Game Modes

• In the single player game, there are three different options:
• Grand Prix
• This is the main single player mode where you race through 20 races spread out through 3 different environments and several different car classes.
• Typically three races are unlocked at a time, and the next series won’t unlock until the previous three have been beaten.
• Car Attack
• This mode is locked until the first series of three races in the Grand Prix mode is beaten.
• In this mode you race an opponent one on one for his car.
• This allows newer and faster cars to be unlocked for use in all modes.
• Time Attack
• In this mode, you can practice on any unlocked course with any unlocked car.
• Here you can attempt to break the record scores for the course, or just practice with an unlimited number of laps.
• Outside of the single player game, there is also a Quick Race option, which dumps you straight into a race without choosing a track or car.
• Overall the modes were pretty generic, with not much depth to them.
• Unlocking cars and tracks are necessary to move on, but do not add value or replayability to the game.

Gameplay

• Fans familiar with the Ridge Racer series will be familiar with the format of the races.
• You start in last place (12^th) and must work your way up to the front before you run out of laps or time.
• Drift racing plays a major role in being able to successfully navigate the courses.
• Choosing to Play Ridge Racer on the DS adds no worthwhile features.
• The dual screen is used to show the race on the top screen and the steering wheel on the bottom screen.
• The stylus is used to steer the steering wheel on the bottom screen when the stylus gameplay option is turned on.
• This is called “hard”, and is extremely frustrating to use as a controlling option.
• If the stylus is not used, then the bottom screen serves no purpose other than to show your gear if you are using a manual transmission.
• Unfortunately for DS owners, this could be the worst handling Ridge Racer  yet.
• The stylus controlling is awful and does not help to make the game more fun or realistic.
• Without the stylus, the controls still feel jerky where the car will turn sharply right or left with little effort.
• Even the drifting feels fake and un-fluid.
• Each car has their own statistics that is supposed to make the cars feel different.
• Speed – Does make a difference in how the car is competitive in harder races.
• Acceleration – Supposedly important for going up hills but seems to affect tire spin and ease of drifting more.
• Handling – Allows you to corner better, but doesn’t seem to make much difference.
• Grip – The determining factor in how easy the car will drift.
• Color – Can be chosen from a sliding scale array of all colors at race time.
• The cars’ stats don’t seem to make much of a difference, outside of affecting the overall speed and ability to drift.
• Even though it’s an arcade racer, the lack of damage modeling or even any kind of a penalty for slamming into a wall just cheapens the gameplay.
• Worse, is the horrid collision detection with other cars.
• Your car can pass through over half of an opponent’s car before there is any registered contact.
• When there is contact, it does little to cause a wreck.
• No damage
• Only penalty is that both cars veer off course just a bit and loose a little speed.
• Overall the gameplay was entirely not up to par for a modern racing game, even if it is on a handheld.

Multiplayer

• Ridge Racer DS does feature a multiplayer mode where you can link up in an ad-hoc network with up to five buddies for some six-player racing.
• One good thing about the multiplayer mode is that it will allow up to six players to play with just one game card.
• Multi-card is also available, but all players must have a game card in that case.
• Playing with your friends is fun, but it doesn’t help the controls get any better.