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R: Racing Evolution By Nick and Nate
Official site
We all remember Ridge Racer right? I am sure you have, it was one of the best racers at the time. What we all loved about the game was the control of the cars and the sliding abilities. Is RR: Evolution anything like Ridge Racer? The answer is no, but it still isn’t that bad of a game. When I first popped the game into my Xbox console, I noticed it started with a movie, which doesn’t happen with every game. I came to find out the controls were pretty stiff. To simply put this, it seems that your car moves only side to side with very little turning ability. Okay, so it’s not that bad of controls but it could be a lot better.

Features

Licensed real-world vehicles allow for upgrades and modifications

14 tracks from real-world and fantasy locations

Multiple racing styles, including GT, Rally, and Drag

5 game modes including Racing Life (Story Mode), Event Challenge, Time Attack, Arcade, and Versus

New "Interactive Driver AI System" enhances realistic racing situations

In-game radio communications - incoming transmissions from crewmembers and rival drivers!

Reward Point System allows for power-ups and unlocking new cars

Runs in progressive scan

Gamplay
Everything about this game is typical of an average racer. The control is a little stiff but not a real issue, it is pretty strait-forward. There are four game modes in RR: Evolution, including Racing Life (Story Mode), Time Attack, Arcade, and Versus. The story mode is put together relatively well but brief, with CG movies in-between races to add a little more depth to the game. Unfortunately, the games “Racing Live” mode is very short. Racing Life mode features a character named Rena, who is an Ambulance driver that turns into a racer. The question is, is this game any different than any other typical racer? Nay, this game really doesn’t offer anything other than racing with cut-scenes added for a nice touch. The event challenge mode lets your customize your rides and you can also unlock certain tracks while in this mode. The one problem about the vehicles is some can’t be played on certain tracks, which is a crock.

As for the rest of the gameplay; while you are gaining on your opponents you will see a red bar over their vehicle, what is this bar you ask, the bar is to show how far you have over taken the car, or starting to take the lead. There’s also a Garage mode, here you can view some of your replays from previous races and some of the CG movies, which I find to be a promising feature. The gameplay was a little disappointing, I really didn’t like the control of the car and how stiff it was, that through me off on some of the other promising features. But however the gameplay isn’t completely foul, it has some good looking features that I aforementioned.

Graphics
The graphics could have been better. I wasn’t thrilled on how the cars looked, they looked good on the menu screen but when you raced them they looked like a poor mans Gran Turismo, which isn’t exactly a good thing. The graphics basically look like a first generation PS2 game; some of you may be saying what is wrong with that? Here is what’s wrong with it, we are passed that generation and this is the Xbox’s time to shine with its superb graphics. Xbox can well handle these graphics, and possibly be 5 times greater. But they are not completely bad the surroundings are not actually that bad. The problem for making this game on several platforms is the fact that the visuals are usually the product of the lowest common denominator, which ends up hurting this game unfortunately. I did say the environments where okay but they are relatively bland with little variation in scenery. Overall the graphics are average.

Sound
The sound isn’t bad really. Your pit crew wont be afraid to tell you how you really drive. They warn you of incoming cars as well as your performance. Rival drivers also give you a piece of their mind. The engine and vehicle sounds are not a real plus in this game. The car sounds could have improved vastly. Some people say the engine sounds sound like the super bikes in MotoGP. The music isn’t that bad, but could improve also. I don’t really notice it after awhile which gets kind of boring. Some of the music doesn’t fit with the tracks you race in, but that’s not a real big issue.

Closing Comments
Most people who are not real hardcore racing fans probably wouldn’t even think about getting this game. If you are a hardcore racing fan, then I would consider giving this title a spin. Sorry to disappoint you but this game doesn’t feel like Ridge Racer, doesn’t look like it, it doesn’t even control like it. So if you want to buy it for the above reason I wouldn’t consider it. This game isn’t at all like Gran Turismo either; so if you were expecting a slick sporty racer you were wrong. This game is worth a rental at the most, but if your not sure if you want it, then check it out and then buy it.