Ridge Racer 2 is the Campbell’s Soup of the arcade racing world. That’s not some oblique Warhol reference - Namco Bandai have condensed all the ingredients that make a great arcade game into a tight little tin of action.

This really is classic arcade. From the cheesy (but ideal) voiceovers, to the plethora of different aircraft flying overhead, suspension bridges and waterfalls that supplement the well-designed tracks, this game will have you wondering where to insert the coins.

Those of you who have played the first PSP Ridge Racer title will recognise a lot of the features in RR2, but it’s a must for anyone who wants to see their handheld bundle of joy perform at its very best.

The beautifully rendered intro movie lets you know that this is a polished game. So polished it’s positively shiny – you can’t help but be impressed as the sun glints off the blacktop as you take the corners at totally mad angles. Drift is key, you see.

Giving the back end a flick and sliding your behind round the bends will keep your nitro meter nicely topped up - so you can give it some welly down the straights when you fire off the NOS. The blur effect gives a really great sense of speed.

Game modes include World Tours, Arcade, Duel, Time Attack, and Survival  - but if your mate has a copy of RR2 too, then you’ll get a much more challenging race with Wireless Battle, as nothing beats the human touch when it comes to opposition.

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