Ridge Racer DS

[replicant]

Ridge DS is good, until you play Ridge Racers.

[Strider]

Been playing this all weekend and it's all right. It looks the part, handles very well (except for some very questionable collision detection) and even sounds pretty damn good.

Whilst the analogue control via the thumbstrap is adequate, it's not a patch on proper analogue control and does make you wonder why NST bothered. If you've got a short thumb it's very hard to reach the opposite side of the screen and as a result makes it very hard to steer. Even if you are ok in the digit department it's hard to work out where your central point of steering is and you'll often under or oversteer when taking corners.

It still plays like Ridge Racer and works surprisingly well on the D-Pad, but you can't help but feel that Namco should of added a few extras. Mario 64 DS proves how you can improve on an existing game, its a shame ridge Racer DS doesn't foolow suit.

[Oh! My Car!]

it's worth getting then? If you forget about the naff steering wheel thing?

[davek22]

I would say yes. The touch screen option is only there because the fealt obliged to add it. Ignore that, use the dpad and its well worth it if you have a DS.

[JibberX]

Well its exactly the same as Ridge Racer 64, so thats it really, if you liked that, you'll like this. But what has got me super intreigued is the possibility of 6 player action from 1 cart, thats gotta be phenominal. Anyone tried it yet?

[Strider]

Well its exactly the same as Ridge Racer 64, so thats it really, if you liked that, you'll like this.

True, but I liked playing that four years ago, I was expecting a little more from Namco than a straightforward port (that isn't even as good as the original game).

I'm still really enjoying it, but I'm not loving it.

[JibberX]

I get the feeling the crux of this port is the 6 player wifi action, I'm guessing thats where the hours of hard work went? I can't say yet though I haven't tried.

You say its not as good as the 64 version, how so? to me it plays pretty much the same, if not identically?

It suffers the same structual problems, i.e. it takes ages to get to the meat and potatoes speed wise, but come on 1 game, 6 DSs, I am so psyched by that!

[Strider]

You say its not as good as the 64 version, how so? to me it plays pretty much the same, if not identically?

It suffers the same structual problems, i.e. it takes ages to get to the meat and potatoes speed wise, but come on 1 game, 6 DSs, I am so psyched by that!

Control wise it isn't a patch on the orignal game, the steering wheel is no substitute for the original analogue control. The multiplayer is really good fun and we've been playing it 4 player in the office. Not noticed any connection problems and there is sound for the other players (but not music).

[JibberX]

I get the feeling its one of those showcase Nintendo does DS Download play pieces.

They've gotta be raking it in. And they must have a port-o-matic machine doing these transfers, they are spot on.

Yes, the control is a bit naffermongous, I tried the pen play option, and it was fine, in a novel way.

You gotta try 6 people!, 6 then take an embarrassing video of stupid westerners playing DS game!

[Strider]

I get the feeling its one of those showcase Nintendo does DS Download play pieces.

Surely that's what Band Bros is?

[JibberX]

Its Nintendo playing the region game, racing games and fpss for the Americans, Music games and puzzles for the Japanese.

[SharkAttack]

Also, NST are behind this game and I think their main efforts are focused on MP Hunters. Namco are just publishing.

[JibberX]

I just remembered the presentation, i.e. the menus and next, back and all that is terrible. I have no idea what they were trying to achieve. And there is something slightly unnerving about a game that boots up with a picture of a lady in overalls from the waist down with "Touch to Start" on it....

[JibberX]

We all know I am the undisputed king of gaming, anyone whos seen me play Samba de Amigo can testify to that. But I am finding RRDS very easy, is it because I've got all the tracks stored in some kind of map vault in my head? Or has it been dumbed down a bit?

I tried Thumbstrap control last night, it was better than the pen I reckon, it'll take some getting use to, but if you hold the DS from the bottom, over the GBA slot, its quite comfortable, its getting use to the lack of tactile feedback thats the issue.

[davek22]

It does seem very easy, I played a race last night on the desert track and banged all over the place...into cars barriers etc and still got a 1st place