One of our favourite ’00s arcade racing games, Ridge Racer 2 for the PlayStation Portable, is heading to contemporary home consoles.
Owners of a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 who subscribe to the PlayStation Plus Premium subscription service gain access to a library of classic games from Sony’s gaming history.
This has been pretty small to start with, slowly increasing in size each month. Previously released PSP games on the service, including Loco Roco Midnight Carnival and Echochrme, receive enhancements through up-rendering, rewind, quick save and custom video filters.
The same will be true of Ridge Racer 2, when it launches for subscribers on 20th December 2022. It will also be minus the sound of a Universal Media Disc scratching…
Developed by Namco Bandai Games, the sideways racing game was exclusive to the PSP when it was originally released in 2006. In its day, the solid framerates, buttery smooth visuals and pumping soundtrack were somewhat a marvel for the portable device.
But, it didn’t differentiate itself enough from 2004’s Ridge Racer for the same device, with nearly identical graphics and gameplay mechanics.
However, looking back, the extra tracks that came with the sequel mean of the two we’d like to see available, it’s the second.
Ridge Racer 2 will sit alongside fellow ‘classics’ Jak X: Combat Racing and streaming-only versions of MotorStorm: Apocalypse and MotorStorm: RC. Premium subscribers also gain access to a library of PS4 and PS5 titles including WRC 10, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Wreckfest and WipEout: Omega Collection.
PlayStation Plus Premium is £13.49/$17.99 per month, £39.99/$49.99 for three months and £99.99/$119.99 for 12 months.
