Ridge Racer Unbounded Demo Preview
Ridge Racer Unbounded was recently released for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. With the release of a demo also becoming available for all platforms shortly afterwards. We decided that we would give you a first look into what the demo is like and what can be expected in the full game. Read on to see whether we recommend a download or purchase.
Once you’ve downloaded, installed and booted up the demo you are greeted with a good looking and well-designed Main Menu. On this menu there are two options to choose from. Preview Editor and Dominate. The former gives you a look at the track making feature in a video format. This feature is obviously available in the full game. But a trailer is the closest you get to in the demo.
The latter expands into another menu (Presumably the career). The only tab available in the demo is “Shatter Bay”. This then expands into “City Limits” which includes two playable races. “The Unbounded” and “Shatter the City”. Each of these events coming with one car to choose from. The former allows you to choose the Wolfseye GT, and the latter allows you to choose the Hurricana CX. Each car comes with 4 different colours to choose from.
The gameplay is very good, and the fun factor level is fairly high too. We do stress that this game is intended to be fun, not to be a hardcore simulation game.
This may be a demo, and reviewing it would be unfair. But there were some details we couldn’t help but miss. We’ll start off with some positives.
There are some points we picked out that weren’t so positive.
These errors kind of ended up spoiling the experience. We do believe however that they are probably resolved in the full game. If not, it may be one to miss.
Why not make your mind up by downloading the demo free on the Xbox Live, PSN or Steam stores.
Once you’ve downloaded, installed and booted up the demo you are greeted with a good looking and well-designed Main Menu. On this menu there are two options to choose from. Preview Editor and Dominate. The former gives you a look at the track making feature in a video format. This feature is obviously available in the full game. But a trailer is the closest you get to in the demo.
The latter expands into another menu (Presumably the career). The only tab available in the demo is “Shatter Bay”. This then expands into “City Limits” which includes two playable races. “The Unbounded” and “Shatter the City”. Each of these events coming with one car to choose from. The former allows you to choose the Wolfseye GT, and the latter allows you to choose the Hurricana CX. Each car comes with 4 different colours to choose from.
The gameplay is very good, and the fun factor level is fairly high too. We do stress that this game is intended to be fun, not to be a hardcore simulation game.
This may be a demo, and reviewing it would be unfair. But there were some details we couldn’t help but miss. We’ll start off with some positives.
- The loading screens between races include many helpful tips that improve your racing and your knowledge of how the game works.
- The whole point of the game is a fantastic one. To smash your opponents off the road, to smash through buildings, to smash anything really. It’s smashtastic.
- As we’ve said before the menus are fantastic. They are clear, good looking and very easy to navigate. This is what all game menus should be like
There are some points we picked out that weren’t so positive.
- Crashing and totalling your opponents is one of the best feelings in the world, but it can be ruined by the annoying scene’s that come afterwards. These are meant to highlight the destruction you caused, but end up just getting in the way of racing. After these cut scene’s you also seem to find that your car is embedded into a wall, because of the fact that you couldn’t control it while these scenes were happening. ARGH!!!!
- You totalled your opponent, or terminated has been substituted for Frag or Fragged. The language doesn’t really make any sense and annoys those detail mentalists.
- The gameplay may be very good but some of the enjoyment is ruined by the fact that it is very dark. Half the time you can’t see where you’re going and end up crashing into something. Totalling your car.
These errors kind of ended up spoiling the experience. We do believe however that they are probably resolved in the full game. If not, it may be one to miss.
Why not make your mind up by downloading the demo free on the Xbox Live, PSN or Steam stores.