Ridge Racer Unbounded

Ridge Racer Unbounded
Developer(s) Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher(s) Namco Bandai Games
Composer(s) Hiroshi Okubo
Akitaka Tohyama
Rio Hamamoto
Shinji Hosoe
Ayako Saso
Nobuyoshi Sano
Series Ridge Racer
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release date(s)
  • NA 27 March 2012[1]
  • EU 30 March 2012
  • AUS 5 April 2012
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Ridge Racer Unbounded (リッジレーサー アンバウンデッド Rijji Rẽsā Anbaundeddo) is a racing video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the thirteenth and last installment of the Ridge Racer series. Part of the long-running Ridge Racer franchise, the game is published by Namco Bandai Games and developed by Bugbear Entertainment. Unbounded is the first game in the series (not including R: Racing Evolution) to receive a "Teen" rating by the ESRB. It is also the first game in the series (not including Rave Racer, whose Windows version was cancelled) to feature a Microsoft Windows version.

Unbounded marks a dramatic departure from the traditional Ridge Racer drifting style, and moved to a more combat-oriented and destructive style, similar to the Burnout series, as well as implementing customizations.[2]

The official multiplayer servers were shut down on 27 February 2015 in Europe.[3]

Development

Ridge Racer Unbounded offers a number of changes that depart from traditional Ridge Racer gameplay. Announced additions to the game include the ability to design and share tracks and a new emphasis on vehicular combat.

While Ridge Racer Unbounded was originally scheduled for release in North America and Europe in early March 2012,[4] Namco announced a delay just before the planned release, stating that they wanted to allow more time "to pack the disc with features that will truly make the game sing."[1] The game was released on 27 March 2012 in North America, 30 March 2012 in Europe and 5 April 2012 in Australia on all platforms. However, the Japanese release is so far unconfirmed. Despite not being released in Japan, the game borrows inspiration from Critical Velocity (クリティカルベロシティ Kuritikaruberoshiti), a Japan-exclusive game released in 2005 and has not released overseas.

Ridge Racer Driftopia

A free-to-play version called Ridge Racer Driftopia was announced on 12 April 2013.[5][6] A beta version was released for Windows and PlayStation 3 in August 2013.[7][8] On 19 June 2014, Bandai Namco announced that Driftopia has been cancelled, and the beta servers were shut down on 15 August 2014.[9]

Plot

Set in a fictional city called Shatter Bay, racers gather to compete in no-rules, all-out street races. Competing for money and superiority in fast paced blasts through the streets dodging traffic and tearing through any obstacles that get in their way. A mysterious team led by a Japanese Hashiriya master, called "The Unbounded," appears playing a major role in the racing activity throughout Shatter Bay.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 72/100 [10]
(PS3) 75/100 [11]
(X360) 70/100 [12]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge9/10 [13]
OXM (UK)4/10 [14]
Play67%[15]

Ridge Racer Unbounded received mixed to positive reviews, where Edge Magazine gave it a 9/10, calling it "one of the most subversive, sublime street-racing games ever made,"[13] while others criticized the car physics, track design and gameplay balancing. The included track editor was generally well-received, with the Official Xbox Magazine UK saying "The problem is that such a brilliant editor just makes you wish it resided in a better racing game."[14] The PC version currently has a Metacritic rating of 72/100[10] while the PS3 version has 75/100[11] and the Xbox 360 version 70/100.[12]

The game was never as popular as its previous main titles and never had a Japanese release either.

This game marked the complete end of the Ridge Racer series.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ridge Racer Unbounded delayed to 'later in 2012'". GameSpot.com. CNet. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/2464264/review-ridge-racer-unbounded-xbox-360-ps3/
  3. ↑ Tom Phillips (27 February 2015). "Ridge Racer Unbounded servers shut down in Europe". Eurogamer. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Brendan Sinclair (3 November 2011). "Ridge Racer Unbounded on March 6". GameSpot.com. CNet. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (12 April 2013). "Free-to-play Ridge Racer revealed". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Valjalo, David (5 August 2013). "Ridge Racer: Unbounded collides with free-to-play in Driftopia – what’s the damage?". Edge. Future plc. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Williams, Katie (7 August 2013). "Get in on Ridge Racer Driftopia’s PC beta". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Scammell, David (27 August 2013). "Ridge Racer Driftopia beta starts today on PS3". VideoGamer.com. Pro-G Media Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (19 June 2014). "Bandai Namco to shut down F2P Ridge Racer Driftopia servers". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  10. 1 2 http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/ridge-racer-unbounded
  11. 1 2 "Ridge Racer Unbounded PS3 Metacritic". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Ridge Racer Unbounded Xbox 360 on Metacritic". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Edge Magazine's Ridge Racer Unbounded Review". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  14. 1 2 "Official Xbox Magazine UK Review". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. ↑ Play magazine review, issue 217, Imagine Publishing

External links

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