Exile`90

I got this game on Friday.. Tomorrow I’m going back to EB hoping I can return it or exchange it for something more playable..

Game Info:
Title: Ridge Racer DS
Serial: NTR-ARRE-USA

Published by: Namco Hometek Inc.
Developed by: Nintendo Software Technology (NST)

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone – Mild Suggestive Themes)

Game Type: Racing
Players: 1-6 (Single-Cart and Multi-Card)
Languages: English

Video: 4
BAH! People who’s been complaining about how Asphalt GT is unpolished and looks rushed should take a look at this game.. God, the graphics looks worse than 1st gen PSX. Cars apear to be flying and the colors are.. just BLAH.. Due to the OVER USE of the gray color this is the 1st game where the angle of the top screen matters.. The bottom screen is USELESS.. THe fucking wheel takes most of it with a TINNY map in the top left corner.. Totally useless map I may add.. You don’t see where your oponent is unless you’re doing ‘Car Attack’. When you bang the wall (and you’ll do it quite often) you can see what’s ‘behind’ it.. Oponents animations look shitty.. The only nice thing about the graphics in this game are the tail light animations.. I really love to see those red smudges behind the cars.. ;p

Audio: 5 (7)
Ok. Here’s the deal.. 90% of my play time is on the bus and subway to/from work and on my breaks.. And i’d say 99% if the time I just listen to my IPod so audio part is not as important to me as it may be to the other people.. But.. While I play at home I do play with the volume turned up. The audio in this game is OK.. Not too special but not shitty either. I didn’t get a chance to listen to all the songs but the ones I did get a chance to hear are not too annoying and don’t make you turn the volume down.. So I’d give the Audio part 7 IF.. If it wasn’t for the fucking wall contact SFX! It’s just ANNOYING.. So this game only gets 5 in the audio department..

Touch Screen Usage: Non-existant/Extreme
If you have the controls set to ‘EASY’ you’ll never use the touch screen. And playing with either stylus or the thumb strap are simply weird.. How exacly are you supposed to concentrate on what’s going on on the top screen while you try to see where you stylus is pointing? Maybe I’m missing something here but.. The game plays 100% better with the regular controls.

Replay Value: 0
Like I’ve mentioned in the opening I’m planning to return this game tommorow. I’ve found this game to be the worst game for the DS so far.. And the only games I didn’t get a chance to play yet are Madden, Sprung and PingPals. The controls are TERRIBLE.. They have the 80’s / early 90’s “arcade” feel. After playing Asphalt GT for a while this game feels like going to the back of the arcade to play Pole Position 2 after playing Initial D.. The collision detection is BAD.. you hit non existing walls, or you drive half way behind the wall and there is no damage.. When you hit the oponent you just bounce back with a speed drop and the oponent just keeps going.. Same rules apply when it’s the oponent who hits you.. You slow down and he goes ‘zoom-zoom’.. Btw. did I mention that you can drive through your oponent? That’s how great the collision detection is..

Final Score: 4

Game Tips and Other Info:
Only one tip: DON’T BUY IT..