One of the many things to love about Nintendo's DS is that it encourages developers to think outside the box. To exercise their creative muscles and create innovative new games. Ridge Racer DS, Namco's new bumper car title, is a testament to that. After all, there's plenty of fun to be had in swerving recklessly into your opponents, completely at the mercy of the handling we expect from fairground rides. It must have taken a lot of guts for those designers at Namco to develop a title based on an amusement park ride, but as you swing your little racing car into walls and into other drivers, it's hard not to feel grateful for the company trying to do something new.

Hang on. You're supposed to race in these cars?

The controls for Ridge Racer DS are its biggest downfall. In a genre where tight, responsive controls are crucial, the handling here feels loose and over-sensitive – so much so that you could tally up each corner on your vehicle's paintwork. If the DS was a sophisticated enough machine to show the damage done to your car, you'd be lucky to even have a chassis by the time you've barged your way through the first lap. There are three control options available, but irrespective of whether you choose stylus, D-pad or thumbstrap, it takes plenty of time to grow used to this awkward control system.

Well...it's better than Asphalt Urban GT anyway

As far as the visual details actually go, some impressive, varied 3D courses and cars are let down slightly by ugly textures and dodgy physics. After sampling the delights of RRDS's PSP cousin, it's disappointing (but not surprising) to find that this game lacks the polish and finesse of its Sony-based counterpart. In comparison, RRDS feels like a slightly rushed port of its N64 predecessor as opposed to a whole new Ridge title.

But that doesn't mean that Ridge Racer DS is left stalling at the starting line. Once you grow accustomed to the steering, the tournaments, and head-to-heads and 'quick races' provide plenty of entertainment for the more tolerant gamer – the difficulty ramps up significantly after the first few races, forcing you to push both your car and your patience to the limit. Rewards come in the form of unlockable cars and tracks, while the option to play five of your friends with one DS card between you means that there'll be plenty of life left in this game between now and the release of Mario Kart DS.

As it stands, Ridge Racer is currently the only sensible option for those looking for a decent arcade racer on their dual screened portable. Though not as accessible as arcade racers should be, it's just rewarding and enjoyable enough to warrant a purchase. If you can put up with the dire controls, the sometimes frustrating difficulty level and that hugely irritating RR commentator, you might want to give this a look. If not, you're better off holding out for Mario's shell wielding chums – and steering clear of this somewhat average title.