Ridge Racer Drift

I've always found it hard to justify my love of automotive carnage against my severe loathing of boy racer culture.

Maybe it's their appalling music taste, or the tendency to rev their Vauxhall Novas to death in my neighbourhood at two o'clock in the morning, but there's no getting away from the fact that I can't stand the little blighters.

Whatever the reason, my love of arcade racers which, let's face it, are simply boy racer simulators - remains undiminished.

The daddy of 3D arcade racers is undoubtedly Namco's Ridge Racer series, but it's been relatively under-represented on mobile phones. Other than a decent conversion of the original some years ago, it's been left to the likes of the Asphalt series to mop up.

Ridge Racer Drift is Namco Bandai's second attempt at a mobile Ridge Racer, and it's a welcome addition to the genre.

In typical Ridge Racer style there are fewer cars and tracks here than in its key rivals, but each is distinctively and expertly crafted. There are only six tracks and nine cars, but none is superfluous and each will receive a good workout during your (admittedly brief) time with the game.

As always, at the heart of Ridge Racer Drift's appeal (and emphasised by the name) is the drift mechanic. While it's understandably less refined on a mobile D-pad, it's certainly one of the best examples of mobile power-sliding we've seen.

A double tap of either direction will send you into a drift nothing original there but it's the finely weighted way you have to nurse and modify each slide with opposite lock that really shines through. We haven't seen that particular element handled as well before.

This drifting feeds an intelligent Nitro system that's been carried over from recent console outings. There's a constant decision to be made between initiating regular if stunted bursts of speed or saving up for one prolonged explosion.

As hinted at before, it has to be said that Ridge Racer Drift is a rather sparse offering. The main Grand Prix mode involves just five tours and nine races in total.

Namco Bandai has extended the game's lifespan with a welcome online leaderboard facility and the obligatory achievement system, but there are only so many times you'll want to replay the same six tracks.

Also, the collision detection is slightly off, registering contact between cars a little too readily. This serves to effectively narrow the tracks, making overtaking on bends a little frustrating.

Still, the finely realised powersliding gameplay differentiates the game sufficiently from its rivals to make Ridge Racer Drift worthy of consideration by all digital boy racers.