Preview: Ridge Racer 2

How's Namco's new arcade racer for the PSP shaping up? Well, we're glad you asked.

The original Ridge Racer hit the PSP with more force then Kim Beazley at an all you can eat buffet. Namco showed everyone that handheld gaming could boast amazing visuals and smooth gameplay.

As a series, Ridge Racer is (and always has been) about fast speeds and insane drifting. You tackle corners by putting your car into a slide and drifting around them. Without a doubt, Ridge Racer 2 is an arcade racer through and through -- with its primary focus on fast, fun gaming.

In a nod to the original, some of the modes have returned: World Tour, Arcade, Time Attack and Multiplayer. Namco has, however, surprised us with a couple of bonus modes; survival will pit you against three other racers -- eliminating the racer in the last position at the end of each lap -- until you’re left with a winner. Duel lets you choose a machine, hit a course and go one on one against a computer.

Returning is the boost meter which is relatively new to the series. Like its predecessor, boost meters are built up from drifting. Again this puts more focus on the sliding aspect of Ridge Racer that we’ve all come to expect.

When you eventually work your way up to the class 6 cars, expect to be hitting insane speeds. This is where your sliding skills will truly come into play. The AI won't be winning any awards in innovation, but that's not to say they won't be offering you a challenge. Although the developers still have a fair bit of work to do on the game, the tracks felt a little repetitive.

Namco has gone with the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" approach. From what we’ve seen so far RR2 maintains its enjoyable gaming mechanics and still holds onto its fast and smooth gameplay. And when we say smooth, we mean Clarke Gable smooth.

Ridge Racer 2 stays true to the series, and boasts some lovely cars, blistering speeds and some highly enjoyable gameplay. Keep an eye out for this game before the end of the year.