[Review] Rider’s Spirits – Nintendo Switch

Developed and Published By: Ratalaika Games
Categories: Racing, Retro
Release Date: 06.07.24
Price: $5.99

You ever play a middling game, but just get blown away by how cool the presentation is? Yeah, that’s Rider’s Spirits.

So full disclosure. I enjoy those Mode 7 racers. But outside of looks, Rider’s Spirits doesn’t do much for me at all. Character designs are cute and I love them, but the courses themselves are just sorta there. To be honest though, I didn’t pay much attention to that. It was mostly how the races are actually displayed.

Much like Super Mario Kart or the Genesis port of Outrunners, it’s always splitscreen, even when playing alone. Maybe it’s the map, maybe it’s just another car, or your placements. In Riders Spirits, it’s a POV from behind. Not sure why it has the goggles, but I absolutely love it. It’s great for watching who can and will ram into you too. Oh by the way, did I mention that this is a motorcycle racing game?

Races play fine, but the absence of items might come off as a bit of a let down. But there is items. You can go off the beaten path to go to a pit stop, it’s the light blue path near the end of a lap. That’s where the items come into play. The opposition have plenty of items, but you’ll never get one unless you go out of your way to get them. To me, it personally felt like a waste of time and would just get me into a lower place in the race.

I really like the music, but it’s a shame I can barely hear it over the motorcycle revving. It’s probably not a big deal, but it drives me nuts and if you have the volume even a smidge lower, it’s all you hear.

Port work is once again, standard Ratalaika fare. Which even if it sounds like I’m bored of it at this point, is still a good thing. I always wish for more extras, but I do have to imagine, sometimes this is the best we’ll get for certain games.

Final Thoughts

Could I have lived the rest of my life not playing this game? Probably. Am I still glad it’s finally out in the west? You betcha. God bless Ratalaika for this long going effort.