[ Front | Home | About Us | Charts | Cheats | Games | Hardware | Music | N64 | News | Playstation | Previews | Software ]
GAME PREVIEWED: Ridge Racer Type 4
RELEASED BY: Namco
PRICE:
PREVIEWED BY: A.K.
PREVIEW: -
Many racing fans will have been eagerly awaiting a game that could seriously compete with the mighty Gran Tourismo. Well, wait no longer, Ridge Racer Type 4 is here. It's taken a long time but it's definitely worth it.
Gran Tourismo took all other racing games by storm with it's smooth and ultra-realistic graphics, but for what seemed impossible on the current Playstation's capabilities, to make a racing game even faster and smoother has now become possible, Ridge Racer Type 4 will now be top of a huge pile of racing games with razor sharp looks, realistic driving physics so every different car handles differently, and more realism with an excellent trail effect on the lights of the cars. Very cool and realistic touch.
Most owners of Gran Tourismo have complained about the lack of tracks to race on, and there doesn't seem to be much different here either, RRT4 will only have around ten tracks, and although this isn't a lot, you'll find that some of these tracks will be the best you ever seen and driven on and also the most challenging tracks available at the moment. Where Gran Tourismo really excelled was in the number of cars that were actually in the game, RRT4 also has a huge amount to be won and raced. 320 cars are divided among four teams, each of which awards players new cars as they compete in the Grand Prix. Collecting the whole set of 320 cars will probably take some time, but it's worth it as completants are rewarded with an extra super-cool, and super-hidden 321st car.
Especially for use with Ridge Racer Type 4, Namco specially created the Jogcon controller. A rotating dial in the middle of the pad works just the same as a steering wheel would, even fighting as you slide round corners. It may not be the best controller available, but it's certainly good fun being able to feel the tyres gripping the road rather than listening for them screeching. Japanese gamers had to do without Dual shock support, but it will be available for the UK version.
Ridge Racer Type 4 definitely looks and plays well at the moment, but the lack of tracks may discourage gamers a little, but at least there's going to be plenty of cars to drive around. This game will most certainly be better then Gran Tourismo but I doubt it will be as good as GT 2 with it's additional cars, tracks, and off-road races. Ridge Racer Type 4 looks set to be a great game though and racing gamers will definitely like it. When it comes out, buy it!
LINKS: www.scee.com