I have been a fan of the series since the first Ridger Racer (it's the game that made me buy a PSX!), but this incarnation has obviously been rushed. Namco themselves admit that it only uses 60% of the PS2's potential and that it was rushed for the Japanese release of the console. Shame really because it had some much potential. There's far more courses in this revision that the others had which is always a good thing. However some of them bear more than a passing resemblance to tracks from the previous games.
The sound, as usual, is pumping techno and services it's purpose of raising your heart beat quite well.
Playability wise you should be familiar with it by now! Race as fast as you can then slide your way around the corners.
If you're after a racing game on the PS2 then you can't go far wrong with this (there's any others?!??). But don't expect too much of an advance over the PSX games.

PS: I still rate Ridge Racer 1 as the best ;-)