R: Racing

Written by Tom Clare in PS2 Game Reviews, Wednesday 17 May, 2006

A RatheR undeRRated RaceR

Back in the mid-nineties, Namco's Ridge Racer franchise had been the (relatively) unchallenged king of console racers; its bright visuals and arcade-perfect handling making it a big hit with both critics and the gaming public. But with the arrival of Gran Turismo (GT) in 1998 came a change in what people expected from their driving experience - and despite Namco's fabulous Ridge Racer Type 4 delivering a firm argument for old-style arcade racers in 1999, the racing genre has gone very much the way of the simulation in recent years.

This is none so more apparent than in R: Racing - a close relation or off-shoot of the Ridge Racer family, first released in 2003. Namco have kept the snazzy cars, tracks, attitude and presentation that made the previous instalments so popular, though in gameplay-terms its all-change as the powersliding frolics of old have been ditched in favour of more realistic, heavyweight action.

Given how established a series Ridge Racer is, R: Racing (R: R) is an admirably large gamble on the part of Namco, and rather inevitably it has divided opinion amongst long-time fans. Indeed, it has come in for some rather severe (and in my opinion, entirely unjustified) criticism from the gaming press, perhaps because of the fact it has broken away from its roots so sharply. As a standalone title though, it provides one of the most convincing 'real-racing' experiences outside of the GT series.

The first game mode you'll encounter is 'Racing Life' - 14 Chapters forming what is essentially a story mode. You play as Rena, a former ambulance driver and R: R's resident glamour girl (featured on the games cover, naturally) as she sets out into the world of racing in an attempt to prove once and for all that women are better drivers. I think, anyway. Unsurprisingly, 'Racing Life' builds up from simple training exercises to races and tournaments of ever-steeper difficulties, testing your racing mettle in a dazzlingly-impressive array of disciplines and circumstances that include rallying, oval and circuit racing, classic car cups and drag-strip battles. Each of the 14 sections are nicely linked by a lovely-looking FMV sequence explaining Rena's trials and tribulations clearly and with a considerable degree of style - though this is to be expected coming from Namco.

Great as the 'Racing Life' mode is, it can be polished off in just a single day with relatively little fuss. Fortunately, the developers saw to it that the game would last rather longer than some of their previous racers, thanks to the inclusion of the 'Event Challenge'. Clearly inspired by Gran Turismo's GT Mode, it features over 150 single races, time trials, tournaments and other challenges that cleverly make use of the majority of the games 35 cars. In a nice arcade-style twist, the player is rewarded for good driving with 'R Points' (RP) which can in turn be used to purchase previously unavailable cars, tune-up kits and events. Rounding off the impressive line-up of modes are the more-familiar Arcade (single-races), Time Attack (fairly self-explanatory) and Versus (two-player).

So in terms of game modes R: Racing is well catered for, though this would count for little if it didn't play well. After a rather slow (literally) start, R: R proves to be a bit of a cracker; with the same kind of physical accuracy and precise, demanding handling as that of Gran Turismo 3. The racing is pretty competitive with decent A.I. and a nifty innovation called the 'Pressure Meter', which becomes active when you tail an opponent for long enough, and when it reaches maximum, they buckle under the pressure and invariably run off the road. The circuits are wonderful too, with superb renditions of Monte Carlo, Suzuka and Phillips Island among the challenges on offer, and more pleasing still are the (chronically-underused) rallying sections, that are almost as good as those featured in the top standalone rallying sims of the moment. Every vehicle behaves with its own distinctive characteristics and it's also the first time Namco have acquired proper licenses. This means that there is a diverse range of real cars to motor around in; including rally cars such as the legendary Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer; classic motors such as the nippy Fiat 500; sports cars like the Lotus Elise and Mazda RX-7, with the icing on the cake being the selection of monstrous prototypes such as the Audi Infineon that go at frankly obscene speeds.

Generally, there's very little wrong at all with the mechanics of the gameplay. The racing is extremely smooth even in high-speed circumstances, with the 5 on-track opponents proving little trouble for the PS2 hardware, which never looks like its struggling to cope. The analogue control is excellent, encouraging fluid movement and accuracy on the players part, and like the best in the genre it portrays understeer and oversteer characteristics perfectly, meaning that even if the player isn't battling with an immediate opponent, the car itself still needs to be driven with concentration. Indeed, if there is one consistent criticism that can be levelled at the game it's what isn't included. The shortage in the number of its tracks and vehicles is evident when compared to other games, and trying to create a serious, long-term simulation out of 13 tracks and 35 cars is a bit too much of a task. Once again, there are sadly no damage parameters (though this might be do to licensing restrictions), no pit-stops and the longest races only last five laps.

R: Racing excels graphically, with some highly impressive touches popping up throughout. The cars are accurately modelled on their real-life counterparts, but also feature some superlative light and reflective effects - running over curbs will see them reflected onto the cars bodywork, and the same is the case for lights, most noticeably in the Monte Carlo tunnel. Tracks are packed with detail - the representation of the Monaco street circuit is perhaps the best I've so far seen in any PlayStation2 racer, with remarkable levels of scenery both up close and way off in the distance, highlighting the numerous hotels and buildings, but also the hills that form a backdrop to the principality. As expected, the menus are as easy to use as they are polished and eye-catching, with Namco's customary slick 'n' shiny stylings adding that extra bit of sheen to the experience.

Sound-wise, it's a bit of a mixed bag. There are plenty of dance-orientated songs pulsing along in the background but unlike with Ridge Racer Type 4, you'll find few of note that really make you want to hum along. Slightly more impressive is the banter that comes from your pit-crew and rivals during races. This can involve encouragement; a progress report, or mutterings from your opponents that vary depending on their fortunes at the time - a nice evolution of an old technique, though unsurprisingly some of the voices are a bit hammy.

Surprisingly, R: Racing can be found relatively cheap these days despite its slightly disappointing sales and subsequent rarity in shops - I tracked down a new copy for less than £5 at amazon.co.uk's marketplace, and at that kind of price its well worth tracking down. It certainly won't last as long as Gran Turismo 4; statistically its hundreds of cars and dozens of tracks short of Sony's behemoth, but if you can overlook the fact that you'll be racing on the same circuits a great number of times, it's a credit to Namco for engineering as many challenges as they have done. Anyone who can maintain interest beyond the slightly sluggish beginning may find a game that has a few weeks worth of play in its tank.

It's an ideal title for those looking for high-quality, realistic racing game without the daunting inaccessibility of Gran Turismo. It is one of the few racers I've played of this ilk that finds a nice balance between accessibility and depth, and with the ease to which menus can be navigated and options tweaked, it's something I personally would recommend to gamers right across the spectrum. Pegi gives a recommended age rating at 12+ because of the use of swearing (no more than a single word, if my memory serves me right), although I would hope this won't put parents off purchasing it for the youngsters as it's a great introduction to the genre - especially given the nicely implemented driving assists to aid things such as braking, and once you've began to master the game, the driving aids can always be switched off.

Ultimately, as long as you don't expect it to play like previous Ridge Racer games, R: Racing is a fine standalone racing simulation with marvellous handling, beautiful graphics and all the flair and style you would expect from Namco. It can match Gran Turismo for pace, looks and design, but over the course of a racing season, its lack of cars and tracks begins to tell as its long-term nemesis pulls away once more into the distance. Still, it's pretty great.

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