Ridge Racer 2 points wheels and bonnet at PSP

You could argue the PSP needs another racing game as much as Angola needs another civil war but that hasn't stopped Namco Bandai announcing a sequel to Ridge Racer.

Heart-stoppingly titled Ridge Racers 2 (as with the first game, expect 'Racers' to revert back to its singular form for the western release), the game is said to be 70 per cent complete and on course for a drive into Japanese stores on September 14th.

Like its name, there's little surprise when it comes to the content. The series' obsession with powersliding makes a predictable return, as does the nitro system of the first PSP game. Obviously, there are more tracks (some 42 in total) – another generous selection again taken from previous console games, this time Ridge Racer, Rage Racer and R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, although new circuits are also expected – and some six classes of vehicles, including the obligatory secret cars to discover.

However, more innovation can be found in the new modes promised: Arcade, Survival and Duel have been revealed to back up the original's World Tour, Time Attack and Wireless Battle (which again features eight-player ad-hoc functionality). Hardly groundbreaking stuff, perhaps (although Survival could theoretically throw up a pleasant surprise or two) but it should equate to more variety and as such you won't hear us complain.

In fact, we may openly lament the arrival of another PSP racing game but given the exceptional quality of last year's Ridge Racer (screenshot above) there's still a part of our cynical hearts that remains keen to see what Namco Bandai's developers have managed to do second time around on Sony's handheld. And when we do, we'll no doubt share our thoughts with the excitement of a week-old puppy.

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