Ridge Racer 7

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
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  1. GameDaily
    70
    The game's 40 cars look disappointingly familiar. However, this game successfully brings arcade racing home, fully loaded with fast rides, excellent drifting, the ability to customize vehicles, and 14 person online play.
  2. Eurogamer
    70
    It's better in some areas than 6, and is certainly brilliant played against real people, or just picked up and played properly with the nitrous turned off in arcade mode. But it's not really as challenging.
  3. games(TM)
    70
    Essentially, what we have here is a further improved and expanded version of Xbox 360’s Ridge Racer 6. And that in itself makes Ridge Racer 7 notable as a great sequel. [Jan 2007, p.109]
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  5. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    68
    Yes, you'll encounter a touch of the overly familiar sameness you get when you play any "Ridge Racer", but it's like slipping on a well-worn pair of jeans: It feels fine every time. [Jan. 2007, p.81]
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  6. Game Almighty
    63
    This is supposed to be the big racing title at launch, the game that should convince guys like me to buy this system, and it just plain doesn’t.
  7. Yahoo!
    60
    Mastering Ridge Racer 7 feels more like a mathematical exercise than a game. Technophiles may love it for exactly that reason, but other audiences may wonder where the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat have gone.
  8. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    60
    It's really more "yawn" than "whoa". [Jan. 2007, p.68]
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  9. Edge Magazine
    60
    It now feels in need of a shake up to make it bounce back instead of producing yet another diminished return. [Jan 2007, p.75]
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  10. Pure Magazine UK
    50
    The most heinous of crimes: a real lack of any feeling of speed. No matter whether you are going at a crawl or full tilt with nitrous screaming, the only difference you'll see is a bit of blur on roadside street lights. [Mar 2007, p.56]
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best PS3 Game of 2006
2
#2 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2006
6
#6 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 75
  3. Negative: 13 out of 75
  1. badasscat
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    After more than 7 years, this game still holds up. I owned a launch PS3 but never bothered getting this until 2013, and I was frankly shockedAfter more than 7 years, this game still holds up. I owned a launch PS3 but never bothered getting this until 2013, and I was frankly shocked by how good it is. If I'd gotten this game at launch, I don't think I'd have played anything else for months. I frankly don't think there's a better arcade racing game for PS3 even today.

    First of all, this is real Ridge Racer and the last game in the series you can say that about. (At least until a proper Ridge Racer 8 is released.) It's drift racing through Drift City, and all the Ridge Racer staples are here, from Reiko Nagase to the goofy in-race commentary to the arcade physics. No, this is not Gran Turismo and it isn't trying to be. The game is all about DRIFT. And speed. It's also very Japanese in style, if that's your thing (it is mine).

    But there's a huge amount of stuff to do. It's the biggest Ridge Racer game I've ever played, with tons of multi-race, single and manufacturer events. I've been playing for about 10 hours so far and I'm only 4.8% done according to the in-game stats. That's for an *arcade* racer, mind you. The in-game vehicles are all very different and they can all be upgraded in a huge number of ways both mechanically and visually.

    The racing AI is surprisingly smart for an arcade racer and there is no "rubber banding" as there even is in Gran Turismo. Get ahead and you'll stay ahead unless you mess up. Get behind and you have to work to catch up. The races start off easy but get challenging quick, and you'd better have your drifting technique down or you'll be left in the dust.

    Graphically the game is still very clean. It's not as detailed as modern racing games, but it's super-fluid at 60fps and the car models are smooth and well done. It's almost like it's just a different approach to graphics, rather than an obsolete one. The goal seems to be fluidity, smoothness and speed rather than ultra-high detail. I haven't found myself wishing the graphics were better as I've played it; if anything, I've wondered why newer games can't run this fluidly.

    There are even still people playing online, although beware that they're mostly masters of the game by now. Don't even try it until you get a good, later-game car and upgrade it. Otherwise you're going to get laughed at, literally.

    Until there's a Ridge Racer 8, I would highly recommend picking up this game to satisfy your arcade racing needs.    … Full Review »
  2. toaplan
    Feb 27, 2015
    8
    Great arcade racer, especially with the added stereoscopic 3D patch. And faithful to the original games in the series as well. Looking forwardGreat arcade racer, especially with the added stereoscopic 3D patch. And faithful to the original games in the series as well. Looking forward to Ridge Racer 8 on the PS4 or PS5.… Full Review »
  3. Jaidenbrkl1
    Mar 28, 2023
    8
    I was surprised to see that in 2023, the graphics are FULL ON 1080p 60FPS for a racing game and Ridge Racer 7 isn’t too bad, for 2006 standards.
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