| Ridge Racer is the premiere Playstation racing title. Yes, we've heard of Gran Turismo but RR was right there when the Playstation first hit the scene. That has to be worth something in the hearts of Playstation racing fanatics. GT gets points in the realism department but when it comes to dead-on arcade class racing, Ridge Racer is tough to beat. R4 continues the rush with gorgeous scenery (the night city scene is breathtaking), vibrant sound and perfect driving controls. A surprise bonus is included on a second disc for reliving the "old days". Top notch title that continues a strong, world reknowned pedigree. The Jogcon pad that is included with the special package adds another dimension to the Ridge series in the form of a handheld driving wheel (dial) with feedback. We've been waiting for something like this for a while and hope that publishers will take advantage of this new controller in future racing titles. NCS very much prefers the Jogcon over the huge driving wheels of yore with names such as Mad Katz, Game Source, etc. Stepping on foot pedals while playing a racing game in a living room setting just never seemed too appealing. The jogcon is shaped like other Playstation pads with ergonomic hand grips and is molded in the general shape of the original PS joypad. The dial is located at the center of the controller and is easily accessible with your thumbs. You "jog" it like a VCR fast forward/rewind wheel. There is enough resistance on the dial to make it feel substantial and not cheap. Driving a vehicle in Ridge 4 is a snap with the car responding to both micro and macro moves on the dial beautifully. Like real driving, you occasionally have to make minor adjustments as you cruise through the road and the Jogcon allows for these adjustments faithfully. The jogcon is not a heavyweight controller (it weighs a little less than the Dual Shock) and yet it produces a surprisingly strong and forceful response when you make hairpin turns or battle to remain on asphalt after swerving out of a steep curve. You'll find yourself wrestling with the dial on certain occasions. We like it. NCS is curious about the mechanism being used inside but haven't had the chance to open up our pad yet. The Jogcon is the third innovative controller that Namco has supported the Playstation with. The NeGcon was the first, the Guncon was the second and the Jogcon is the third. We expect a lot more cons from Namco in the future. |