Ridge Racer 64 is a racing game developed by Nintendo Software Technology with support of Namco and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 console in 2000, making it the first game in the series to be release on a Nintendo system. It features tracks from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution and its very own set of desert tracks called "Renegade", exclusive to the Nintendo 64. This is the first Ridge Racer game that is not released in Japan. In 2004, a remake called Ridge Racer DS was released for the Nintendo DS handled system.
Gameplay[]
Ridge Racer 64 makes a return to the fast-paced, pick-up-and-play arcade mechanics of the early games of the series, allowing any player to jump into the game in a simple and fun way. NST designed a new drift and "progressive" collision detection system; Ridge Racer Revolution-based drift and collision systems, as well as a drift system reminiscent of the original Ridge Racer, were added for veteran players as well.
Game modes[]
- Quick Play: allows players to immediately run a 3 lap race with default settings (Revolution Novice course, driving the F/A Racing, Class S, automatic transmission).
- Grand Prix: the main mode of the game. There are 3 main stages: Revolution, Ridge Racer and Renegade. Each one subdivided into 3 difficult level races through the Grand Prix (Novice, Intermediate and Expert). After complete the 3 stages and the staff credits are shown, the Reverse stages of the previous ones are available and the Grand Prix continues. When reverse races are completed in 1st place, the 6-lap final stage Ridge Racer Extreme is available (with its respective reverse mode).
- Car Attack: when a level is completed, 3 cars with better stats are available to race against (except for the two final stages, which award the player with only one car each). If the player is able to beat each car, it will be selectionable for the Grand Prix, Car Attack, Time Attack and Multiplayer modes.
- Time Attack: this is the classic time trial mode to beat records or master a course.
- Multiplayer: from two up to four players can race, thanks to the capabilities of the Nintendo 64 system and its 4 controller slots. This is the first Ridge Racer game in the series to exceed the 2-player barrier and offers a true multiplayer experience, although play with 3 or 4 players makes a downgrade to the graphics and frame rate.
- Garage: a gallery option to see owned cars and trophies.
Cars[]
There are, in total, 32 cars in the game. As in the older arcades, the player has four to choose from at the start:
- #3 F/A Racing
- #4 RT Ryukyu
- #76 Pac Racing
- #02 RT Solvalou
20 cars are available to be unlocked through Car Attack mode as the player progresses through the game:
- Stage 1
- #15 RT Pink Mappy
- #5 RT Blue Mappy
- #7 RT Xevious Red
- Stage 2
- #8 RT NebulasRay
- #18 RT Bosconian
- #16 Galaga RT Prid's
- Stage 3
- #6 Galaga RT Carrot
- #17 RT Xevious Green
- #14 Dig Racing Team
- Stage 4
- #83 Micro Mouse Mappy
- #13 13th Racing Kid
- #0 White Angel
- Stage 5
- #88 DigiPen Racing
- #25 Assoluto Infinito
- #3 Age Solo Supernova
- Stage 6
- #94 Atomic Purple
- #56 Extreme Green
- #12 Terrazi Terrific
- Stage 7
- #13 Lizard Nightmare
- Stage 8
- #01 Screamin' Eagle
The other eight cars are unlockable after meeting certain requirements in the game:
- #64 Ultra 64 (unlocked after beating the game in the Z-Class category)
- #00 00-Agent (unlocked after winning Ridge Racer Extreme in a 2-player race)
- Galaga '88 (unlocked after winning the Galaga '88 minigame)
- Blinky (unlocked after driving 99 laps in Time Attack)
- #26 Red Shirt Rage (unlocked by hitting the helicopter after flying off the track in any Ridge Racer course)
- #99 Crazy Canuck (unlocked after defeating Screamin' Eagle in the mirrored version of Ridge Racer Extreme Extra in Car Attack)
- #4 Caddy Car (unlocked after beating the reversed Ridge Racer Novice track)
- Pooka (unlocked after setting a new course record on any Ridge Racer Extreme track in Time Attack)
Race courses[]
There are three different settings featured in Ridge Racer 64, each featuring three unique courses.
The short and long courses from Ridge Racer appear as Ridge Racer Novice, Intermediate, and Expert. Like in the original Ridge Racer, both Novice and Intermediate feature the short course; the former circles the course in two laps, while the latter circles the course in three. Ridge Racer Expert features three laps around the long course.
The Novice, Intermediate, and Expert courses from Ridge Racer Revolution appear as Revolution Novice, Intermediate, and Expert, respectively. All stages circle their respective courses in three laps. Notable in Ridge Racer 64 is the change in setting for the Revolution courses; while the courses are originally set along a beach area and seaside cliffs, Ridge Racer 64 situates them around the "scenic Northwest"[1], featuring mountains, forests, waterfalls, and even a resort called the Ridge Racer Golf Club.
Exclusive to Ridge Racer 64 are three new courses set in the "sun-baked desert of the Southwest"[1], which feature in the game as Renegade Novice, Intermediate, and Expert. These courses are primarily set in the fictional Ridgetown, and feature canyons, a village, a small commercial area, and a dam.
Finally, Ridge Racer 64 features a fourth exclusive course: Ridge Racer Extreme. This course is situated in Ridge City along with the Ridge Racer courses and is set primarily along Ridge City's southern bay area and its upper city roads. This course also passes through the outer portion of the tunnel seen in the original Ridge Racer courses, as well as along the road above their finish line. Being what may be considered Ridge Racer 64's "oval" course, it is always raced in six laps, akin to how Shooting Hoops is raced in six laps in Ridge Racer Type 4.
- Ridge Racer Novice
- Ridge Racer Intermediate
- Ridge Racer Expert
- Revolution Novice
- Revolution Intermediate
- Revolution Expert
- Renegade Novice
- Renegade Intermediate
- Renegade Expert
- Ridge Racer Extreme
Music and sound[]
All music tracks in-game are composed by Keith Arem, revisiting the techno styles heavily featured in Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution. As with previous games, the BGM track may be chosen specifically or set to random.
| No. | Title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Revolver | default BGM for Ridge Racer Expert and Revolution Novice |
| 2. | Motion Blur | default BGM for Ridge Racer Novice and Ridge Racer Intermediate |
| 3. | Evolution | default BGM for Renegade Intermediate and Ridge Racer Extreme |
| 4. | Cruise Control | default BGM for Renegade Novice and Renegade Expert |
| 5. | Ridge Racer Roots | default BGM for Revolution Intermediate and Revolution Expert |
| 6. | Gunn Runner | |
| 7. | Speed Nation | default BGM for Ridge Racer Extreme Extra, replay BGM |
| 8. | Manual Override | credits BGM |
| 9. | Galaga Pac Jam | unlocked along with either Blinky, Pooka, or Galaga '88; becomes the default BGM for any race when any of these cars are chosen |
Ridge Racer DS[]
Four years later, Ridge Racer DS was released in the launch window of the Nintendo DS, based on the N64 version of Ridge Racer 64. The game was remade to make use of features on the DS such as the touchscreen and wireless multi-player while providing otherwise a very similar experience to its original counterpart. Noticeable differences are:
- Turns are easier to negotiate, allowing for less need to brake
- Trophies are given out of order
- There is no option to choose the drift and/or collision mechanics
- The cars' stats are slightly different
- Reiko Nagase is replaced by Gina Cavalli from R: Racing Evolution
- Speed loss after colliding with other cars is more moderate
- Visual overhaul with DS logo on cars instead of 64
- There is no rearview mirror when racing in first-person perspective
- The announcer has a different voice
- Some of the special bonus cars have been altered into cars that feature Nintendo characters on them, rather than their original 64 versions
Three additional BGM tracks were also released for Ridge Racer DS: two new compositions by Keith Arem, and a Super Mario Bros. 2 track originally composed by Koji Kondo.
| No. | Title | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | Dirty Air | Keith Arem |
| 11. | Downforce | Keith Arem |
| 12. | Mushroom Kingdom II | Koji Kondo |
Reception[]
Critical reception of Ridge Racer 64 was very favorable, with Metacritic giving the game a Metascore of 82[2]. Overall, the game was praised for a polished presentation, accessible gameplay, brilliant frame rate, multiplayer mode, new features and a sense of speed. The main critic was regarding the lower amount of three stages, null customization of cars and the relatively short Grand Prix mode compared to other racing games of the era.
The DS version also was recognized for the multiplayer mode that allows up to 6 players to race even with a single DS Game Card through Download Play (although features are limited), while the touch-screen wheel control was targeted as the least favorite control mode for being unintuitive. Dated graphics were also noticed.
Gallery[]
References[]
| Ridge Racer series | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arcade games | Ridge Racer · 2 · Rave Racer · Pocket Racer · V: Arcade Battle | |
| Console and handheld games | Ridge Racer · Revolution · Rage Racer · Type 4 · 64 (DS) · V · Ridge Racer (PSP) (2) · 6 · 7 · 3D · Unbounded (Driftopia) · Ridge Racer (PlayStation Vita) | |
| Mobile games | Ridge Racer · Drift · Accelerated · Slipstream · Draw & Drift | |
| Related games | SimDrive · Ace Driver (Victory Lap · 3: Final Turn) · Dirt Dash · R: Racing Evolution · Critical Velocity · Pachi-Slot | |
| Universe and people | Ridge City · Ridge State · Shatter Bay · Real Racing Roots · UFRA · Reiko Nagase · Enki Gilbert · Shinji Yazaki · Sophie Cavalier · Robert Chrisman · Ai Fukami · Rena Hayami · Gina Cavalli · Stephan Garnier · Kara Shindo | |
| Game mechanics | Drifting · Grand Prix · Slipstream · Nitrous · Car Classes · Customization · Special Machine · Rocket Start | |