Ridge Racer V

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Oct 25, 2000
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 4 out of 17
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  1. Wimpher
    Apr 18, 2020
    10
    Unburied my PS2 and have it connected to my 43" 4K LGTV with component cables and let me tell you. I don't care what anyone else thinks but this is still the greatest arcade racer I have ever played which makes it also the best darn Ridge Racer you can get! This game still looks and plays better than I ever remembered from back when I first got the PS2 on launch.

    This game has style.    Unburied my PS2 and have it connected to my 43" 4K LGTV with component cables and let me tell you. I don't care what anyone else thinks but this is still the greatest arcade racer I have ever played which makes it also the best darn Ridge Racer you can get! This game still looks and plays better than I ever remembered from back when I first got the PS2 on launch.

    This game has style. Atmosphere. Graphics. 60 fps. Sound and music all top notch! Where to even begin? The best game up to this point was RR4, no doubt about it and this game just edges it out due to its sheer focused gameplay like someone else here had mentioned already in the reviews. This game just takes away the stuff that I felt wasn't necessary in RR4 (like the story segments) and just completely, heavily emphasizes the very immersive arcade driving. I cannot begin to even describe just how awesome this game feels at its blistering 60fps while looking as good as it does. You just don't have games being made like this especially on launch. This was state of the art at the time and yet a very under rated game (as this franchise has always been.)

    Honestly? The only thing I can understand anyone even remotely complaining about are course variety. Namco chose to go back to its original roots and have all the courses take place in one city. So yeah, there's not much to go by if ya want more variety in scenery. But the fact remains, these are brilliantly constructed and executed courses with a lot of thought put into it. I love how it's all designed and it just works. You see areas in the course that were previously closed off but now are opened through for another section to race on - and I just love it because this city is just so damn cool to drive in.

    Here we are, 2020, and I'm writing a review for a game released in 2000. It just goes to show you the impact this one had on me. Even to this day, there is no experience that is on this level. On the surface, you may feel like you're not getting much for your buck but when you actually pay close attention to the details and how well everything is executed here, you'll quickly realize they just don't make them like they used to. This is absolute quality on the finest level and I embrace its simplicity because of the way this game sucks you in and never lets go.

    I had to come back to this one simply because it's in my opinion, the DEFINITIVE Ridge Racer experience and no boosts or anything like that that take away from the "core" driving. The racing games made today just simply do not hold a candle to this right here and I played them all - Gran Turismo, DriveClub, Need for Speed....they all just fail to deliver that amazing, classic "Ridge Racer" feel. I always say to this to people....this game has a feeling unique to its own. Nothing else on the market feels like it and nothing ever will due to Namco giving up on this series. Ridge Racer 7 is great (but feels too "glidey" like "flying") but when it comes down to it, RRV is where it's at. Namco truly cared when developing this game.    … Expand
  2. Good-Smurf
    Feb 12, 2012
    8
    This game has alot of potential to top RR Type4,well it always have since it's a Ridge Racer game but it turned out to be that it stall halfway through the race.
    A launch game of Playstation 2 back in 2000 and It such a gorgeous looking game really outdid in terms of graphics that the developers said "We can't do that with PS1" but now it's possible on PS2.
    At least Namco didn't show a    This game has alot of potential to top RR Type4,well it always have since it's a Ridge Racer game but it turned out to be that it stall halfway through the race.
    A launch game of Playstation 2 back in 2000 and It such a gorgeous looking game really outdid in terms of graphics that the developers said "We can't do that with PS1" but now it's possible on PS2.
    At least Namco didn't show a fake Graphics Demo back in 99' because they somehow make it look
    even better than the demo itself!
    Menu and styling are so techno-ish and somewhat futuristic but handling is what makes this game failed it so unbalanced and twitchy that even for Ridge Racer standard it's hard to believe a car can
    handles so terrifyingly twitchy.
    Music so generic and it didn't fitted in any stage or event that you've played.
    I like that they took this game so serious that it should've been better than RR type 4 but music and
    handling of the car are so terrible that it completely ruins the game.
    Other areas like styling.graphics and gameplay are all top notch.
    Did i say that it runs at 60FPS with such a beautiful graphics!?
    No racing games on PS2 looked that good until Gran Turismo 3 came along in 2001 and it sets the
    new standard of what this weak but efficient console can do for the next 10 years.    … Expand
  3. Yojimbo2015
    Jul 15, 2023
    8
    One of the original PlayStation titles gets revamped for the PS2 and the result is basically the same game with a facelift. It is nice to look at though and its straightforward, no frills approach makes a refreshing change from the constant barrage of Gran Turismo clones.
  4. J.W.
    Oct 25, 2004
    7
    A good game but not as good as it could have been.
  5. BenG.
    Mar 26, 2007
    10
    This game is such class. It's just one of the most focused and atmospheric arcade racers I've ever played.
  6. MarkusZ
    Aug 5, 2023
    4
    At first i was very impressed from the graphics, which are very impressive for a launch title. When start playing i had to get used to the controls first. But after many hours of playing the controls felt still awkward. Taking turns is a pain, it feels like you control a boat or so. Especially when you drive a night and cant see the turns well its very frustrating. I really tried to likeAt first i was very impressed from the graphics, which are very impressive for a launch title. When start playing i had to get used to the controls first. But after many hours of playing the controls felt still awkward. Taking turns is a pain, it feels like you control a boat or so. Especially when you drive a night and cant see the turns well its very frustrating. I really tried to like this game because i played other Ridge Racer games before, but sadly because of the controls i quit playing.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PS2 Game of 2000
15
#15 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2000
9
#9 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2000

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. GamerWeb Sony
    75
    The game is fun for a limited amount of time, but due to its lack of depth and lackluster at best multi-player mode, you will probably not find yourself playing this game whole a helluva lot once that initial excitement wears off.
    Read full review
  2. GameSpot
    76
    Overall, the game feels a little rushed with its easy-way-out track design.
    Read full review
  3. Antagonist
    76
    I would have liked to have seem damaged panels and broken glass everywhere after you rammed your opponent; no such luck, however.
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