187 Ride or Die Review

Overview

Released in August 2005 by Ubisoft and developed by Artificial Mind and Movement, 187 Ride or Die represents one of the last attempts to capitalize on the street racing craze of the early 2000s. This combat racing game tries to differentiate itself by incorporating shooting mechanics and an urban crime narrative. While titles like Midnight Club focused on pure racing and others like Twisted Metal emphasized combat, 187 Ride or Die attempts to bridge the gap between these genres. Coming at the tail end of the Original Xbox's lifecycle, the game arrived during a transitional period when developers were already shifting focus to next generation hardware, which unfortunately shows in its technical execution.

Graphics and Presentation

For a late cycle Xbox game, 187 Ride or Die's visual presentation is disappointingly dated. The game runs at a standard 480p resolution, but struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, especially during intense combat sequences with multiple vehicles on screen. Texture quality varies wildly, with some environmental assets looking notably low resolution even by Original Xbox standards.

The art direction leans heavily into early 2000s urban aesthetics, with neon-lit street races and gritty industrial zones serving as the primary backdrops. Character models lack detail and suffer from stiff animations, while vehicle designs, while recognizable as urban culture staples, don't quite capture the same level of customization depth seen in contemporaries like Need for Speed Underground.

The UI design opts for a minimalist approach that works in its favor, keeping important information like speed, weapon status, and positioning clearly visible without cluttering the screen. Cut scenes are rendered in engine and while they serve their purpose in advancing the story, the dated character models and animations become more apparent during close up dialogue sequences.

Sound and Music

The game's audio presentation stands as one of its stronger elements, anchored by a solid hip hop soundtrack featuring both licensed tracks and original compositions. The music selection effectively captures the urban atmosphere the game strives for, with tracks that complement both the racing and combat aspects of gameplay. Voice acting is serviceable if unremarkable, with performances that lean into familiar urban crime drama stereotypes without transcending them.

Sound effect work demonstrates competent technical implementation, with satisfying engine noises, impactful weapon effects, and appropriate collision sounds. The audio mixing allows players to clearly distinguish important gameplay cues even during chaotic moments, though some weapon effects can become repetitive during extended play sessions. Environmental audio helps build atmosphere in different race locations, though the ambient sound design isn't particularly dynamic or memorable.

Gameplay Mechanics

At its core, 187 Ride or Die attempts to blend arcade racing mechanics with vehicular combat. The basic driving model favors accessibility over realism, with forgiving handling that allows players to drift through corners while maintaining speed. Vehicles feel appropriately weighty while remaining responsive enough for the combat elements to work. The weapon system includes standard options like machine guns and rockets, along with power ups that add variety to the combat encounters.

The progression system is straightforward, with new vehicles and weapons unlocking as players advance through the story mode. Each vehicle offers slightly different handling characteristics and durability ratings, though the differences feel more subtle than substantial. The combat mechanics are functional but lack depth, usually devolving into circle strafing battles or straight line shooting galleries.

Level design follows a predictable pattern of wide streets for racing sections that open into arena like areas for combat sequences. While this approach accommodates both gameplay styles, it creates a somewhat artificial feeling experience that never fully commits to either racing or combat excellence. The tracks themselves offer multiple routes but rarely reward exploration or creative path finding.

Story and Setting

Set in a fictionalized version of Los Angeles, the narrative follows an up and coming street racer drawn into an escalating conflict between rival gangs. The plot hits familiar beats from urban crime dramas without adding anything particularly memorable to the genre. Character development remains surface level, with protagonists and antagonists alike falling into predictable archetypes that rarely evolve beyond their initial presentation.

The game's world building efforts focus primarily on establishing a gritty urban atmosphere, though the environment never feels as lived in or authentic as it aspires to be. Dialogue leans heavily on street slang and tough guy posturing, often feeling forced rather than natural. The narrative pacing suffers from uneven distribution, with story elements feeling rushed in some sections while dragging in others.

Content and Value

The main story campaign can be completed in approximately 6 to 8 hours, with additional time required to unlock all vehicles and weapons. Replay value comes primarily from the multiplayer modes, including split screen options for up to four players locally. The combat racing format works better against human opponents, though the limited track selection and weapon variety can lead to repetitive matches.

At its original retail price point of £49.99, the game struggled to justify its value proposition compared to more polished competitors. Today, as a collectible title, its unique blend of racing and combat might interest Xbox completionists, though the dated graphics and technical issues remain significant hurdles to enjoyment.

Technical Performance

Loading times are relatively brief by Original Xbox standards, rarely exceeding 30 seconds between races or after failures. The save system functions adequately, with automatic checkpoints and manual save options available between events. However, the game's technical stability shows signs of rushed development, with occasional physics glitches and rare but frustrating crashes to the dashboard.

Performance issues manifest most notably in the frame rate department, with significant drops during heavy combat sequences or when multiple effects are on screen. These technical limitations impact both the racing and combat elements, making precise driving and targeting more difficult than necessary. Screen tearing is also prevalent, particularly during high speed sequences.

The Verdict

187 Ride or Die represents an ambitious but flawed attempt to combine racing and combat genres. While the core concept shows promise, technical limitations and inconsistent execution prevent the game from reaching its full potential. The solid soundtrack and split screen multiplayer options provide some redemption, but dated graphics, performance issues, and shallow gameplay mechanics make it difficult to recommend except as a curious artifact of its era. The game serves as an interesting example of mid 2000s urban gaming trends but fails to stand out in either the racing or combat genres it attempts to bridge.

Pros

• Engaging concept undermined by technical issues
• Strong soundtrack enhances the urban atmosphere
• Functional but shallow gameplay mechanics
• Decent multiplayer options for historical interest

Cons

• Significant performance problems
• Dated visuals even for 2005
• Generic story and character writing
• Limited long term appeal

Final Score: 5/10

187 Ride or Die showcases interesting ideas but fails to execute them effectively. While it might interest collectors and fans of the era, most players would be better served by more focused racing or combat games of the period.

By OGXbox Archive