The Electric Playground reviewer complimented the additions and improvements, including the "much improved" graphics and the scene changes, about which it was commented that it was a "serious improvement". It was commented that the colours are "sharp and pretty", and the link-up multiplayer mode was lauded, although the remixed music tracks were criticised because they "pale greatly in comparison to the original tracks". The new tracks were complimented as "always challenging and fun to race" by Gamezilla's Mark Skorupa, who also praised Free Run, saying it's a "great way to learn the tracks". Major Mike of "GamePro" believed the game surpassed the first and upheld the "Ridge Racer" tradition, and "Computer and Video Games Magazine" reviewer commented that the game is "Everything Ridge Racer maniacs could have wanted from a sequel".