Ridge Racer

Last updated
Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer series logo.svg
Genre(s) Racing
Developer(s) Namco
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher(s) Namco
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Creator(s)Yozo Sakagami
Fumihiro Tanaka
Platform(s) Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Nintendo 64, GameCube, i-mode, J2ME, Zeebo, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
First release Ridge Racer
October 30, 1993
Latest releaseRidge Racer Draw & Drift
October 20, 2016

Ridge Racer [lower-alpha 1] is a racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, Ridge Racer (1993), was originally released in arcades for the Namco System 22 hardware, later ported to the PlayStation one year later as a launch title. It was met with several sequels and spin-off games for multiple platforms, the latest being the mobile game Ridge Racer Draw & Drift (2016) with the latest mainline game being Ridge Racer 7 (2006). Gameplay involves the player racing against computer-controlled opponents to be the first to finish in a race. Drifting is a core aspect of the series, and is used to keep speed while turning corners.

Contents

Ridge Racer is a spiritual successor to Sim Drive (1992), a racing simulation game met with a limited release in Japanese arcades using an actual body of a Mazda Eunos Roadster. Originally meant as an F1 racing game, similar to Namco's own Pole Position and Final Lap series, it was instead replaced with racing on mountain roads, a popular trend for Japanese car enthusiasts at the time. The PlayStation version was a launch title for the console and an astounding success for both Namco, prompting the creation of several sequels for arcades and home platforms. After Namco merged with Bandai in 2005, the series would become exclusive to consoles and later mobile phones. Several games in the franchise were released as launch titles for consoles.

Earlier Ridge Racer games received critical acclaim for their graphics, gameplay, and musical score, many citing it as a contributing factor to the success of the PlayStation in its early years. Later entries were criticized for straying too far from the source material and lack of content, with Ridge Racer Vita (2011) being the first game to receive generally negative reception from critics; its base content was considered extremely lacking, with the player forced to obtain the vast majority of additional content by purchasing DLC. [1] The last mainline title, Ridge Racer Unbounded received mixed-to-average reception from critics. [2] The series is considered influential to the racing game genre. [3]

Games

Release timeline
1993 Ridge Racer
1994 Ridge Racer 2
1995 Rave Racer
Ridge Racer Revolution
1996 Rage Racer
Pocket Racer
1997
1998 R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
1999
2000 Ridge Racer 64
Ridge Racer V
2001
2002
2003 R: Racing Evolution
2004 Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer DS
2005 Ridge Racer 6
Critical Velocity
2006 Ridge Racer 7
Ridge Racer 2
2007
2008
2009 Ridge Racer Accelerated
2010Ridge Racer Drift
2011 Ridge Racer 3D
Ridge Racer
2012 Ridge Racer Unbounded
2013 Ridge Racer Slipstream
2014
2015
2016Ridge Racer Draw & Drift

Common elements

Gameplay of Ridge Racer Revolution (1995). Ridge Racer Revolution gameplay.jpg
Gameplay of Ridge Racer Revolution (1995).

The basic gameplay of the Ridge Racer series has remained relatively consistent throughout each installment. The objective is to race against computer-controlled opponents to finish each track in first place — the player begins the game in last place, and have a limited number of laps around the track to complete where they can overtake opponents. Some entries have a time limit that the player must race against, with each completed lap extending the timer; if the timer reaches zero, the game ends regardless of which lap the player was on. Later entries remove the timer and instead requires the player to finish the race in a minimum-assigned place to advance to the next course.

Unlike other racing games, which usually feature closed circuits, Ridge Racer instead has races laid out on streets, beaches, cities and mountains, taking place in the fictional coastal metropolis "Ridge City" — circuit tracks are included in some entries. Nearly every entry in the series features the original tracks from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2, sometimes modified to accompany for certain mechanics. Players can drift their car around corners to maintain speed, as most of the tracks were based on real-world locations that were not intended for race speeds. Ridge Racer Unbounded (2012) removes the drifting mechanic in favor of vehicular combat, similar to the Burnout franchise.

The playable cars each have their own stats and mechanics, such as a faster speed or improved drifting. Many of these are also named after older Namco video games, including Dig Dug , Xevious , NebulasRay , Rolling Thunder , Bosconian and Solvalou . The PlayStation sequel R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 introduces the concept of racing teams for the series, all being named after Dig Dug, Mappy , Pac-Man , Xevious and Galaga . Similar to Namco's own Tekken series, several games feature classic Namco arcade games as short minigames that play during loading screens, a mechanic that was later trademarked by Namco — the PlayStation home port of the original Ridge Racer features Galaxian , while Ridge Racers features New Rally-X . Completing these minigames will award the player with new tracks or cars, sometimes unlocking a full emulated version of the minigame to play. [10]

Automakers

Starting with Rage Racer , each game offers cars with fictional automakers and model names. Certain manufacturers specialize in a particular component of their cars' performance, such as top speed, grip, and acceleration:

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game GameRankings Metacritic
Ridge Racer 81% [11] -
Ridge Racer Revolution 79% [12] -
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 88% [13] 88 [14]
Ridge Racer 64 85% [15] -
Ridge Racer V 80% [16] 78 [17]
Ridge Racer DS 64% [18] -
Ridge Racers 89% [19] -
Ridge Racer 6 70% [20] -
Ridge Racers 2 70% [21] -
Ridge Racer 7 79% [22] 78 [23]
Ridge Racer Accelerated 52% [24] -
Ridge Racer 3D 75% [25] -
Ridge Racer Unbounded 69% [26] -

The original Ridge Racer was very well received by critics for its 3D graphics, audio, and the drifting mechanics. It also received an admirable port to the PlayStation, where it became one of the best selling titles in the console's early lifetime. It is also considered as playing a part in giving Sony's system an edge over rival Sega's Saturn during 1994–1995.

Its sequels during the 1990s were also highly successful, in particular Ridge Racer Type 4, often considered the series' best. Its sequel Ridge Racer V received more mediocre reviews, but the subsequent PSP title achieved very high praise. The series' 'idol' mascot Reiko Nagase, who has appeared in most games since 1996's Rage Racer, has often been rated among the most recognizable female characters in video games.

In 1999, Next Generation listed the Ridge Racer series as number 11 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that "there are certainly better car simulations, but when it comes to fun, Ridge Racer, the game that helped make PlayStation cool, is the one we come back to". [27]

The 2011 Vita title was negatively received for various reasons, whilst the latest console game, Ridge Racer Unbounded, was marked with a departure from the drifting style and mechanics of what the series is known for, experimenting with a more destructive style similar to the Burnout series, although Ridge Racer 3D, a launch title for the 3DS, was better received compared to Vita and Unbounded. The game was never as popular as its previous main titles and never had a Japanese release either.

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: リッジレーサー, Hepburn: Rijji Rēsā

Related Research Articles

Mario Kart is a series of kart racing games and a spin-off Mario franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up items. It features characters and courses mostly from the Mario series as well as other gaming franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, F-Zero, Excitebike, and Splatoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namco</span> Japanese video game developer and publisher

Namco Limited was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, and Shanghai Namco in mainland China.

Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic racing simulations and more fantastical arcade-style racing games. Kart racing games emerged in the 1990s as a popular sub-genre of the latter. Racing games may also fall under the category of sports video games.

<i>Mr. Driller</i> Video game series

Mr. Driller is a puzzle video game franchise created by Yasuhito Nagaoka and Hideo Yoshizawa for Namco. The eponymous first game was released in 1999 for arcades and several home consoles, such as the PlayStation. Gameplay in the series consists of controlling Susumu Hori, the titular Mr. Driller, or one of his friends and destroying colorful formations of blocks to make it to the bottom of a well. In order to survive, players need to collect air capsules to replenish their depleting oxygen and avoid being crushed by falling blocks.

Mario Kart Arcade GP is sub-series of arcade games from Nintendo's Mario Kart series developed specifically for arcades in collaboration with Namco. To date, four entries have been released - Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005), Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007), Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013), and Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017). The first three entries are considered to be relatively rare outside of Japan, with the fourth title not seeing a release outside of Japan at all. The game's have been generally been well-received by critics, who have praised the game's transition of traditional Mario Kart gameplay into an arcade game format, thought to-date, while lamenting that none of the entries have been released outside of the arcade format onto any of Nintendo's home video game consoles.

Namco Museum is a series of video game compilations developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for home video game consoles. The first title in the series, Namco Museum Vol. 1, was released for the PlayStation in 1995. Entries in the series have been released for multiple platforms, including the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Xbox 360. the latest being Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2, released in 2020.

<i>Ridge Racer Revolution</i> 1995 video game

Ridge Racer Revolution is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation in 1995. It is the sequel to the PlayStation version of Ridge Racer. Like the original Ridge Racer, the player races computer-controlled cars with the objective of winning a series of races, and supports Namco's NeGcon controller. Ridge Racer Revolution adds two hidden cars, and two-player support via the PlayStation Link cable, and took roughly the same time to develop as the first. The intention was to increase the depth and add features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NeGcon</span> Video game controller manufactured by Namco

The NeGcon, stylized as neGcon, is a motion-based game controller manufactured in 1995 by Namco for the PlayStation. One of the first third-party peripherals for the system, the controller is connected by a swivel joint, allowing the player to twist the halves relative to each other. The controller also replaces the "symbol" buttons on the original PlayStation controller with two "A" and "B" buttons, as well as "I" and "II" buttons that allowed for analogue control. A black variant was released exclusively in Japan.

<i>Ridge Racer V</i> 2000 video game

Ridge Racer V is a 2000 racing game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2, as a launch game for that platform. It is the fifth title of the Ridge Racer series succeeding Ridge Racer Type 4 and was followed by Ridge Racer 6 in 2005. The game received a home-to-arcade port named Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle.

<i>Rave Racer</i> 1995 racing video game

Rave Racer is an arcade racing game that was released by Namco in 1995. It runs on Namco System 22 hardware, and could be played by two people per cabinet for up to eight players total when up to four of them were linked together. It is the third arcade title in the Ridge Racer series and the follow-up to Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2.

<i>New Rally-X</i> 1981 video game

New Rally-X is a maze chase arcade video game released by Namco in 1981. It is a lightly tweaked version of 1980's Rally-X, with slightly enhanced graphics, easier gameplay, a new soundtrack, and a "Lucky Flag" that gives the player extra points for remaining fuel when collected.

<i>Ridge Racer 6</i> 2005 racing video game

Ridge Racer 6 is a racing game by Namco released in 2005. It was the sixth console game in the Ridge Racer series but unlike the previous mainline entries, which were released for PlayStation consoles, this entry was released exclusively as a launch title for the Xbox 360. In a similar fashion to the first Ridge Racer on PS1, Ridge Racer V on PlayStation 2, Ridge Racer(s) on PlayStation Portable and eventually Ridge Racer 7 on PlayStation 3. All are exclusive launch titles for their respective consoles.

<i>Ridge Racer 7</i> 2006 racing video game

Ridge Racer 7 is a racing video game developed by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3. It was released in Japan and North America by Namco Bandai Games in 2006 and PAL territories by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2007. The seventh mainline installment in the Ridge Racer series, it was developed as a launch title for the console. The game has around 40 cars, many of which return from Ridge Racer 6 and the PSP incarnations of the game. There are also 22 courses, available in forward, reverse and mirror mode. The game runs at 1080p native resolution and 60 frames per second. It also features Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and free online gameplay via the PlayStation Network.

<i>Ridge Racer</i> (2004 video game) 2004 video game

Ridge Racer, released in Japan as Ridge Racers, is an arcade racing video game developed by Namco for the PlayStation Portable. It is named after the eponymous Ridge Racer video game series to which it belongs. The game was released in Japan on 12 December 2004, in North America on 24 March 2005, and in Europe and Australia on 1 September as a launch title. Available in the game is a fully playable version of the Namco arcade game New Rally-X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genki (company)</span> Japanese video game developer

Genki Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer. It was founded in October 1990 by Hiroshi Hamagaki and Tomo Kimura, who left Sega to form the company. The company is best known for its racing game titles.

<i>Ridge Racer</i> (1993 video game) 1993 racing video game

Ridge Racer is a 1993 racing video game developed and published by Namco. It was released initially on the Namco System 22 arcade system board and ported to the PlayStation console in 1994. It is the first title in the Ridge Racer series released for arcades and home consoles.

<i>Ridge Racer 2</i> (2006 video game) 2006 racing video game published by Namco and SCEE

Ridge Racer 2, released in Japan as Ridge Racers 2, is an arcade-style racing game developed by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Portable hand-held console, marking the 14th release in the Ridge Racer series and also the sequel to the PSP launch title Ridge Racer. It saw release in Japan on 14 September 2006, followed by its 13 October European launch and 19 October release in Australia. The original North American release was cancelled. On 20 December 2022, Ridge Racer 2 was made available worldwide to download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as part of the PlayStation Plus Premium subscription service.

<i>Ridge Racer 3D</i> 2011 racing video game

Ridge Racer 3D is a racing video game for the Nintendo 3DS console published and developed by Namco Bandai Games. The game was released in Japan on 26 February 2011 and in North America on 22 March, five days prior to the launch of the Nintendo 3DS itself in that region. Ridge Racer 3D was also released in Europe on 25 March and in Australia on 31 March.

<i>Ridge Racer Unbounded</i> 2012 racing video game published by Namco Bandai Games

Ridge Racer Unbounded is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. It is the eighth installment of the Ridge Racer franchise, and the first game in the series to be released on Windows. Unbounded is also the most recent game in the series to be released on home consoles as its successors only focused on handheld devices.

<i>Techno Drive</i> 1998 video game by Namco

Techno Drive is a 1998 driving simulator arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan. It is known for its unique graphical interface that uses fluorescent colors choices and flat shading. Players control a racecar throughout a variety of different minigames, each testing their skill and reaction time. Minigames include drifting along corners, avoiding collision with other vehicles, and driving with a bowl of liquid attached to the rear of the car. The game was designed for the Namco System 12, an arcade board based on raw PlayStation hardware.

References

  1. ↑ MacDonald, Keza (2012-03-09). "Ridge Racer Vita Review". IGN. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  2. ↑ "Ridge Racer Unbounded". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  3. ↑ Shea, Cam (2015-06-23). "The Original Ridge Racer: A PlayStation Launch Classic - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  4. ↑ "Special Extended Play The sequel to the stunning original! Ridge Racer Revolution". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 5. Emap International Limited. April 1996. ISSN   1360-3167.
  5. ↑ "Announcing PlayStation Classic's Full Lineup of 20 Games". PlayStation.Blog. 29 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (16 December 2009). "Ridge Racer Accelerated Review". IGN . Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Bawell, Tom (10 January 2011). "Nintendo 3DS Japanese Launch Line-up". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  8. ↑ Andrew Laughlin (1 April 2012). "'Ridge Racer: Unbounded' review (Xbox 360)". Digital Spy . Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Fahey, Mike (3 December 2013). "Ridge Racer Stops Trying To Launch Consoles". Kotaku . Gawker Media . Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Rijji Rēsā Reboryūshon (Pureisutēshon hisshouhou supesharu)リッジレーサーレボリューション （プレイステーション必勝法スペシャル）[Ridge Racer Revolution (PlayStation winning strategy special)] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Keibunsha. 1996. p. 94. ISBN   978-4-7669-2427-5.
  11. ↑ "Ridge Racer for PlayStation". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "Ridge Racer Revolution for PlayStation". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "R4: Ridge Racer Type 4". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  14. ↑ "R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  15. ↑ "Ridge Racer 64 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "Ridge Racer V for PlayStation 2". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Ridge Racer V for PlayStation 2 Review". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Ridge Racer DS for Nintendo DS". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "Ridge Racer for PSP". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Ridge Racer 2 for PSP". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  21. ↑ "Ridge Racer 2 for PSP". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "Ridge Racer 7 for PlayStation 3". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "Ridge Racer 7 for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  24. ↑ "Ridge Racer Accelerated for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  25. ↑ "Ridge Racer 3D for 3DS". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  26. ↑ "Ridge Racer Unbounded for PC". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Top 50 Games of All Time". Next Generation . No. 50. Imagine Media. February 1999. p. 80.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.