and my PS3 sends out reports to the developer and publisher. Somewhere in July we get Ridge Racer: Unboundededer, the patched and less bugged version.

[Gotters]

The camera not staying in car annoys me, the xbox even had a user setting you choose for in car driving cam.

How can that slip thru, its so basic

[NickyDrinks]

There seems to be a bug that crops up when I'm using the in-car cam (always use it, probably from playing the original in the arcade). Occasionally there seems to be a bit of the car popping up/clipping into view at the bottom of the screen. Hardly game breaking but can be annoying and I'm wondering if it's specific to the PC version.

Edit : Almost forgot, occasionally the entire HUD doesn't appear when starting a new race, it'll start coming back bit by bit as the race goes on. At first I thought it was specific to the type of race I was playing.

[df0]

I have had the clipping issue. Debris obscured my view more times then I care to remember.

[df0]

Stunt Car Racer on the Amiga. This game has better physics than Ridge Racer Unbounded. Play the Stunt time trials, I dare you.

[DarhkFox]

I keep hearing the pc version has Xbox 360 controller issues , like only a few buttons working and not the analogue sticks or triggers?!?

Anyone had this issue ?