So.. RR7
22:25 Sunday 14 Oct 07
Love it.
Music. I’ve not really noticed which either means it’s not so good, it fits perfectly or I’m concentrating too much. I think it’s the latter but the former is probably true too.
Graphics. The PS3 is part of my master plan to get a bigger better TV so they can only improve. I love the helicopters, planes taking off and various other touches that have distracted me enough to wobble.
Structure. It’s not quite as linear as others in the series but there is much repetition built-in (see below).
Controls. Fast, faster, look behind. There is probably a brake but I (a) have no idea which button it is (b) have no intention of finding out and (c) it’s Ridge Racer – no need for brakes.
The gameplay is exactly what I expected. I have played Micro Machines through to Gran Turismo and while realism is the selling point of things like GT, Forza, Colin McRae the fact is that while these games demand a level of attention so does RR. In Forza you need to get the right line, adjust speed and turn, hit the apex, stay on the right line and accelerate correctly around a hairpin. It’s exactly the same in RR – only heaps more fun. It might look like there is less skill but it’s a different skill. In all previous RR incarnations there has been the Devil cars which take some awesome driving to beat and I look forward to finding the ones hidden in here.
The repetition is no bad thing. I prefer the dynamic cars so I can sling them around so trying to drive a mild car is very different experience and one I don’t like as much but to completely complete the game I have to. And even so, it’s 3 laps at less than 2 mins a per lap so the amount of my life lost to the game isn’t so great. The shorts bursts in playing are also suited to a few mins away from work to chill.
One thing I am really looking forward to trying to beat are lap times from others online. I will try and beat my own times anyway – get a great start, right line on every segment, drift at the right time and absolutely not if not needed, only just miss the sides of the track, accelerate at the right time, no fishtailing, use nitros in the perfect position – so with the added challenge of real people to play against it should keep me busy for a long time.
