R: Racing Evolution

Ridge Racer is a brand name to be reckoned with, having been incredibly popular in arcades across the world in the 1990's, and now it's back, and on the GameCube, under the guise of R: Racing Evolution.

R: Racing Evolution is just that; an evolution. Out is the arcade gameplay, and in is a semi-realistic style that doesn't compromise the raw enjoyment gained out of playing a Ridge Racer title.

The main focus of the title is an expansive 'Racing Life' story mode that encompasses fourteen chapters, complete with exquisite life-like full motion video that stands up to anything in the movies! Through this mode, the story of Rena Hayami - your in-game avatar - is told, who begins as a savvy and reckless ambulance driver in an American city. As the game progresses, you learn more about her, her manager, and her racing team, who are not so popular with competing teams and drivers.

Sandwiched between the slick story scenes, Rena races in progressively harder - and faster - circuit tournaments against other drivers, along with the occasional rallying tournament where the only opponent is the clock. On the circuit tournaments, players constantly encounter drivers from other teams, who have their own personalities, driving styles, and attitudes. An innovative feature in the game is that rival drivers can be pressured into driving errors by consistently attacking them on the circuit, just as is seen in real-life racing across the world. A progressing bar (not seen in real-life, natch) above their car displays their level of worry, with them backing off completely upon completion of this bar. This, of course, means that they are less likely to cave into pressure on the next encounter, although they will be more hostile towards attempts to overtake.

As previously mentioned, Namco has introduced a semi-realistic driving model into the game, and as an incentive to hug racing lines, take corners at optimum speeds, and slipstream rival cars, Reward Points are awarded. Reward Points are then utilised in other modes of the game to unlock countless cars, racing modes, and races. In 'Event Challenge,' cars can be purchased from a vast pool, tuned in the Performance Shop, and then raced in Extra challenges that can be opened up. For example, the first Extra challenge requires racers to stop their vehicle in a small area marked on the road, with medals awarded for varying levels of efficiency in completing this task - while it sounds simple, it is anything but.

The features listed here scratch just the surface of a simple, but incredibly deep game, that even includes a copy of Pac Man Vs, a multiplayer version of Pac Man, designed by the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto! Coupled with the great graphics, pumping dance soundtrack, and ear-blowing audio effects, R: Racing Evolution is a serious contender in the racing genre, a fine evolution of the Ride Racer franchise, and worthy of any gamer's collection.