• Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Mar 22, 2005
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 82
  2. Negative: 7 out of 82
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  1. A.A.
    Feb 10, 2005
    10
    Wow!
  2. Goaty
    Feb 8, 2005
    10
    The Future Of Videogames in the palm of your hand. Who needs a TV anymore!
  3. LuisR.
    May 10, 2005
    10
    The graphics are awesome, so is the sound and the control on this game. I love it.
  4. DavidB.
    Aug 7, 2006
    10
    This is what the PSP was maded for!
  5. Jumper
    Feb 14, 2005
    10
    Incredible. It looks amazing.
  6. BonnieC.
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    I was very surprised that the quality of the 3D graphics. This games sets the benchmark for the handheld. A must have novelty for the early PSP owner. With time, you do see a few rendering artifacts, but overall, you want to race each course just for the thrill of watching the impeccable Replay of each race.
  7. JohnQ.
    Feb 9, 2005
    10
    It has de best graphics i've ever seen!!!
  8. TillB.
    Apr 1, 2005
    10
    The game is the best launch title on the PSP handheld system. It is also the best part of all the Ridge Racer games. The new nitro boost is a great feature, the gameplay is in each case suberb. The very good presentation with its wonderfull sounds and graphics will do that you will play this game many times.
  9. EricF.
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    Great.
  10. Nick
    Jul 25, 2006
    10
    Outstanding accomplishment on the PSP and to think its nearly 2 years old. The graphics are stunning but its the gameplay that makes this an outstanding game beating all its rivals. Fantastic a must buy for any racing fan that owns a PSP.
  11. EricF.
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    Great.
  12. JacobF.
    May 15, 2005
    10
    Best graphics I have ever seen on a handheld system.
  13. Pettiforj
    Apr 6, 2005
    9
    Excellent, best game I own on the PSP, so far, only drops off from getting 10 out of 10 due to its slight lack of feel and interaction with other cars and also lack of online play.
  14. JatinderG.
    Sep 2, 2005
    9
    Best racing game on psp so far-yes better than wipeout pure mainly because the tracks are MORE WIDER, and it is easier to control. Graphics are good although there is a lot of jagged edges which need anti aliasing. A must for racing fans.
  15. DavidH.
    Nov 18, 2005
    9
    Stunning graphics, fast and furious gameplay. The only problem that I found is the extreme difficulty at higher level, that makes you loose interest. A must have.
  16. Nobby
    Oct 1, 2005
    9
    This is game is way better than i expected. Excellent graphics.Good games r ines where the games programers put more time in the playability rather than kick ass graphics and i am glad to see the playability is 100% perfect.
  17. BryantL.
    Mar 31, 2005
    9
    I've gave it a nine just because i like how they changed the drifting and nitrous.
  18. BobP.
    Jun 2, 2005
    9
    This is my favorite PSP game. Everything about this game is great (i.e. Sound, Graphics, gameplay, etc). Though I do wish the game had more race tracks. Playing the same tracks over and over again, even with diferent cars, gets a little old. Otherwise, I would have given this game a "10".
  19. DionS.
    Dec 20, 2006
    9
    I love the speed feeling you get from it, and the grafic is fantastic, it runs with out any problems and the music if great. The game is one of the best PSP games you can get, beautiful is the word for the game and gameplay.
  20. Felix
    Mar 23, 2005
    9
    Excellent overall quality. A must if you appreciate a good racing game!
  21. RyanP.
    Apr 11, 2006
    9
    This is my first PSP game i bought... This game is so cool at first its kinda easy but at higher levels the game is getting difficult. A game with good Graphics and Gameplay.
  22. Sep 3, 2014
    9
    I really like this game and i rated this game 9.0/10.I like the graphics,cars,challenges,courses and the multiplayer.You can also unlock new cars,courses and other challenges as well but this game is very good for me to play at home and i finish this game 3 times.
  23. Jun 7, 2018
    9
    Classic game for PSP that everyone had tried at least one time! Maybe an IA more calibrated would be the game perfect, but this is only a detail compares the incredible work made by Namco !!!
  24. Mobius
    Oct 10, 2005
    8
    Great looking game with gameplay to match. Fast Fun and a great peice of software to show of the power of your PSP.
  25. Gazza
    Feb 11, 2005
    8
    The game has outstanding graphics and runs at a very good rate without any glitches/pop-ups and also handles very well (the knuckle pad has a good touch and feel to it), but being a first-gen game, it does has limited depth and becomes a little repetive after a few weeks. Still highly recommended though, and considering it is a first-gen game, I would imagine the next generation of PSP The game has outstanding graphics and runs at a very good rate without any glitches/pop-ups and also handles very well (the knuckle pad has a good touch and feel to it), but being a first-gen game, it does has limited depth and becomes a little repetive after a few weeks. Still highly recommended though, and considering it is a first-gen game, I would imagine the next generation of PSP games will be very good indeed. Note for UK gamers: watch out for import taxes on the machine/games - I got hit for fifty notes (well worth it though!!!) Expand
  26. SimonP.
    Feb 17, 2005
    8
    I bought a PSP in the UK from an importer and as a fan of the first game from way back at the dawn of PS1 this game seemed the natural choice to go with it. In terms of visual prowess, if you haven't seen it running on PSP, it's hard to convey just how impossibly good this games looks considering that it's running on a machine that fits snugly in the palm of your hand. I bought a PSP in the UK from an importer and as a fan of the first game from way back at the dawn of PS1 this game seemed the natural choice to go with it. In terms of visual prowess, if you haven't seen it running on PSP, it's hard to convey just how impossibly good this games looks considering that it's running on a machine that fits snugly in the palm of your hand. I've seen it written that the PSP is capable of graphical performance between a PS1 and PS2..Nonsense! This game clearly demonstrates PS2 quality visuals. Once you've got over the initial awe, you're left with a very solid racing game in its own right. Presentation is slick, sound it great (but buy some decent earbuds - the PSP 'phones are poor) and most importantly the game plays very well. There are a substantial number of tracks (particularly when you remember that the first Ridge Racer had just a few variations of a single course!). The new drift ability is great fun and once the first league is passed competition gets suitably intense. I haven't completed the game yet so I can't say anything about additional unlockable cars etc but I'm sure there are some. No game is perfect of course and this is no exception. As with all Ridge Racer games opponent AI is nothing special and there are never more than about three cars on the screen at once, but that doesn't detract from the fun - Ridge Racer was never about the opponents it's about screaming around the gorgeous tracks. I also found the new nitro ability less enjoyable than it could be - the boost seems very short and less intense than it should be. But, these are all minor gripes against the excellence of the overall package. So, overall a great game that I've no hesitation in recommending and also one that serves to suggest that there are going to be some stunning games on PSP in the future. [Ed: thanks, Simon!] Expand
  27. MarcD.
    Mar 26, 2005
    8
    An impressive launch title and a fun game to boot. What else could a gamer on the go ask for?
  28. BlakeT.
    Mar 29, 2005
    8
    Easily the best racing game released at launch. The controls are great, the graphics are amazing, and you can really feel the speed. Nice variety of tracks and options. I was a bit disappointed you couldn't play the game online (like Twisted Metal); however, none of the other racing titles allow it either.
  29. HartmutG.
    Mar 3, 2005
    8
    Very nice graphics and speed feeling, but only one world tour mode and just 12 tracks (that can be raced in opposite direction as well) are not enough and the drift does a little bit overreact.
  30. J.L.
    Mar 25, 2005
    8
    Nice graphics. Nice controls. Still plays like a Ridge Racer game. Ridiculous A.I., like all Ridge Racer games, one particular oppenent always seems to "rubber band" catch up to you when ever you're at the lead. Nice touch with the addition of nitro. Would be nice to see car damage and have the abillity run cars off the road. (Being sarcastic) But I guess that won't be Ridge Nice graphics. Nice controls. Still plays like a Ridge Racer game. Ridiculous A.I., like all Ridge Racer games, one particular oppenent always seems to "rubber band" catch up to you when ever you're at the lead. Nice touch with the addition of nitro. Would be nice to see car damage and have the abillity run cars off the road. (Being sarcastic) But I guess that won't be Ridge Racer right? Over all, good fun. Kills the battery though, I get 3 hours on my PSP with this game on single player. Expand

Awards & Rankings

4
8
#8 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2005
5
#5 Most Shared PSP Game of 2005
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 58 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 58
  2. Negative: 0 out of 58
  1. While the wireless feature is one of the best things in Ridge Racer, the very best feature of Ridge Racer comes in the form of its gorgeous graphics engine... Ridge Racer looks freaking amazing.
  2. The incredible graphics, tight controls and excellent music/sound effects are more than enough to warrant having this game.
  3. With its impressive graphic and new Nitrous boost feature, RR positions itself as the best game in the series and it provides a great example of the quality of games we can expect from the PSP.