R4 is the most late 90's thing as it can get. No wonder it's one of the most praised arcade racers ever, maybe even one of the best games ever for some. With its very stylish models and menus, a bomb ass club-inspired soundtrack and some soap opera-esque stories, it's a game anyone can play but also very hard to master—in the most rewarding way possible.
It's a timeless gem, really. Even with its low poly and FMVs, it's very memorable compared to most of the realistic-looking racing stuff released in the the last 10 years or so. It adds a lot of charm to a game that already is filled to the brim with it. I mean, play a few seconds of a song of the soundtrack, and YOU KNOW it's Ridge Racer. On the other hand, one of the things that is just OK are the AIs of the other cars, because they are a bit stupid. It's fine as even bumping into them is discouraged from the start, so learning and perfecting their patterns is a neat additional challenge.
But in the end, it's just a little car game. The thing is how memorable it is that makes R4 THE car game. It's the consistent precision required in each lap that makes so satisfying to finish Real Racing Roots on harder difficulties. Honestly, seeing that trophy is just a bonus compared to how nice that feeling of accomplishment is. But my main problem with the game is that I probably can't listen to Move Me while actually driving; I just don't think it would be safe for anyone to drive with that banger of a track on max.
It's a timeless gem, really. Even with its low poly and FMVs, it's very memorable compared to most of the realistic-looking racing stuff released in the the last 10 years or so. It adds a lot of charm to a game that already is filled to the brim with it. I mean, play a few seconds of a song of the soundtrack, and YOU KNOW it's Ridge Racer. On the other hand, one of the things that is just OK are the AIs of the other cars, because they are a bit stupid. It's fine as even bumping into them is discouraged from the start, so learning and perfecting their patterns is a neat additional challenge.
But in the end, it's just a little car game. The thing is how memorable it is that makes R4 THE car game. It's the consistent precision required in each lap that makes so satisfying to finish Real Racing Roots on harder difficulties. Honestly, seeing that trophy is just a bonus compared to how nice that feeling of accomplishment is. But my main problem with the game is that I probably can't listen to Move Me while actually driving; I just don't think it would be safe for anyone to drive with that banger of a track on max.