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Ridge Racer Unbounded

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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
SeriesRidge Racer
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
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

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. ^ a b "Ridge Racer Unbounded delayed to 'later in 2012'". GameSpot.com. CNet. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Makuch, Eddie (12 April 2013). "Free-to-play Ridge Racer revealed". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Williams, Katie (7 August 2013). "Get in on Ridge Racer Driftopia's PC beta". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. Retrieved 2 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Scammell, David (27 August 2013). "Ridge Racer Driftopia beta starts today on PS3". VideoGamer.com. Pro-G Media Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  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. ^ a b http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/ridge-racer-unbounded
  11. ^ a b "Ridge Racer Unbounded PS3 Metacritic". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Ridge Racer Unbounded Xbox 360 on Metacritic". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Edge Magazine's Ridge Racer Unbounded Review". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Official Xbox Magazine UK Review". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. ^ Play magazine review, issue 217, Imagine Publishing
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