The overall drift mechanics of the Ridge Racer universe have not changed. As you come to a turn, release the gas and start pointing your car into the turn. Then reapply the gas, allowing your car to drift automatically through the turn with almost no loss in speed. As you near the end of the turn, simply straighten out your cars trajectory. Fans of the series will have no problem in picking up the game and jumping right into the action; new players will probably need four to five races before they truly get the hang of the controls.

As the game is based around unrealistic drifting around hairpin corners, choosing the right drift style for your skill level is key. Beginners will find it easy to pick up the mild ranked machines as they tend to stick to the road fairly well and are easier to pull out of a hard drift. Machines found in the standard class perform better when it comes to top speed and changing drift direction but are a little harder to navigate out of a drift. The dynamic class is for hardcore players only, allowing for the easiest change in drift direction and highest speeds while dramatically sacrificing your ability to pull the car safely out of a drift.

The drift mechanics are just the beginning, as you’ll also have to manage your nitrous and learn to effectively slipstream. Drifting around corners earn you nitrous which is stored in the originally allotted three tanks. The faster the drift, the more nitrous you earn. Since you are not allowed to earn nitrous while using it, timing your boosts is important. An “Ultimate Charge” is accomplished when you perfectly time a drift after using a nitrous boost, allowing you to completely recharge the tank you just used in most instances. Having three nitrous tanks allows for the racer to charge them and use them as the situation demands. If you are in the lead, you can use just one tank to keep some distance between you and your opponents. If you are trailing behind, you can perform a double or triple nitrous boost allowing a smart racer to overtake all his rivals at once. The true benefit of double or triple boosts is the longer rise in top speed versus using multiple single boosts.

Slipstreaming is an easy concept; stay in the path of the car in front of you and you gain ground on it due to less wind resistance. Slipstreaming is new to the Ridge Racer universe but proves itself as a welcome addition. In past titles your location on the track made no difference to the outcome of a race. Now, racers will find themselves trying to keep in the trail of their leaders to build up enough speed to overtake them. An icon in the bottom left corner of the screen keeps you informed of how well you are using your rival’s path against them. Smart racers will keep a close eye on their slipstream icon as it can dramatically change the outcome of a race.

The main “meat” of the game is found in the fictional Ridge State Grand Prix. Racers start off participating in manufacturer trials which earn them starting vehicles. Fans of the series will be familiar with the make-believe manufacturers such as Age, Himmel, and Assoluto. After acquiring a starting machine, racers have the choice to compete in single or grand prix events. Single events are lone races that have specific rules. Some single event examples include time trials, duels, or races that only allow certain machine types or manufacturers. Grand Prix events are multi-stage races where you are awarded points based on how you place each round. Finish all of the rounds with the most points and you are declared the winner.

Each win earns you fame points, credits, and manufacturer points. Fame points are basically your reputation as a racer. Fame points make up your online ranking and earn you the ability to participate in more events. Credits are simply the currency of the Ridge Racer universe which allows you to buy new machines and upgrades. Manufacturer points are earned by winning a race with a particular company’s machine. Keep dominating the circuit with an Assoluto machine and that manufacturer will start giving you discounts and making better parts available to you in the machine connector option.

The machine connector is what really makes Ridge Racer 7 its own game instead of just feeling like a port of Ridge Racer 6 for the Xbox 360. In this mode, racers are able to purchase items that will change both the look and feel of their machine. Upgrading your engine will give you a top speed boost, while switching out tires can dramatically change your drift style. Nitrous tanks are an upgradeable item, allowing a maximum of four. Racers may also purchase flex nitrous allowing them to use as little or as much nitrous as they have stored at anytime during a race. Aesthetic items such as spoilers, wheels, and hoods can also be purchased in the machine connector to ensure your ride has a personal look.

After tuning your perfect vehicle you can take on the best racers in the world in online battle mode over the PlayStation Network. Online battle allows for up to 14 players and supports a variety of modes. In addition to the standard race and time attack competitions, racers will be pleasantly surprised to find new team modes as well. One of the more interesting modes allows you to form multiple teams of two. Each team shares a nitrous bar and is awarded more nitrous by performing synchronized drifts. These game types are enjoyable but could have been a lot more fun with voice chat enabled. Unfortunately, your only communication comes in the form of canned phrases you may select from a list before and after races. Since Ridge Racer 7 was designed with online play in mind, players can use their credits from the single player grand prix to make bets on their online races. If you think you are good enough, bet it all and increase your rich racer ranking. Online battles will win you manufacturer points that carry over to the single player grand prix; an easy way to better your relationship with a company. Racers will also want to keep an eye on the Sony Store as special race events will only be available as a download. The online functionality overall is well designed and can add many hours of play time to this title.

Graphically, Ridge Racer 7 looks fantastic. This title can easily become a showpiece for your set if you are the proud owner of a 1080p TV. Even though many of the tracks appeared in Ridge Racer 6, there are plenty of improvements to be found. There are improved textures and new animations thrown in to spice up even familiar tracks. The most noticeable improvements are found in the lighting and reflections on the car models. The shadows that flow over your machine are much more natural than those found in Ridge Racer 6. Graphics nitpickers will still find fault with some anti-aliasing issues on track signs in addition to the poor looking water found on a few tracks. These issues however, are minor when looking at Ridge Racer 7’s technical beauty as a whole.

The sound in Ridge Racer 7 is something of a mixed bag. The soundtrack is a great example of how music can improve an already good game. The tracks are peppered with over thirty memorable dance tunes that have been a mainstay of the series since Rage Racer. These tunes will have many Ridge Racer fans searching their local import stores for the soundtrack. The mostly annoying announcer from Ridge Racer 6 makes a comeback but only as a minor player. Most of the voice work this time is done by a woman who sounds slightly similar to the comedian Kathy Griffin. This would be a good thing if it were not for the fact that every line she delivers is saturated in apathy. The sound effects are the one thing that has been downgraded since the last game. The engine sounds in particular have been changed to make your machine sound like a gas powered lawn trimmer instead of a finely tuned speed machine. Thankfully, you’ll be paying more attention to the next curve and great music than worry about the engine noise.

As one of the few launch titles out for the PlayStation 3, Ridge Racer 7 does a decent job of standing out. While the title has the necessary great graphics and unreal drifting mechanics, the new option of improving and customizing your machine sets Ridge Racer 7 apart from all the others that came before it. Throw in some great music and a solid online mode with the potential for downloadable content, and you have a title worthy of your new PS3 library.