Ridge Racer (2011 video game)

Last updated
Ridge Racer
VITA-Ridge-Racer-Box-art.jpeg
PAL region cover art
Developer(s) Cellius
Publisher(s) Namco Bandai Games [a]
Series Ridge Racer
Platform(s) PlayStation Vita
Release
  • JP: 17 December 2011
  • EU: 22 February 2012
  • AU: 23 February 2012
  • NA: 13 March 2012 [1]
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Ridge Racer [b] , originally named Ridge Racer Vita [c] , is a 2011 racing video game published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Vita as a launch title, originally on 17 December 2011 in Japan, and internationally from February 2012. It is the 5th handheld game in the Ridge Racer series and the first on a Sony platform since 2006's Ridge Racer 2. It was the only game was developed by Cellius. The game continues the Ridge Racer tradition of arcade racing and supports single-player as well as local and Wi-Fi multiplayer games. [1] Upon release, Ridge Racer was mostly panned by video game critics due to the lack of a career mode and particularly the lack of content, with much of it locked as paid downloadable content. [2]

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot Ridge Racer Vita gameplay.jpg
Gameplay screenshot

Downloadable content

The Hornet from Sega's Daytona USA makes a cameo appearance as available DLC, as well as an exclusive song (with lyrics by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi) and course inspired by both franchises. Other cameos include cars with paint schemes derived from The Idolmaster , as well as DoCoMO and Pac-Man -themed versions of the Kamata SYNCi, the game's cover car. The DoCoMo and Idolmaster cars are not available outside Japan. Other downloadable content include new cars and courses, as well as music tracks from previous entries in the franchise.

Reception

Ridge Racer received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight and three sevens for a total of 29 out of 40. [5] Elsewhere, it was critically panned by various publications for its barebones nature and a lack of proper progression, unlike other installments in the series. GameSpot criticized the game's lack of initial content (which consisted only of a limited number of cars and tracks ported from Ridge Racer 7 ) as a ploy to force users to buy its downloadable content (while its first DLC pack, despite being available for free as a limited time offer, only consisted of more content originating from Ridge Racer 7), resulting in a poor experience that lacked any of the variety of past installments. In conclusion, the game was considered "a complete and utter ripoff", as a cheap cash-in than a fully thought-out product. [8] IGN similarly criticized the game's absolute lack of storyline or progression-based modes or leagues, and unbalanced online races that use a leveling system to determine a player's top speed (giving an unfair disadvantage to newer players). Ridge Racer was described as tech demo, wrapped up in an online-reliant social framework that's fundamentally flawed on several levels. [12] In June 2012, IGN also named Ridge Racer one of its ten "Worst Video Games of 2012 So Far". [16]

Notes

  1. ↑ Published under the Namco brand.
  2. ↑ Japanese: リッジレーサー, Hepburn: Rijji Rēsā
  3. ↑ Japanese: リッジレーサーヴィータ, Hepburn: Rijji Rēsā Vīta

Related Research Articles

Ridge Racer is a series of racing video games created by Namco and owned by Bandai Namco Entertainment. 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) and the latest mainline game, developed in-house, was 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; Ridge Racer pioneered the real-life technique in video games. The series is considered influential to the racing game genre.

<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.

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

Ridge Racer Revolution is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. 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.

<i>R4: Ridge Racer Type 4</i> 1998 video game

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, released without the 'R4' prefix in PAL territories, is a 1998 racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. It is the fourth home title in the Ridge Racer series after Rage Racer (1996) and was initially released on December 3, 1998 in Japan, with global releases following in 1999.

<i>Ridge Racer 2</i> 1994 video game

Ridge Racer 2 is a 1994 arcade racing game developed and published by Namco for arcades. A sequel to Ridge Racer, it features more quality-of-life changes than substantial new content. One major addition is the ability to play with up to eight human players.

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

Ridge Racer V is a 2000 racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2. It was released as a launch title for the console and later followed by an arcade version subtitled Arcade Battle. Ridge Racer V is the fifth main title of the Ridge Racer series following R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 and the only one to be released on PlayStation 2.

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

Rave Racer is a 1995 arcade racing video game from Namco. It is the third title in the Ridge Racer series and the follow-up to Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2. Rave Racer 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. Compared to Ridge Racer 2, Rave Racer adds two new tracks as well as the ability to play the original two, various handling changes, force feedback steering, and improved car and racetrack graphics. Rave Racer was a critical and commercial success; it would be the last major arcade Ridge Racer title as Namco would continue the series on home consoles with Rage Racer (1996) and R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998).

<i>Rage Racer</i> 1996 video game

Rage Racer is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. It is the fifth installment in the Ridge Racer series and the third on the PlayStation following Ridge Racer Revolution (1995). It was released in Japan on December 3, 1996, with releases elsewhere following in 1997. It was the first game in the series to feature a CGI animated introduction, and introduced a new "mascot", Reiko Nagase.

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

Ridge Racer 6 is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the Xbox 360. It is an installment in the Ridge Racer series. Unlike the previous mainline entries, which were released for either PlayStation or Nintendo consoles, this entry was released exclusively as a launch title for the Xbox 360 in 2005, marking the series' debut on Xbox consoles. Electronic Arts distributed physical copies of the game in Europe in 2006 while Namco released the game on Xbox Marketplace in the region.

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

Ridge Racer 7 is a 2006 racing video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3. An installment in the Ridge Racer series, it is an enhanced version of Xbox 360 exclusive Ridge Racer 6 with more content, releasing as a launch title for the console

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

Ridge Racer, released in Japan as Ridge Racers, is a 2004 racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation Portable. An installment in the Ridge Racer series, it was released as a global launch title for the system, on 12 December 2004 in Japan and overseas in 2005. Ridge Racer has been described as a 'compilation' of the series, featuring tracks, cars and remixed soundtrack from previous titles of the 1990s. Gameplay-wise, it marked the change from the "classic" style last seen in Ridge Racer V to the new drifting mechanic and nitrous boost that the series would incorporate from there on, including on Ridge Racer 6 and Ridge Racer 7.

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

Ridge Racer is a 1993 racing video game developed and published by Namco for arcades. It is the first installment in Namco's Ridge Racer series. It was released initially on the Namco System 22 arcade system board and ported to the PlayStation home console in 1994. Ridge Racer was notable for being the first arcade video game with 3D texture-mapped graphics, with its System 22 hardware capable of texture mapping and Gouraud shading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pac-Man (character)</span> Video game character

Pac-Man is a fictional character and the titular protagonist of the video game franchise of the same name. Created by Toru Iwatani, he first appeared in the arcade game Pac-Man (1980), and has since appeared in more than 30 licensed sequels and spin-offs for multiple platforms, and spawning mass amounts of merchandise in his image, including two television series and a hit single by Buckner & Garcia. He is the official mascot of Bandai Namco Entertainment. Pac-Man's most common antagonists are the Ghost Gang — Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde that are determined to defeat him to accomplish their goals, which change throughout the series. Pac-Man also has a voracious appetite, being able to consume vast amounts of food in a short timespan, and can eat his enemies by consuming large "Power Pellets".

<i>The Idolmaster Live For You!</i> Simulation video game

The Idolmaster Live For You! is a live simulation video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360. It was released in Japan on February 28, 2008, as a sequel to The Idolmaster. The gameplay in Live For You! focuses on coordinating the concert event from The Idolmaster with higher customization of the songs, stage and costumes. The game features a rhythm minigame during performances, which was developed to add a sense of unity with the audience and add excitement. The player is also able to freely manipulate how the performance looks by adjusting the position of the camera towards the idols. The story is told from the perspective of a special producer in charge of coordinating the live performances of 11 pop idols from The Idolmaster series.

<i>Street Fighter X Tekken</i> 2012 video game

Street Fighter X Tekken is a 2012 crossover fighting video game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows and PlayStation Vita. The game features characters from both the Street Fighter franchise and Namco's Tekken series. In the game, each player selects two characters respectively and face other as duos in tag team fighting matches, with the objective to knock out one of the members from the opposing team. In addition to the game's multiplayer modes, the game also features a single-player Story mode with a plot revolving around a mysterious object called the "Pandora".

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

Ridge Racer 3D is a 2011 racing video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the first Ridge Racer series title on a Nintendo platform since Ridge Racer DS (2004) and as usual for the series revolves around cars racing around high speed tracks while drifting. The game received positive reviews and was a commercial success.

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

Ridge Racer Unbounded is a 2012 racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the eighth installment of the Ridge Racer franchise following Ridge Racer 7, the first mainline title not to be developed by Namco, and the first in the series overall 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>Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3</i> 2011 video game

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a 2011 crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was originally released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2011, then as a launch title for the PlayStation Vita in 2012, and later re-released on PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One.

<i>The Idolmaster Shiny Festa</i> 2012 rhythm game by Namco Bandai Games

The Idolmaster Shiny Festa is a series of three Japanese rhythm video games developed by Namco Bandai Studios and published by Namco Bandai Games. The games are part of The Idolmaster franchise, and were originally released on October 25, 2012 as Honey Sound, Funky Note, and Groovy Tune for the PlayStation Portable in Japan. They were the first games in the series to be localized into English, and were released for iOS on April 22, 2013 as Harmonic Score, Rhythmic Record, and Melodic Disc, while retaining their original names for the Japanese versions. Service for the iOS version was discontinued on March 15, 2016.

The Idolmaster is a Japanese media franchise that began in 2005 with a raising simulation and rhythm video game series created by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The series primarily centers on the career of a producer who works with a group of prospective pop idols at the talent agency 765 Production. Originally released as an arcade game, the franchise has grown to numerous ports, sequels and spin-offs across multiple video game consoles, including several social network games. The series includes a variety of other media such as an anime with the same name, printed media, audio dramas, a Korean drama, and radio shows.

References

  1. 1 2 Jonathan Downin (20 October 2011). "Katamari, Ridge Racer roll into PS Vita launch lineup". GameSpot . Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Extension, Time (2024-09-04). "Best Ridge Racer Games Of All Time". Time Extension. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  3. 1 2 "Ridge Racer for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Simon Parkin (22 February 2012). "Ridge Racer Vita Review". Eurogamer . Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  5. 1 2 "PlayStation Vita Japanese Launch Thread. "APOCALYPTIC!" says concerned Nuclear Muffin (Page 96)". NeoGAF. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Matthew Kato (19 March 2012). "Ridge Racer (Vita)". Game Informer . Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ridge Racer (Vita)". GamesMaster : 75. March 2012.
  8. 1 2 Mark Walton (22 February 2012). "Ridge Racer Review (Vita)". GameSpot. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  9. ↑ GameTrailers (23 March 2012). "Ridge Racer (Vita) - Review". YouTube . Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  10. ↑ Jeff Gerstmann (27 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Review (Vita)". Giant Bomb . Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ridge Racer (Vita)". Hyper : 83. May 2012.
  12. 1 2 Keza MacDonald (9 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Vita Review". IGN . Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ridge Racer (Vita)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine . June 2012. p. 79.
  14. ↑ Anthony John Agnello (26 March 2012). "Ridge Racer". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  15. ↑ Luciano Howard (6 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Vita". The Digital Fix. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  16. ↑ Brian Altano; Mitch Dyer (29 June 2012). "The Worst Video Games of 2012 So Far". IGN. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
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.