The improvements (comparing to past Playstation installments) are mostly in the graphics: nicer rendered cars, the tracks are looking more detailed and alive , the nitrous effect is more striking to the eye. Besides the graphics in Ridge Racer 7, the networking part off the game feels substantially better. It is a complete and stable platform for online gaming fun.

And to fun resumes it all, the absurd drifts and aberrant speeds, cornering while using nitrous (at speeds in excess of 200 mph ) make this game look like an asphalt rally experience play on fast forward. Surely the “pep pill” users would not find this game slow. The customization part of the game is, lets say welcomed. Even though you can update and fit better parts on your machine (different aeros, engine tune-ups, nitrous upgrades, more sportive suspensions and tires), my impression was that only the top speed and nitrous duration/power are increased, with some extent the drift type when tire changes are made; and that's ok for a fun-arcade driving game and nothing more. For sure simulation is out of the question in the world of Ridge Racer even though the tune-up feature is there, but with limited effect on mechanics part of the game. Anyhow, my words are meaningless throughout the Ridge Racer community (and there is a large one judging by web content and the “Online Battle” mode of R.R.7) . The game offers a good variety of racing. From the “Ridge State Grand Prix” (in which you will have to win fourteen grand prix events in order to be proclaimed the champion) and “UFRA Special Events”, the full online racing events under the form of “Global Time Attack” or “Online Battle”.

Do not be fouled by the initial impression, the game will not be such an easy challenge as it might look even though you played past installments of Ridge Racer. In the later stages of the game your eyes will get into a frenzy when pursuing a successful drift taken combination of corners .
Initially when you drive Stage 1 or at most Stage 2 cars , it is actually easy to deliver the needed results in order to progress in the game. But when speeding along with tunned Stage 4 cars (that easily exceed 200 and some mph), the winning streak is likely to be interrupted due to unnecessary drifting, bumping into rival cars or that nasty side barriers slowing effect. Either way a restart is required.

The game starts with an intro movie which probably wants to bring at surface the driver within and then makes the transition to the game menu. Your stats are grouped in the right part of the menu ( fame points, credits, online battle points, miles driven), while at the bottom of the screen a stock market like system tries to keep the player up to date with the latest news and events in the Ridge Racer community. The main event around which the game is structured, is the career mode “Ridge State Grand Prix”. In order to participate in this event you will have to enter first a Manufacturer Trial to create a connection with a manufacturer. The manufacturer points will dictate how close is the relationship between you and your carmaker, or parts supplier (because there are trials solely based on offering car components). You have the freedom to chose from three types of cars: Mild, Dynamic, Standard. The Mild type actually grip better to the track than the Dynamic and Standard ones. The last two types make up the driftable category, and because the nitro comes by drifting , a winner is likely to handle a driftable car.

A world map with the available events to race is presented to the player and it will gradually fill up with all sorts of events, trials and bonus races which should bode well for your fame and status if you enter them and emerge as a winner. The tunning of cars part of the game (Machine Connector menu) clearly depends on your participation to this Single/Special events and Manufacturer Trials . So be careful on what you spend your money, and make sure you have made contact with various parts manufacturers.
It will become obvious to you after a while that the most needed tuneups during the Grand Prix mode, are the engine and nitrous ones. It's all about speed in this game to be sincere.