Damn you Treble. I had a sneaking suspicion that Ridge Racer 6 might be alright.

What is the enemy AI like, how does that work?

Seen any of the groovy unlockables that got me so interested last year?

Nitros. Nitros? NOOOOOoooooooo.....

I'm in a taking names mood, so please tell me who the idiots are who didn't like RRV. Plainly it's fucking brilliant, even a complete nonce should be able to see that.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

The AI is the same as ever: completely non-existent
Find the right line; stick to it; get used to replaying a level when the fucker CPU takes your line with a last minute drift into the centre of the track.

Thankfully, the nitrous boost stops that being quite the 'bump into the back and slow to a crawl' moments they were in the past. Nitrous is instant speed, now (if you remember, in the PSP game, it was gradual: if you weer on a downslope, you'd pick up speed quickly. On an uphill, slowly. In this, the boost is instant and constant) so if you get 'trapped' in the melee, boosting is what the kool kids do.

As for unlockables, all I did was unlock a regular car. I had a one-on-one with a super car, beat it on the last lap by saving up for a triple boost, and lashed the bastard on the final stretch (some fancy manouvering was also required, but I've been playing the PSP recently, so am used to the handling). Mike (it's his game) mentioned that you're supposed to get UFOs/hovercraft or something? I dunno. I'll go there next week and see what he's managed to acquire.

But yeah, great game.

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Biglime (he of Consolevania/Video Gaiden fame) started a thread on rllmuk saying that Rage Racer was the best one of the lot. RRV came up and it was roundly trashed by a load of bandwagon jumpers who didn't (IMHO) know what they were talking about. Five rawks.

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"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

They're probably playing the PAL version. Not played it myself, but seen it running and it's a complete dog next to the NTSC version which is barely legal sex.

I need to track down the ntsc version of fiVe. Although I'm not really Captain Ridge Racer, I like the first one... y'know and thats about it. Not really played the others.

Looks FUN! }:)

http://namco-ch.net/ridgeracer6/index.php

Gurgle.

I think I have an unnatural attraction to hovercraft. Maybe because they are the antithesis of Tripods?

Did you have the fear as a kid? I know I did.

I am almost done with RR PSP again (third time I'll have rinsed and clocked it) and brought my RRV over from my Ma's to my new place last night, for some serious Ridgey action.

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

NNNOooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

You don't know the fear! THE FEAR!

Hovercrafts for all.

RRV was crap compared to Revolution and Type 4, and average compared to any other arcade racer.

6 though, I want.

Well I've not played either of those iterations, but I find it hard to fault RRV. I certainly wouldn't say it was average compared to Crusin USA

Seriously what is your beef with the game? Handling, tracks, difficulty curve are all spot on. The only area where it's slightly lacking is in the way you have to repeat races to unlock new bits of kit.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Its just a bit half arsed and rushed, kind of lack-lustre.

Its not a particularly bad game, but doesn't do anything as exciting as Revolution or Type 4 does I reckon.

Well, I don't find that at all. In fact, the criticisms I hear of it are of handling, rather than presentation or track design. Whatever the reason, I disagree and think it's a very sweet-handling and lovely looking (bar the bad aliasing, sadly) arcade racer-meroo

What's everyone's favourite versions, then? I struggle to pick, as they are all enjyable in their own way. I love, though:

RRT4
RRV
Ridge Racers
RR6

I didn't enjoy Rage much, as it forced the use of Manual gears later in the game, and didn't get the chance to play Rave Racer in the arcade. Even my Emu copy doesn't work, sadly. Although many of its tracks are in RR PSP, I'd like a go on the originals.

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Ridge Racer (Arcade)
...

...

...

...

........

cough

...

........

You're such a wooly woofter, Jibs. Don't you know it's cool to own a PlayStation™ and a copy of the Ridge games? How do you ever expect to pull with your attitude?! I despair, I really do.

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"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Urban Nomad alert.

Tubular

Since I've only played RR, RRV and RRacers

I'd have to say that the arcade version is the one I've spent most time with, we used to have one at Uni and I loved it. RRV is a very very close second with the PSP Nitro riddled snorefest bringing up the rear.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Ah, but see how split everyone is and how opinion varies? I always get surprised at how enamored people become with a series, to the exclusion of new facets of gameplay or methods of handling.

I'm not really talking about you lot as your comments are fair enough, but others become extremely vehement about 'their' series: look at MGS2 and Wind Waker threads on any gaming forum.

RR6 with probably polarise you all yet again. The controls are 'softer' than the earlier, harder games. Being able to choose between the STD, MLD and DYN types means you don't really have to adapt to the difficulties of the cars' handling abilities. Sliding is essentially identical to the PSP game, with similar biting points, and Nitrous makes a controversial return.

On the other hand, track design is exemplary, the speed is perfect, difficulty curve well judged, atmosphere top-notch and it's just completely fun to play. Have a look at some of the voxpop reviews on Metacritic - so many miss the point. You'll constantly see "If you know Ridge Racer, you'll know what to expect". Well, if you know RR you'll know that each game is decidely different from the last and the change in direction has polarised fans of the series. I think I might have to write a RR6 review (eventually) just to rebuke this stupidity

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

This is one of your things isn't it. Your comments above link in with your thread on gaming sequels "not being better than the original" = utter rubbish (example Gradius V)...

It's something I've been mulling over recently too as I've revisited my review of Shutokou Battle 01 and the shitstorm of feedback it generated at ntsc. In an ideal world every game would be objectively viewed in isolation, but in doing that within a big name franchise such as Ridge, Zelda or whatever you lose the heritage and emotional ties that can add so much to the experience.

It's a fascinating debate and cuts to the very core of how we respond and relate to games in general.

quite.

Tricky one.

I dont have any beef with a dev trying something new within a franchise. After all, something I've got my head around recently, the original game still exists and hasn't be burned from the face of existence because a sequel has appeared.

Most of the discussion are centred around people's fundamental desires to have a better looking version of the game they remembered from yesteryear, and not an actual extension of the idea or franchise.

It very quickly descends into genre mapping and the like. Football games for instance, there is a roster that arguably needs updating (which should be done via online methods now, subscription) but then they butcher the game (WE9). First Person Shooters though, you can only add maps and weapons the mechanic has reached a zenith there. Driving games, new tracks, and so on.

I'm not adverse to the boosting in RR as long as it is interesting, its sounds fine enough. I reckon folk got a bit stingy about the whole thing, because on a portable format you want a portable version of the game you like, not some new idea shoehorned.

Yes and no, going back to RRacers and my limited experience with the RR family I'd have to say that the introduction of Nitros unbalances the game horribly.

The beauty of RRV is the way drifting and speed are directly linked in that if you drift (and you have to naturally) you will scrub off speed. The game therefore is a knife edge balancing act, whereby the player attempts to drift whilst incurring the minimum speed penalty. In short it's brilliant.

Ridge Racers throws this completely out of the window and tries something different that just simply doesn't work as well. In RRacers you gain Nitrous by drifting, so in effect you're rewarded for drifting which unbalances the game and actually overcomplicates it imo. How do you get the fastest times on RRacers? Do you drift more to get more Nitrous or drift less to maximise your nitro-less speed? You see it's not clear cut.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Doesn't sound like a "problem", just a decision. What you are saying is RRV had a clear cut single solution. Whereas RRs is a bit foggy about the whole issue? Arguably thats an addition to the franchise. Also we knoe Urban Nomads can't play computer game like we know them.

I suppose it does link in, yeah. Glad to see I'm being consistent even when I'm not cognisant of the fact

There's definitely a middle ground to be found here. I'm keen for a title to retain its original sensibilities, but not at the expense of progress or alteration for improvement. It's clear that many gamers want what many sequels provide: exactly the same physics and dynamics but with a new environment in which to play. Consider my earlier example: MGS2. Granted, it's a very flawed experience (I say 'experience' specifically because the actual 'game' - the gameplay itself - is fantastic) but the main criticism was playing as Raiden. Now, to me, this is bullshit. Using what amounts to a different skin only shouldn't frighten or discourage a fan, but such minor blips seem to. Again, Wind Waker: people spurned the game because of its cel shaded approach. Ludicrous, as it should live or die on its gameplay.

On the flipside, consider Resi 4. I hated this game because it did take the series too far from its roots. I don't care that it's a great game (even though I wasn't a fan, I can tell it's a great game): it is patently NOT Resident Evil. Whether you hate 'original' Resi (with its clunky controls and tricksy puzzles) or not, making an entirely new game and setting it in the same universe with the same plot and characters does not make it part of the canon.

So there you are: yes, getting the balance right so that you don't alienate your core audience is important, but so is progression. Where things go wrong is when either the audience rejects the changes (Zelda, MGS2, Ridge Racers, etc.) or when the developer rejects the audience's desires (Resident Evil 4, Halo 2 to a certain degree, Deus Ex 2, etc.)

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

The danger of course is when 'different' is equated with 'progress'. The decision to take a game in a new direction is always a risky one and a lot of the time the new extensions don't fit or don't work with the original concept. No problem back to the drawing board and come up with DMC3.

I'm all in favour of progress, evolution, new ideas and new ways to play, but only when these moves increase the enjoyment I get from a game. What pisses me off most is when people write off a game before they've even played it based solely on the fact that it's not what they're used to.

I think we're seeing this reaction more and more as Sega and Nintendo try to diversify their main franchises and take them in new directions. Eventually some of these will stick and become respected titles in their own right.

On a final note, I can only imagine the uproar that occured when the roster for SFIII was announced.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Late to this thread so apologise as the discussion has moved on but reading Treble’s opinions on this game (knowing that he also highly rates the most recent PS2 and PSP) I thought I would also evangelize on how great this game truly is.

I’ve enjoyed my 360 so far on the whole. Nothing truly revolutionary but a solid lineup of games. I enjoyed PDZ (it has its detractors) and Kameo was solid. On the other end of the spectrum PGR3 was tedious beyond belief and DOA4 was good in that it at least continued the tradition of Team Ninja making there game series get progressively worse with each game and was truly one of te worst excuses of a fighting I’ve had the ‘pleasure’ of playing.

Ridge Racer 6 though is truly something else. I’m a big fan of the series on the whole (in case my current tag isn’t indication of that isn’t enough ^^) but even I found a couple of the games rather lacking (Rage Racer most notably but also didn’t really get on with Type 4 either).

6 though is a splendid addition and the natural evolution from the PSP game of a year ago. Obviously it looks great, moves fast (in the later classes especially) and has a solid online mode but these are all a given for a 360 game. In fact in these regards PGR3 is notably far superior. What elevates Ridge above it’s boring stablemate is the perfect Ridge Racer handling, which is top class here, and the absolutely stunning course design.

Honestly the tracks here are really something else. With the exception of Downtown Rave City (which was in the PSP game) they are all new and all of them are fun to race. The first time you run a perfect race on the likes of Southbay Docks, Crossbay Tunnel or Highland Cliffs is an amazing feeling. The game even encourages you to run without collisions (which is how I’ve always tried to approach Ridge) by having an achievement whereby you have to win each course, on each course without a single collision.

Nitrous is back disappointingly as I didn’t really like them in Ridge Racers but so far I’ve had no problems progressing so far without firing a single nitro and in a way, it further adds to the challenge. Nothing like thinking your about to take the lead halfway through the ;ast lap only to watch first place fire a nitro and KNOW you are not allowing yourself to catch up by doing the same. Makes those last few drifts even more important to nail perfectly. For those who aren’t a fan of the nitro addition to the series, the game has a number of achievements relating to winning without nitrous and the Xplorer mode also keeps track of the which routes you clear with nitrous system.

Music is another area that I tend to judge Ridge games and whilst 6 doesn’t disappoint, it’s not the most memorable selection of BGMs either. For every track like Nitro Mantra there is an equally forgettable tune to go with it. But the potential for downloadable BGM is always there (the Red and Blue discs from Ridge Racers are already available on the Marketplace, but these weren’t my favourite from that game, and would love for the Remix disc to be downloadable).

I would definitely say this is one of my favourite Ridge games but I have to be careful that some of that isn’t ‘New Game Syndrome’. Even Rage and Type 4 impressed me and it was only in hindsight that I grew to be disappointed by them. I certainly don’t anticipate this being viewed as a disappointment long-term though. I still play PSP game today and this is essentially the same on a bigger screen.

Not revolutionary, but Ridge doesn’t have to be

Heh, nice one C'

It genuinely galls me that I can't afford a 360 simply because of this one game (long story, but future-building with the gf means a £300 outlay would be far too frivilous at this moment in time )

I know exactly what you mean about Rage and Type 4, RH. Both have two strikes against them (as RR games, rather than as racing games in general), that being
1) they have a Garage and GP element
2) They have a grittier, grimier aesthetic
Although they play well (RRT4 much better than Rage, in my opinion) they lose what makes a Ridge game demonstrably a Ridge game: grin-inducing Miami-esque backdrops and ludicrous Euro House tracks.

For me, RRV was a huge return to form. If the track desing had been more varied (only really innovating with Airport Oval) it would have gained more notoriety, and the massively bordered PAL version blinded people into thinking it was fugly, further cementing the anti-RRV crowd's opinion. Play it without the blinkers, and it remains a 'pure' Ridge game, in the same vein as the original, Revolution and Ridge 6.

If you want to know how embracing RR6 is, all you need to be told is that, at one point, you speed past an airplane with a huge Taiko no Tatsujin decal on its side. If that doesn't get you smiling over a Ridge game, you're no Ridge fan, fella

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Played this last night...

There's a distinct drift choice to made that apears to alter the game fundamentally. I didn't experiment enough to know what was what or what it was called... what I can say in all certainty is that online was terrible, the couple of plays I had, it crippled the frame rate to something disorientatingly N64ish, maybe in the upper teens, I dunno.

Still was playing Xplorer mode into the 20s and was effectively straight forward, so much so infact I was a good half a lap ahead and stacked whilst attempting a 360 nitrous boost combo then wedged myself quite successfully into a barrier.

The Drift mechanic is really really really easy, literally in rails, a certain nuance is required depending the severity and terrain on the corner... although like I say different drift types did compelelty differnt things....

I've heard there are online issues with droppers and playing the US racers. Shame, that, as the implementation for Halo 2 (and many, many other games) should have shown Namco how to eliminate this problem.

Drift is far from on-rals. Use some different car types and you'll soon see the breadth of it.

The game is beyond hard after an easy start. It takes hours and hours of play to get to the harder challanges, but when you do they are arse-clenchingly tough, don't worry sunshine

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Chavbury: "You can brand me as 'middlecore', 'casual', 'fucktard' or whatever you like."

I shall be interested to see how it plays. I just bought one from someone at another forum. The American release for £25! i have heard it compared to the PSP version.

Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK

Hi all \o/ First post

Yup, its called the "Ultimate Charge" and its vital to get to grips with if you want to get fast lap times and to catch up and pull away from the rest of the cars. The trick is, once you have built enough boost, if you use it, check the depleting bar colour. If you can begin or during the moment the boost completley finishes initiate a drift, you can practically get a chunk of boost back and boost again.

Depending on the car, you can get up 1, 2 or 3 boosts back!Ultranova in Special Class has the hardest to build boost, but once you have it and can use the ultimate charge, you can practically boost your way around the track. Mess up and its back to agonisingly trying to build just 1 boost back.

Its a great addition to the game, as you try and use your boost wisely and on certain sections which after a bit of play, you can judge when the boost is about to finish right before a sweeping corner for gauranteed boost build up. Theyve got the system for RR6 done really well for these boosts, none of the Mario Kart style Snaking for boosts will work, mainly because just snaking in Ridge Racer is not advised as it

1) it slows you down and other racers (esp online) will just shoot past you.
2) You could of got the same amount of boost if you just went round the corner at a faster speed

There are moments where for example you need that tiny little amount of charge to get the boost, but thats the only time its advisable imo. The best way to understand it is this. Say for example a car peaks at 190. When you boost, the cars speed will go over 190 considerably. If you can be drifting correctly while the cars peak speed is still over 190, the faster and more boost you will be instantly stocking up.

Yup, what you have come across is the absolute lameness on Namco's behalf. This is a known glitch where if your xbox is connected to a router that your pc is on as well, you have to go into the dashboard and manually disconnect the "media sharing" or whatever its called in the networks tab. The game will just not work online with this enabled. Even if you have never streamed media before, you have to disconnect it. Once you have done this, its fine.

I wouldnt be surprised if Namco havnt bothered to sort this out on purpose tbh. They are selling their Ridge tunes for 80 credits a pop on market place. (which is also done really lame, any downloaded songs are not available on random track lists, its just recognised as a track youve ripped on to the 360. Even worse, is you cant even listen to the track in the music player if you wanted to. )

Heh, the Xplorer has possibly one of the largest "practice\training" ive ever seen. Around lol 101 walk in the park races. Which I think is all of basic route. If you can manage to get passed all this, you will probably be eating your words on the other routes. Some of the races are just PURE evil, and you will not be finishing them on your first go. Especially races against the rival cars. xD

Xplorer mode kept me busy for yonks, and I enjoyed it alot. Just seeing all the new routes open up, and looking back at all the highlighted icons from where I come gave me a great deal of satisfaction. You should see what the Xplorer Universe looks like when you have opened it all up. IIRC 235 Xplorer Races.

Havnt touched the "ranked" races at all. Just stuck to custom games and playing with people on my Friends List. Can get some really great games on this.

Yeah its easy to initiate, but to control it is another thing. On the Dynamic cars for example (which you HAVE to use if you want a top time in world rankings)you have to make sure you are concentrating all the time, and make sure you have the best approach up to the corner, and when you are in the drift, you have to make sure you are counter steering as well to stop the car from going fully sideways. Why? Because at a certain angle, you will stop getting boost and your car will be slowing down.

Same with the other cars as well, you can easily get round a corner, but making sure you dont swing the car too wildly and lose speed is another thing.

I made a video for GHZ if you guys are interested. It kinda shows how the boost system should be used\abused. ;p This was a top 8 time not long ago on Harbor Line 765 course. Ive since smashed this time, but I recorded the wrong replay, but its still a good time. On the 3rd lap you will see when snaking should and only be used...when you have boosted a little bit too early before a corner and you just need that little bit of drift to activate a nitro. ;p

http://www.greenhillzone.co.uk/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=3472&view=findpost&p=63599

The video is at the bottom of the review. Dont ban me for postin links! >_<;;

Ridge Racer 6 is easily my most played X360 game online and offline. Im just thinking it would of been recieved much better had it been released on launch rather than 2ish months later.

Any of you other guys play RR6 here? My Tag is S1ngho if any of you feel like adding me.

W00t

Interesting.

Free and easy here

Ack, wierd. Not all of my post was getting posted at first, just the first paragraph. Removed some ( )'s and it was fine, but I still lost some lines. ;/

Anyway, I play this game far too much, and Im always on now and again. My Gamertag is S1ngho. The "1" in my name is cos just too flippin ace!.*

*Lies, it was meant to be a temporary account, but i couldnt be arsed to readd people to my friends list once the 2 months are over...Ive been called a chav over that "1" in my name. (((((

Ah now this sounds more interesting. I don't think the PSP Ridge had ultimate charge. It seems they've fixed my major gripe with that game by plonking the emphasis firmly on nitro building in this one.

Thanks for the link Singho. You won't find any cross forum BS here so feel free to post away

If I had a 360 then I'd be on this no doubt. As it is I will have to wait at least until June (maybe Christmas) before I get my mits on one. So far Ridge sounds like the only must have game.

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"Anyone who's played Namco's Cyber Sled and wished, however remotely, for a home version will be the first to figure it out:... - Tim Rogers

Mine arrived yesterday (as did my cheap VGA and RGB leads). I must say that the environements look superb (especially at 720p on my PC Monitor).

Unlocked a few cars so far. Enjoying though the difficulty level seems to be increasing greadually. I no longer win by a "country mile"!

Xbox 360 Gamertag - RogsR34UK

Hey Bassman! I didnt know you bought a 360. Im gonna be definatley be playing this tommorow night, ill send you an invite if you are about.

Aye from what I remember of PSP ridge, you had 3 nitros from the start right? and it was up to you when to use them. Or IIRC you could slide to build it back up, but not ultimate charge. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the vid.

Easily. Out of all my games on my 360, if I had to choose which one to keep...it would prolly be ridge. Ive played like over 500 online races on it, and im not bored of it yet. The random track selector is great, straight out of one race and the other one is already selected. The most cars Ive played with online is 8, but you can have 14. But 8 seems to be the perfect number, would make some of the courses well crowded. Heh, if you gonna be waiting till Christmas...maybe Namco would of releasd a patch for its stupid lag glitch. They have no problems dishing out tunes at 80 credits each, but they cba to fix a stupid bug. They are lucky the game is so flipping good. ;D

Early on I think you start with 2 or 2.5

You drop down to one and then none on the harder settings. anyway, PSP Ridge isn't easy because of the nitrous, it's easy because the other cars are just, simply, slow!

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Chavbury: "You can brand me as 'middlecore', 'casual', 'fucktard' or whatever you like."

You really should trade up to the US PSP version. I'm sure the stupidly hard extra mode will keep you happy

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"Anyone who's played Namco's Cyber Sled and wished, however remotely, for a home version will be the first to figure it out:... - Tim Rogers

I may well do that. I'll have to give it a while, though: not long rinsed the game for the third time, and need a break

I need a 360

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Chavbury: "You can brand me as 'middlecore', 'casual', 'fucktard' or whatever you like."

I am out tomorrow night unfortunately. I have a few cars unlocked now. I have done a number of Class 2 races.

Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK

Saw the "CyberSled" cars, and cracked up totally. Couldn't do the tracks for ages. Com. Ed. Die.

Anyways, slowest learning curve in a game ever I think.

But actually alright game.

I think I'm totally sold on Ridge Racer 6... if you start using the "Dynamic" drift types. Its very tricky, but once you nail it perfect you destroy the opposition.

One thing that does hurt it, is the meandering learning curve and the finite tracks. Effectively you consciously decide if you want to do it easy with a normal drift type, medium with a mild drift of go hardcore to the max extreme in dynamic...

Looks best in 720p too, not sure of the point of 1080i really, all 360 game looks better in 720p that I've seen.