It’s not perfect by any means, the multiplayer does need filling out and the humourless presentation and dour graphics are trying a little too hard to distance themselves from Ridge Racer’s usual cheesy charm.Īlthough it’s a major departure for Ridge Racer you’d be right in saying that in terms of other arcade racers this isn’t radically different from any of its obvious points of comparison – including FlatOut. With the sort of destructible scenery that makes Battlefield 3 maps seem like they’re bolted to the ground this is the best demolition derby for years. If you want to concentrate on drifting then creating some wide sweeping turns is child’s play, if you want to create the most dangerous course possible and fill it with obstacles then you can do that too. It’s hugely powerful and yet wonderfully simple to use, allowing you to set-up blocks of roads and buildings in mere seconds. The surrounding structure also isn’t anywhere near as built-up as something like Need For Speed, betraying Bugbear’s relative inexperience with big budget games.īut what Unbounded does do better than almost any racer bar TrackMania is its track editor. In terms of multiplayer everything works perfectly well but you have to have fairly veteran players who know what they’re doing, to equal the fun and carnage of the single-player. Especially as the computer-controlled opponents are highly skilled in using exactly the same methods as you and will not hesitate to boost into you if given the chance. Whereas environmental destruction in something like Split/Second was more or less optional here it is the primary mechanic, and that makes for a very different kind of game. A few more modes on top of this wouldn’t have hurt, but with Time Attacks as well it’s a decent selection.
Frag Attacks are purely about taking down other cars (one memorable challenge involves you as a big rig swatting down police cars), while Drift Attacks offers something close to a traditional Ridge Racer experience. Domination is the main race mode, which mixes racing and destruction in equal measure, but the other game modes allow for specialisation.