Ridge Racer V is perhaps one of if not my all-time favorite racing game of all time. Now, I am already a huge fan of Ridge Racer in general; it is my favorite racing game series period. But this game speaks to me unlike any other entry...yes, even more than Ridge Racer Type 4. Each car feels completely different from one another, the drifting feels way more natural than the first 3 PS1 entries but also feels way tighter and less slippery than R4, making it easier to course-correct each turn, and the courses themselves are very well designed, providing the player a fair challenge of memorizing the layout of each, The game also looks STELLAR. The UI elements are absolute eye candy, giving off a very futuristic, cyber-industrial edge that makes it seem more angst-ridden than other entries in the series (reminds me of something out of Tite Kubo's Bleach at times). The graphics themselves are very sharp and detailed, with some really cool visual effects like sparks flying from the car's chasse and smoke coming from the tires when drifting. (very impressive for the first PS2 game ever made). But the best part is by far the atmosphere of the tracks. As you race, you get to visit numerous locales with all of their own different set pieces that makes each lap that much more visually interesting. It helps make Ridge City feel as if it is it's own place that you cannot mistake for any other place in the world. It's even better at night when the countless skyscrapers illuminate the track with the light coming from their windows; it truly is breathtaking. And on a similar note, RRV's soundtrack is constantly firing on all cylinders, elevating the racing experience ten-fold. It perfectly fits the darker, more industrial feel of this game's visual design. DJ Ken Ayugai (who is an actual radio dj in real life!) does a great job as the game's announcer, having a smooth voice and lots of charisma. This game also has quite a bit of replay value via plenty of cool unlockable content and a genuinely difficult hard mode with AI that can really put up a fight. Overall, my conclusion? Get Ridge Racer V. It is without a doubt a must-buy for any arcade-racing game fan. Trust me, you'll be thankful you did. I know I sure am.