Ridge Racer Unbounded

Overall, Ridge Racer: Unbounded is a good arcade racing game, which offers many interesting features like its multiplayer modes, the track creator, the destruction of environments. But it could have been a better game, as it's unoriginal, all the cars are almost the same and its story isn't interesting. A good racing game that could have been a greater game.

Racing with an old flair, yet creating with a new one, Ridge Racer fans will find a lot to love here.

An intense and addictive adrenaline rush, a high-speed power fantasy that will make you feel like Jesus on Wheels - when it works. When it doesn't, which is a lot, races tend to reduce to exercises in tedium and frustration. [June 2012, p.73]

Unbounded has got something recent Ridge Racer games have lost sight of: a sense of unbridled, anarchic fun. [Issue#84, p.80]

The first non-Japanese-developed Ridge Racer borrows heavily from games like Burnout and Need for Speed to deliver an enjoyable and full-of-adrenaline racing experience. It's not the best racer out there, but it can be fun!

Whether Unbounded is a game for you depends on temper. If you won't tire of always flooring the throttle and going through every corner sideways, this is a technically solid arcade racer that hits home more often than it misses. But if you demand more variety and focus on driving skills, you should look elsewhere.

There were times when Unbounded crept into frustration territory that almost saw it as a complete write-off, but perseverance eventually unlocked something special indeed.

A solid and entertaining arcade racing game, with a monstrous tracks editor and a good amount of content… but please, don't call it Ridge Racer!

Falling somewhere between a traditional Ridge Racer title and a Burnout game, Unbounded fails to fully succeed at recreating either experience, ending up in between the two racing franchises in terms of quality.

Different than the other Ridger Racers, Unbounded looks like more a spin off with a new style than a new fresh episode. We are not sure that the fans will like this new direction.

Unbounded can't compete with the genre's best, but it's not devoid of value.

A pale imitation of many more competent racers. A wasted chance to revitalise the series. [June 2012, p.74]

With Undounded, Ridge Racer gets closer to games like Burnout, Blur, or Split Second. It's more accessible, and more aggressive, with a very nice tracks editor and nice multiplayer. Too bad its production values aren't on par with the genre champions, and traditional Ridge Racer fans will probably disappointed by this new orientation.

Lacks the sparkle of games such as Split/Second or Burnout. The destruction elements feel a bit weak, the cars control poorly at times and the computer AI is truly merciless. The biggest problem, though, is the lack of a proper tutorial in the game, a sure-fire way to alienate many players almost instantly.

While it's inarguable that Ridge Racer was very much in need of a makeover, Unbounded's formula is far from the required antidote. The focus on destruction has overshadowed everything else to the point where other elements are merely along for the ride. It's all well and good designing a game with a specific focus in mind, but not when that focus renders everything else pointless.

It's a quick thrill – a little bit of fiery eye-candy and raw destruction to pass the time – but as its explosions grow more tiring, there's little else to see among the streets of Shatter Bay, and its focus is clearly muddled. While Unbounded is no doubt a step in the right direction for the franchise, perhaps it was a little early to leave the safety of Ridge City behind.

A lot of different pieces that don't work well on their own, let alone together.

As a successor to the glorious Ridge Racer franchise Unbounded is quite disappointing, the controls are sluggish, the AI is unfair, the destruction feels superficial. Almost everything that you once associated with Ridge Racer is gone. Thanks to the editor and the well executed online mode it might still be worth a look for some.

Ridge Racer Unbounded simply doesn't manage to make all its separate elements gel together.

Bugbear clearly knows what it's doing, but seems hampered by the odd, shoehorned-in license and a repetitive single-player campaign. Unbounded's testosterone-drenched theme and crazy destruction might appeal to the mainstream, but its considerable difficulty and lack of extras will send them packing just as quickly.

You have to give Ridge Racer Unbounded points for trying something new. The series has gone downhill at a blistering pace following industry embarassments like this one. Bringing fresh ideas to the table and executing them in a stylish matter is exactly what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately, none of these ideas are original and they were all better accomplished in the titles that originated them. Take one of the older models for a spin around the block and see for yourself.