Ridge Racer 3D Review
By: RJ (@rga_02)
- Ridge Racer 3D
- Publisher/Developer - Namco Bandai Games
- Nintendo 3DS
Ridge Racer used to be a staple for hardware launches. If the new gamestation ultra cube came out, you better believe that a Ridge Racer title was on the horizon. As of late this tradition ended and what we once took for granted is no longer here. There was no Ridge Racer title for the PlayStation 4, Wii U or Nintendo Switch. All we had recently was a stripped-down Vita game and some questionable PC games.
So, let’s look back at the last traditional game we had in the series, Ridge Racer 3D for the Nintendo 3DS.
But first, for those who don’t know the series or only heard of it from that infamous Sony conference many moons ago, Ridge Racer is an arcade racer through and through. Think of the Daytona series but with non-licensed cars. And unlike Daytona, realism is thrown out the window here. Gone are the convention rules of racing, all you need to learn how to drift your way to the finish line.
Ridge Racer 3D is nothing new or special. It’s like that favorite soup your mom would make for you, there’s nothing more you would rather have. That’s what makes this game and series so special. There’s no endgame or a lot of bells and whistles, you just race as stylish as you can.
This game also has so much personality. It’s hard to explain, but once you are whizzing by in the mountains in your Kamata Fiera, you’ll know what I mean. It’s better to see it in person than through someone describing you that #emotional feel through text.
There is something physiological with this series. You will always find yourself wanting to do one more race. Even once you’ve unlocked everything, every single race you partake in is satisfying and addicting. Even if you can drift your way to glory with your eyes closed, you will still yearn to beat your previous record every single time.
But of course, that feeling doesn’t solve the glaring issues with the game. Most of the tracks in the game are recycled. While nostalgic, they will eventually tire your eyes out. There is also no online multiplayer - the closest thing to that would be the Street Pass ghost races.
Another small complaint is the controls. After a while, the placement of the 3DS will start giving your hands some cramps due to the ergonomics of the handheld, and there’s nothing Namco could have done anything that. I will say that it is more comfortable on the 2DS.
In a time when most racing games emphasize realism and graphics, Ridge Racer 3D was a breath of fresh air. Physics be damned, I just want to have fun. And that is what this game and the series is all about.
