Ridge Racer Unbounded Open World
Rosette Allaband
The "Ridge Racer" series has seen many changes since its humble PlayStation beginnings. "Ridge Racer Unbounded" is another great entry into the famed racer series, but it's also a major departure from what fans are used to. Taking the developing wheel this time around is the Finnish developer Bugbear, and it's clear they had their way with this installment. It may say "Ridge Racer" on the box, but once you open it, you get a totally different gaming experience.
Taking place in the fictional city of Shatter Bay, the overall game looks great. Players have a wide selection of cars from which to choose, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. Some are faster, others are better at drifting, while others still are great for plowing through your opponents. Each car handles a bit differently, so mastering all of them takes time and patience. Players will undoubtedly have their favorites.
The best new change is the massive destruction element that has been added to the game. Cars go up in fireballs when hit, buildings crumble, and bridge supports get blown to pieces. Drifting through a pylon is both visually pleasing and quite a bit of fun. The best part: the more you destroy, the more you're rewarded.
Speaking of destruction, players will notice a boost bar that fills up during drifts. A full boost meter will allow a driver to wipe out anything in their path with a well-timed drift. Even Michael Bay would be happy with the carnage when you smash through a building and continue racing.
All the mayhem that takes place in the game isn't just for fun. The more things you destroy, the more points you earn. Placing first gets a player thousands of points, but all the destruction adds up as well. The more points you get, the higher the racing level you can achieve. Additional points also unlock new cars, tracks, events and districts in the city of Shatter Bay. Opening up new districts adds longevity to the game, as they offer a wide range of new locations to race through and destroy.
There are several types of races players can choose from in the game. Shindo racing is straight-up racing without all the destruction. Frag Attack allows players to take out as many opponents as possible, which is reminiscent of "Twisted Metal" or "Burnout." Other challenges include Time Trials, Drift Attack, and Domination, the last which awards players for the amount of total destruction caused.
The online multiplayer feature includes a city creator, allowing players to build their own courses in their own custom cities. Throughout, players can add all the explosions, obstacles and mayhem they want. Players can race their own courses, placing in it, and publish their scores online. Furthermore other racers in the online universe can compete in these homemade courses and see if they can beat the creator's top scores.
Available for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, "Ridge Racer Unbounded" is a great looking roller coaster ride of a game. Borrowing parts from other racers, Bugbear has created a refreshing take on a somewhat dated series. If racing is your game, then pick this up. If destroying everything in your path is your thing, then definitely pick this up. Die-hard "Ridge Racer" fans might protest the major departure taken, but they'll get over it the first time they plow through a building and watch the glass shards fly around their beautiful, shiny car.
Being able to succeed in Unbounded also depends on how well you are able to use your vehicles power meter. Drifting, causing damage, and going airborne fills your power meter and when it is full you press A, and then you are given a nitro-like boost. It plays out very much like many other arcade racers but the difference here is that power is required in order to frag opponents or smash through walls which some open up short cuts. Good solid racing alone will not fill up your power meter so it is crucial that you quickly learn how to drift, go airborne and cause damage. In terms of the latter, do not expect everything to be destructible. There were occasions in the game where I would have my sights set on an object only to find myself slamming against it, effectively knocking myself out of the race. Needless to say, I just found the objects to be somewhat inconsistent as some were able to be smashed and some did not. Also, I never found the short cuts really helped either. I often found these hidden short cuts but they never really gave me an advantage. There would be times I would be just behind a car but only remain just behind that same car after zipping through the short cut. This was a frustrating experience indeed.
The multiplayer aspects of the game are quite strong and are simply a thrill ride. You can only play with up to eight other players online, but despite this the races are a blast. The satisfaction you get from fragging another opponent is fantastic and the level of competition online is intense; but what makes Unbounded stand above many other arcade racers is the track creation system that allows you to share your custom tracks with others. It is not the easiest track creator to use as it can be finicky and difficult to maneuver at times. If you can manage to create yourself a track and share with the world, the results are satisfying, not to mention it gives Unbounded plenty of replay value as the track combinations are endless.
Visually, Unbounded is a good looking game. It is the best looking racer I have seen? Absolutely not; however, it does offer up some sharp looking environments, wonderfully detailed vehicles and a city landscape that does rival games in the Need for Speed and Burnout franchise. Sound wise, the game delivers. Unbounded features licensed tracks from dubstep producer Skrillex. The game also features tunes from The Crystal Method, Noisia & The Upbeats, Scratch Perverts, Unknown Error, OVERSEER and RuN RiOT. All in all, I was happy with the games music. Not to mention the games sound effects are equally pleasing.
This transcript reproduces Eileen Younghusband's writing as accurately as possible, including errors of spelling and punctuation. When personal and place names are misspelt, we have attempted to include the correct versions of the names in square brackets [ ] after the misspelling.
The language and opinions found in the diaries reflect the ideas, attitudes and events of the period. Some of the terminology and language used at that time may cause offence today but the content has been made available unedited. We hope that the context of the material will be taken into account and apologise for any offence caused.
Boxing Day 1924. I did puzzles a good deal of the morning and Uncle Claude, Aunt Di, Mummy and I went to call on Miss Denshire who wasn't at home so we walked back by the big house. The Park has been sold and is to be a school for the children of Freemen of the City of London, it is rather nice to think it really will be some use to people.
Dec: 27th. Saturday. It poured all day and the water supply in the house suddenly gave out owing to a burst pipe which couldn't be discovered. I wanted to wash my hair so I went for a walk in the rain without a hat on, it was the most wonderful & delicious feeling of wind and rain on one's head.
Mr Harold SpeedLink opens in a new window the artist suddenly appeared to look at Aunt Di's portraitLink opens in a new window by Shannon which she is lending to an exhibition. He was an amusing person & knew Daddie.
Monday Dec: 29th. Daddie & I left by the 10.13 and caught the 11.17 for Westerham at London Bridge. Daddie arrived here at 12.40 & left again at 1 o'c! I found a very nice little pile of parcels waiting for me so I spent most of the afternoon writing to thank people. I went to the library after tea & nothing much happened; when I got back I found a letter from Kathleen from Marseilles, she seems to be having a good time on the boat but most of the other passengers sound extremely dull.
The Miss Liddells had lent Hosey Rigge to Aunt Mabel & Uncle Eric for Christmas & Mummy & I went to tea with them; they were all there with the exception of Maurice. We played Mah Jongg & then went to see Edith. Miss Deane was in bed feeling rotten & Edith had a cold so altogether they were a cheerful couple
Daddie gave me a little umbrella with a black & white handle; Mummy is giving me a cheque Shortie & Mrs Idie gave me a bowl of hyacinths & a bowl of tulips; Lil & Daisy four very pretty feather hat mounts; Lady Barrington "Studies in Literature"Link opens in a new window and "The Art of Writing"Link opens in a new window by Sir A. Quiller Couch and Maurice Julian & Bridget "Triple Fugue" by Osbert Sitwell.
Friday Jan: 2nd. I went to London to spend the night with Anne and go to "Fata Morgana". It was pouring with rain and blowing such a gale that one couldn't hold up an umbrella. I went to Frazer and Haws to see about having a diamond clasp which Mummy had given me incorporated with my pearl necklace. Then I paddled gloomily along Regents Street and Oxford Street looking at the shops and got a birthday present for Lil at Selfridge. Then I went to the Bevans and found Anne only just up after a late dance the night before and feeling miserable with a sick headache. She & I and Mrs Bevan played Mah Jongg after luncheon. Mrs Bevan was at the top of her form and frightfully amusing. Anne & I were alone for tea and we discussed her engagement and what had gone wrong; we dined early and went to "Fata Morgana"Link opens in a new window the play which has retrieved the fallen fortunes and started the career of Peggy's young American friend Tom Douglas.Link opens in a new window He was very good indeed and in fact the whole thing was beautifully acted but it was not such a good play or as harrowing & improper as we had expected so we were disappointed.
Saturday Jan: 3rd. Anne and I started out shopping after breakfast. We went to the General Trading & Equipment Co to get them to sell a wedding present of Anne's on Commission and then we went to Fortnum & Mason to look at hats & from there to Harvey Nichols where I changed Cousin Nell's Christmas present & bought a birthday present for Bridget. I met Aunt Bobs & Joan and Tony shopping there. Anne & I parted & I went to luncheon with poor Mrs Corry who broke down at the sight of me, however, she cheered up later and we talked about Kathleen. She gave me a letter file box of K's and a pot of photo mountant and an old sketch which I remembered Kathleen doing at Wimbledon about 1917. I set out to catch the 3.30 but found on arrival at Charing Cross that it didn't run on Saturdays so I had to wait for the 4.6, however in the interval I found a small bookstall and bought a first edition of Galsworthy's "White Monkey"Link opens in a new window which I hope will be valuable some day.
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