Ridge Racer
Screenshots
Summary
Ridge Racer first debuted on the Namco System 22 arcade platform and was subsequently brought to the PlayStation console. It marks the beginning of the enduring Ridge Racer series, which has been enjoyed in both arcade and home gaming formats. The goal of the game is to come in first in a sequence of high-speed races. Ridge Racer was one of the earliest racing titles to fully harness the power of polygon-based graphics.
Storyline
In the PlayStation edition, players can enjoy a mini Galaxian game while the main title loads. If victorious before the game fully loads, eight extra vehicles become available for use. The twelve cars each have distinct attributes—some prioritize top speed, others focus on acceleration or handling, while a few offer a balanced performance. A number of the cars are named after other Namco titles, including Solvalou, Mappy, Bosconian, Nebulasray, and Xevious. Once the game is fully loaded, the player is required to select six instrumental music tracks to proceed. The disc can be swapped out at any point during play, though the game doesn't update to reflect the change; no matter which disc is used, six tracks are always available, corresponding to the six tracks on the original game disc. After starting the game, the player selects a course, transmission type (automatic or six-speed manual), car, and music. During the race, the player can view the track from a first-person perspective, or in the PlayStation version, from a third-person viewpoint. The game is compatible with Namco's NeGcon controller. As an arcade-style racer, collisions don't damage the car but instead slow the player down. A time limit is in place, and if it reaches zero, the race ends. Scattered throughout the track are checkpoints that grant the player extra time when passed. The game includes a single race track, but it offers four different configurations with varying difficulty levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Time Trial (with the last two featuring a longer layout). The player competes against eleven other cars, except in Time Trial, where only one opponent is present. As the difficulty increases, so does the speed of the AI cars, with Time Trial offering the fastest. Each race consists of three laps, except for the beginner course, which has two. In the PlayStation version, after completing all races, additional "extra" races become available, featuring a reversed course layout. In Time Trial, the player also faces an extra opponent: the 13th Racing "Devil" car, the fastest in the game. Defeating this car unlocks it for the player to use. In the arcade version, after completing the game, the player's score is recorded in action replay highlights. The PlayStation version also includes a hidden "mirror" version of the track. In this mode, the layout is flipped—left turns become right turns and vice versa, and the environment mirrors the original track's layout.
Artwork
Similar games
Alternative titles
- リッジレーサー— Japanese title - original