Ridge Racer 3DS combines realistic and impressive 3D graphics with easy-to-play racing controls.  Add in a couple cool multiplayer options, and the result is a game that’s our favorite 3DS launch title.

When you first play Ridge Racer 3D, you’ll be treated to an impressive introductory video on the 3D touch screen, providing a glimpse of the impressive graphics that this game has.  Unfortunately, the introductory video also features a rather scantily-clad young woman, but this is not an indication that the game has any additional sexualized content.  In fact, a quick check of the ESRB website shows that it’s this instance, along with a couple pictures of a girl in a bikini on a billboard, that necessitated the “Mile Suggestive Themes” disclaimer on the game’s E rating.

Players then have a choice of the different gameplay modes.  The first option is Single Player, which consists of game modes Grand Prix, Quick Tour, Standard Race, One-Make Race, Time Attack and StreetPass Duel.  The Grand Prix is a series of pre-determined races, while Quick Tour generates races based on how much time and what style of course players want to play.  Standard Race is where players can select their tracks, and One-Make Race features cars of all the same type.  Time Attack is a race against the clock to get the best time, and you’re on the track by yourself with no real competition except for a “Ghost Image” of a car replay from the course’s current best time.  StreetPass Race takes the Ghost Image racing even one step further, allowing you to collect other Ridge Racer 3DS players best times, called “Duel Ghosts,” via the Nintendo 3DS StreetPass system (which allows users to exchange data with other 3DS users who are in close proximity when carrying around their 3DS in sleep mode).

Once you’re ready to race, you’ll select your car, as well as your icon to appear over your car.  We chose an image of our Mii.  One of the interesting things about Ridge Racer 3DS is the juxtaposition of the realistic-style graphics for the cars and race courses with the cartoony names and images that represent each racer.  Computer cars have characters such as Inky, Pinky and Blinky from the Pac-Man games as their images.

As far as the racing itself, although the button-description screen that appears right before the race may be intimidating, it’s actually very simple to race and have fun.  Players will steer using the 3DS circle pad, and use the B-button to accelerate and the A-button to brake and reverse.  Unlike games that are designed to closely simulate the realism of driving a car, Ridge Racer 3DS instead focuses on “arcade-style” controls, which makes it easy to maintain high speeds and navigate turns by using the game’s drifting.  The trick is to start a hard turn a little bit before you want to start turning, and then as your car drifts through the corner, you steer the opposite direction to straighten out.  Although typing and reading that may sound difficult, it’s actually very simple and intuitive, and something that even inexperienced gamers are able to pick up on very quickly.

In addition to the Ghost Image modes available in single player, which make for great pass and play competion, Ridge Racer 3DS also allows users to host or join races with other users who own a 3DS.  Up to four players can compete in a Standard Race, One-Make Race, Team Battle or Risk Race.  In Team Battle, players compete in teams of 1, 2 or 3 in order to do better than their opponents.  In Risk Race, players pool a set number of points they’ve accumulated during the game, and battle it out to see who will win them.

Our favorite part of Ridge Racer 3DS is definitely the 3D graphics.  The realistic environments and car models are created with stunning 3D elements such as bridges, tunnels, even flying helicopters.  This provides the game not only with a nice depth for the race courses, but also provides a significant “wow” factor that makes Ridge Racer 3DS great for showcasing the impressive Nintendo 3DS technology.

Ridge Racer 3DS combines easy-to-play controls with amazing 3D graphics to provide a racing game that is accessible to inexperienced players and young kids.  With lots of different single-player modes, and cool multiplayer modes available for families with multiple DSes or lots of StreetPass interactions, Ridge Racer 3DS makes it possible for families to enjoy their gameplay experience together.  Of all the 3DS launch games we’ve played, Ridge Racer 3D is definitely our favorite, and we recommend it for any family that’s purchasing a Nintendo 3DS.