The key here is that the new destruction features of Unbounded never feel like they're just tacked onto a pre-existing Ridge Racer build, and they seem right at home, and Namco Bandai not only does a great job incorporating them into the franchise it excels at it. '.does a great job incorporating them into the franchise.' It's definitely a surprising change, but is it a welcome one?

At any given time, entire tracks will change and buildings will crumble, becoming more reminiscent of recent racers like Split Second and Blur than anything else. Your car isn't as much an agent of speed as one of destruction and chaos. This isn't just the driving simulation franchise that you've played before, this is Ridge Racer without the rules that used to constrict it. It's very clear right from the beginning of the game that Namco Bandai aren't looking for a mere update to the series, they're ripping out the engine and replacing it with something far more menacing and supercharged.

While the results are quite the fun surprise, you have to wonder if Ridge Racer still has a place in a genre dominated by giants like Forza and Gran Turismo. Ridge Racer Unbounded, the latest attempt to reinvent the long running racing franchise is eerily reminiscent of the country crooner's underappreciated hit - it still resembles a proper Ridge Racer game, but it's seemingly made up of pieces and parts from other popular racing games. The late, great Johnny Cash used to perform a song called “One piece at a time,” which chronicled the saga of a depression era auto factory worker who took different parts from different cars for years until he had a hodgepodge of pieces that resembled his very own Cadillac. Though it's not perfect, and the engine doesn't purr quite like it should, it does feel like the start of something great.

In a world filled by stellar racing franchises it's hard for a relic like Ridge Racer to find its place. The game offers a fair enough online suite, and diehard racing game fans (especially those who love the series) will find much to love here, but most players will grow tired of the same repeating content before long. There's a fair amount of customization to be found here. Unbounded does a great job marrying the attitude of modern day racers with the detail and depth fans of the series have known. The darker tone of Ridge Racer Unbounded is a welcome detour from the series' roots, but most importantly, the game does an excellent job portraying the sense of blistering speed to the player.

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