Development
''Ridge Racer Unbounded'' offers a number of changes that depart from traditional ''Ridge Racer'' gameplay. Additions to the game include the ability to design and share tracks and a new emphasis on vehicular combat. While ''Unbounded'' was originally scheduled for release in North America and Europe in early March 2012, it was delayed just before the planned release, as Namco Bandai wanted to allow more time "to pack the disc with features that will truly make the game sing". The game was released in March the same year in North America and Europe and later in April in Australia on all platforms. The game was never released in Japan. Despite this, it seems to borrow inspiration from an earlier Namco game, , also a vehicular combat video game, released in 2005 only in Japan.Ridge Racer Driftopia
A free-to-play version called ''Ridge Racer Driftopia'' was made. A Software release life cycle#Beta, beta version was released for Windows and PlayStation 3 in August 2013. ''Driftopia'' was later cancelled, with the beta servers shut down on 15 August 2014.Plot
Set in a fictional city called Shatter Bay, racers gather to compete in no-rules, all-out street races. Competing for money and superiority in fast-paced blasts through the streets dodging traffic and tearing through any obstacles that get in their way. A mysterious team led by a Japanese Hashiriya master, called "The Unbounded", appears playing a major role in the racing activity throughout Shatter Bay.Reception
''Ridge Racer Unbounded'' received "average" reviews on all platforms according to the Review aggregator, review aggregation website Metacritic. 411Mania gave the PlayStation 3 version a score of eight out of ten, calling it a welcome addition in the series. ''The Digital Fix'' gave the Xbox 360 version a score of eight out of ten, considering the game as reinvention in the franchise. ''The Guardian'' gave the same console version a similar score of four stars out of five, criticising some elements as frustrating. ''The Daily Telegraph'' likewise gave the same console version four stars out of five, but considered the game and its handling too similar to ''Burnout (series), Burnout'' series. In contrast, ''Digital Spy'' gave the same console version three stars out of five, criticising the lack of tutorial material, sometimes problematic cars to control, the rubberband AI and weak destruction elements. ''Destructoid'' gave the Xbox 360 version 5.5 out of ten, praising its "surprisingly good map editor", but criticizing the level design and the poor lighting conditions during sunset scenes, also suggesting players to play the 2010 ''Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010 video game), Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit'' game instead.References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ridge Racer Unbounded 2012 video games Bandai Namco games Multiplayer and single-player video games Multiplayer online games PlayStation 3 games Racing video games Ridge Racer Street racing video games Video games developed in Finland Windows games Xbox 360 games Bugbear Entertainment games