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Ridge Racer is a racing game created by Namco. It was released in 1993 on the Namco System 22 arcade system board and in 1994 for the Sony PlayStation. It is the first title in the Ridge Racer series.

Overview[]

Ridge Racer (リッジレーサー Rijji Rēsā) is a 1993 racing video game created by Namco. It was initially released on the Namco System 22 arcade board, and was later ported to the PlayStation console. It is the first title in the long-running Ridge Racer series of games released for arcades and home systems. In the game, the player assumes the role of a car driver and competes with other computer-controlled cars. It was notable for introducing a drifting gameplay mechanic.[1]

Upon release, Ridge Racer was well received. The original arcade version's 3D polygon graphics, which introduced texture mapping and Gouraud shading, was described by critics as being revolutionary and the most realistic video game graphics seen up until then. It was also praised for its audio, drifting-based gameplay, artificial intelligence, and in the full-scale deluxe version, the use of a real Mazda MX5 as an arcade cabinet.

The first home version of Ridge Racer was released in Japan in 1994 as a launch title for the original Sony PlayStation home console; the version for North America and Europe was released in 1995. The game played a major role in establishing the new system and in giving it an early edge over its nearest competitor, the Sega Saturn. The PlayStation version was also praised for its graphics, audio and arcade-style racing gameplay, becoming one of Famitsu's highest-rated games of 1994 and receiving Electronic Gaming Monthly's award for Best Driving Game of 1995. Retrospectively, reception has been positive to mixed, with several later reviewers criticizing its arcade-style gameplay and lack of strong artificial intelligence compared to later games.

Gameplay[]

Ridge Racer was very innovative for its time, introducing minor car sim elements intertwined with the gameplay. The player could choose from the options of Course Select and Transmission. For console releases, Car Select, Sound Select, Start, and Options can be selected. Course Select allowed the player to choose a course, each of varying difficulty, and choose between the two modes of a Race (against 11 other cars) and Time Trial (against one other car). The Course Select screen also displays data about the course's shape and difficulty.

The Transmission menu allows the player to select the between Automatic or Manual transmission. Automatic transmission (AT) permits less experienced players easier turns and drifts, while manual transmission (MT) restricts the AI from assisting but allows more experienced players to gain faster track times.

In the PlayStation release, normally only 4 cars are selectable, but all 12 (excluding the Black No.13 'Devil' Car) are selectable if a player is able to defeat 100% of the enemies on the Galaxian loading game before the title screen.

Car Select introduces the selectable vehicles for racing. The mode also served as a gallery, serving the player with multiple views by rotating the camera with the L1 and R1 triggers on the PlayStation controller. Sound Select allowed the player to change between 1 of six background music tracks, while the Options menu allowed button configuration and the lap records to be viewed.

The game consists of 4 race course modes. They are the "Beginner", "Mid-Level", "High-Level" and "Time Trial" (on the screen will show "T.T" instead). The "Beginner" and the "Mid-Level" would be racing on the same circuit. However, the Beginner mode only has 2 laps and there were no night racing. On the Mid-Level mode, the cars will be faster. The race will run 3 laps instead of 2 and there will be night racing in the middle. Once the player advances to "High-Level" and "Time Trial", the circuit will be longer as a technical section is added with more sharp and difficult curves. The "Beginner", "Mid-Level" and the "High-Level" will be a 12 cars battle but the "Time Trial" will be the battle of 2 cars only.

After the players wins all the race modes, the player has to go to the "Time Trial" (either regular or extra) race mode and this will turn into a 3 car battle. The player will have to face one more extra car- "Devil 13th Racing" car. This car is very fast and extremely difficult to beat due to a lack of rear view mirror. To win, the player must learn the perfect racing line of the track. By sticking to racing line around the track, the Devil car will be blocked from passing and will crash into the back to the player. If the player manages to block the car for all 3 laps and wins the race, they will obtain the Devil car. This is especially important for Time Trial mode.

At the same time, extra game (extra courses) will be given. The player will be racing on the same tracks but in reverse directions. The extra tracks lack one checkpoint and therefore the player is at a much higher risk of running out of time, making the game more difficult. If the player obtains the Devil car before playing the extra courses, the player can use that car to race in all the courses including extra courses in order to complete the entire game.

A special 'mirror mode' version of the track could be played by turning the car around on the starting line and driving into the wall behind at top speed. The car will pass through the wall and the track will revert to the mirror of the normal track.

Courses[]

Cars[]

The original 4[]

The extra 8[]

These cars are unlockable by beating the game of Galaxian with 100% of the enemies defeated.

The special machine[]

Unlockable by beating him on the Time Trial race mode after the first 4 regular Grand Prixs were won.

Car #13: 13th Racing, a.k.a. Devil car

Music list[]

  • 0. Random Play
  • 1. Ridge Racer
  • 2. Rare Hero
  • 3. Feeling Over
  • 4. Rotterdam Nation
  • 5. Speedster
  • 6. Rhythm Shift

Development and release[]

At JAMMA's 1992 AM (Amusement Machines) Show in Japan, held during 27th-29th August 1992,[2] Namco debuted a racing game called Sim Drive,[3][2] for the then new Namco System 22 arcade board.[3] The game was itself a sequel to Eunos Roadster Driving Simulator, a Mazda MX-5 driving simulation arcade game that Namco developed with Mazda and released in 1990.[4] Its 3D polygon graphics stood out for its use of Gouraud shading and texture mapping.[5] After a location test at the show,[3] where it was previewed by the November 1992 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly,[2] Sim Drive had a limited Japanese release in December 1992,[6] but did not get a mass-market release.[3] It served as a prototype for Ridge Racer.[3]

Upon the release of the arcade game in 1993, Ridge Racer was called by Namco "the most realistic driving game ever".[7] The game featured three-dimensional polygon graphics with texture mapping and various types of terrain. Namco advertised it as being the first coin-operated video game with texture mapping.[7] The game made its North American debut at the 1993 American Amusement Machine Association (AMAA) show.[8]

The PlayStation version was shown at the 1995 Electronic Entertainment Expo event, and it was considered an innovation in the use of three-dimensional polygons on consoles. It won the Game of the Show award that year, followed by role-playing game EarthBound as runner-up. Ridge Racer was released in North America on September 9, 1995 as one of eight launch titles for the PlayStation.[9]

Versions[]

Ridge Racer Full Scale[]

Ridge racer full scale stockton

Ridge Racer Full Scale

A Full Scale arcade version of Ridge Racer was released alongside the standard arcade version in 1993. Players sat inside an adapted red Eunos Roadster,[10] the Japanese right-hand-drive version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and controlled the same car on-screen, making it the first and only Ridge Racer game outside of spin offs to use a licensed vehicle. The game was played in front of a 10 ft/3 m-wide, front-projected triple screen (which benefited from dimmed ambient lighting), with the car's wheel, gear stick and pedals functioning as the game's controls. The ignition key was used to start the game, the speed and RPM gauges were fully functional, and fans blew wind on the player from inside the air vents. Speakers concealed inside the car provided realistic engine and tire sounds, while overhead speakers provided surround music. In almost all locations, an operator stood by a console, to collect payment and control the operation. The game's P.C.B. was located under the hood of the car. The steering wheel could be re-linked to the rack and pinion steering of the car, making it easier to move.

The unit used similar projection technology to Namco's 1990 arcade shooter game Galaxian 3.[11] This full-scale deluxe version cost £150,000 for arcade operators upon release,[12] equivalent to £260,312 or $411,895 in 2014. For players, it cost £3 per play,[12] equivalent to £5.21 or $8.24 in 2014.

Ridge Racer: 3 Screen Edition[]

A version of Ridge Racer with 3 screens was also released in the arcades to give a peripheral vision effect. The machine used multiple Namco System 22 arcade boards to drive the additional monitors and was only available in the sit down version.[13][14]

Ridge Racer 2[]


Released in 1994, this was more of an upgrade than a complete sequel. The game features a remixed soundtrack, rear view mirror and changes in daylight from day to night. It was followed by a true sequel, Rave Racer, in 1995.

Pocket Racer[]

A super deformed version of Ridge Racer with cars look like Choro-Q model cars. The game was only available in upright cabinet version, and has ported to Ridge Racer Revolution under the name Buggy Mode.

Ridge Racer Turbo[]

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 includes a bonus disc containing a new version of the original Ridge Racer, called Ridge Racer Turbo (known in Europe as Ridge Racer Hi-Spec Demo).

This game runs at 60 frames per second with Gouraud shading utilised on the car models, as seen in R4. It features the beginner and expert versions of the track. The gameplay was pretty much the same as the original Ridge Racer. Like usual, after the regular courses were beaten, the extra courses were unlocked. At the same time, the player would be required to race against the duel cars. They were the #13 Devil 13" Racing car and the #0 White Angel car, which was not featured in the original 30 frames per second release.

Included was also the original 30 frames per second demo of the game, though it's only meant for comparison sake and cannot be progressed past the first race.

Handheld versions[]

On December 31, 2005, a version of the game for mobile phone was released.[15] It received mixed reviews. GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann gave the game 6.1/10. He praised graphics as "somewhat impressive for a mobile game", but he criticized too easy steering, saying that "it doesn't take long to master the game."[16] Levi Buchanan of IGN gave Ridge Racer 6.2/10, complaining about the problematic controls and saying that the game without the analog control "feels really lacking".[17]

The original PlayStation version of the game was shown running on a PlayStation Portable] by former Sony CEO, Kazuo Hirai, during the Sony Press Conference at E3 2006, to demonstrate PlayStation emulation on that system. However, as of today, the only Ridge Racer from the original PlayStation to be re-released through official emulation on subsequent Sony consoles is Ridge Racer Type 4.[18]

Zeebo version[]

On August 11, 2009, a version of the game for Zeebo.[19] This version is a port of the mobile phone version.

Reception[]

Critical reception[]

The arcade version was well received upon release. Following its North American debut at the AMAA show, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed the game in its October 1993 issue. They described it as a "racing tour-de-force" and "incredible title" along the lines of Sega's Virtua Racing but improving on the graphics with "some of the most advanced circuity ever seen in a coin-op." They stated "the cars look so realistic and fluid" and noted the backgrounds are rendered to "a very high degree of detail." They also praised the gameplay, stating the "tunnel sequences are real nail-biters" and obstacles such as "other cars," road hazards, "construction signs, speed bumps," guard rails, "warning barricades" and other "traps" cause the "car to spin helplessly out of control." Regarding the artificial intelligence, they described the "competition" as "some of the best drivers the world has ever seen" and "completely relentless." They concluded the game "is awesome!"[8] The January 1994 issue of Electronic Games praised the texture-mapped 3D graphics and described the arcade game as "exceptional" and "an incredibly realistic experience."[40] In the April 1994 issue of the UK magazine [www.giantbomb.com/computer-and-video-games-magazine/3010-2618/ Computer and Video Games], the arcade machine (based on the full-scale deluxe unit) was rated 80% overall by writer Paul Rand. Graphics received 97%, sound 95%, and gameplay 80%. The reviewer Paul Rand praised the "revolutionary graphics" as "the likes of which you've never seen" and "far and away the most realistic arcade game ever seen," as well as the sound quality, the use of an actual Mazda MX5 as a cabinet, and the "side-ways skid" drifting mechanic that "really does feel that you could total that expensive car if you're not careful." However, he compared the gameplay unfavourably with Virtua Racing for lacking its greater "sensation of speed."[12] In Japan, the arcade game was nominated for several Gamest Awards, including Game of the Year, Best Action Game, Best Graphics, and Best VGM.[31]

The PlayStation version was also mostly well received upon release. In Japan, Famitsu's panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 9, 9, 10 and 9 out of 10, adding up to 37 out of 40 overall.[25] This made it one of their two highest-rated games of 1994, along with Final Fantasy VI.[41] Famitsu PS gave it a score of 36 out of 40.[30] In Europe, Edge gave it a score of 9 out of 10 in December 1994, stating that, from the "perfect game" of Galaxians to "the dazzling graphics and arcade-perfect music and speech," Ridge Racer is "the killer app" that Namco and Sony "can be proud of."[23] In North America, Electronic Gaming Monthly's panel of two reviewers gave it ratings of 9 out of 10 each, adding up to 18 out of 20 overall.[24] Ridge Racer was awarded Best Driving Game of 1995 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.[33] The game was reviewed in 1995 in Dragon #221 by Jay & Dee in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Jay did not rate the game, but Dee gave it 2 stars.[22]

Retrospectively, reception to the PlayStation version has been positive to mixed. In 1996, IGN gave Ridge Racer 7.5 out of 10, saying that, despite two years since release, the game "has definitely stood the test of time".[29] However, IGN complained that "there is no two-player mode" and that "the cars don't really vary in performance that much".[29] Allgame's Shawn Sackenheim praised the game, particularly graphics and audio, and ending that it "is a fun title that racing fans [...] will love”. Despite the positive reviews of the game, it was later criticized for the arcade style of gameplay. The artificial intelligence has also received criticism—the movement of the computer-controlled cars is restricted to predetermined waypoints.[42]

Impact and legacy[]

Ridge Racer has been followed by many sequels and helped establish the position of the PlayStation console. IGN stated that Ridge Racer had been "one of PlayStation's first big system pushers" and "an excellent port of the arcade version that showed the true potential of Sony's 32-bit wonder".[43] UGO Networks' Michael Hess and Chris Plante said that the game had "set the stage for Gran Turismo by adding an option to choose between automatic and manual transmission".[32] John Davison of 1UP said that Ridge Racer was an "unbelievable demonstration of what the PlayStation could do."[42]

Ridge Racer is also mentioned in the song My Console (1999) from the Italian electronic dance group Eiffel 65.

The game has been listed among the best games of all time by several publications, including Game Informer in 2001,[34] Electronic Gaming Monthly[35] in 2009, and FHM in 2012.[37] It has also been listed as one of the greatest games by Yahoo in 2006,[38] and one of the greatest retro games by NowGamer in 2010.<ref name=NowGamer>100 Greatest Retro Games, NowGamer, Imagine Publishing, 2010: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4</ref>

References[]

  1. https://historyofracinggames.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/087-1993-rr.pdf
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Electronic Gaming Monthly, issue 40, November 1992, pages 78 & 80
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=537
  4. http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=833
  5. http://mamedev.emulab.it/undumped/index.php?title=SimDrive
  6. http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=sim-drive&page=detail&id=4659
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ridge Racer (1). The Arcade Flyer Archive (1993). Retrieved on 2012-01-06.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, issue 51, October 1993, p. 64
  9. Cifaldi, Frank (September 9, 2010). This Day in History: Sony's PlayStation Launches in the U.S.. 1UP. Retrieved on January 19, 2012.
  10. Ridge Racer: Full Scale (3). The Arcade Flyer Museum (1993). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  11. http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=wide-flyer&db=videodb&id=4695&image=4
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/206/564/ridge_racer_review.html
  13. Youtube video.
  14. System16 website.
  15. Ridge Racer (2005) – Wireless. IGN. Retrieved on 2012-01-07.
  16. Gerstmann, Jeff (2005-12-15). Ridge Racer Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2012-01-07.
  17. Buchanan, Levi (2006-01-11). Ridge Racer. IGN. Retrieved on 2012-01-07.
  18. https://venturebeat.com/business/memorable-memes-past-e3s/
  19. http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultnot/multi/2009/08/12/ult530u7173.jhtm
  20. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named allgame
  21. Ridge Racer (Arcade) at AllGame
  22. 22.0 22.1 Jay & Dee (September 1995). "Eye of the Monitor". Dragon (221): 115–118. 
  23. 23.0 23.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20120414035816/http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/ridge-racer-review
  24. 24.0 24.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, Video Game Buyer's Guide 1998, p. 74
  25. 25.0 25.1 PLAYSTATION CROSS REVIEW: リッジレーサー. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.333. Pg.21. 5 May 1995.
  26. おオススメ!! ソフト カタログ!!: リッジレーサー. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.335. Pg.114. 12–19 May 1995.
  27. GamePro, issue 68, page 37
  28. http://web.archive.org/web/19970811124906/www.gameinformer.com/sep95/rracer.html
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 Ridge Racer. IGN (1996-11-26). Retrieved on 2012-01-05.
  30. 30.0 30.1 PlayStation Cross Review: リッジレーサー. PlayStation Tsūshin. No.1. Pg.13. 9 December 1994.
  31. 31.0 31.1 Gamest, The Best Game 2: Gamest Mook Vol. 112, pp. 6-26
  32. 32.0 32.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named UGO
  33. 33.0 33.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide. 1996. 
  34. 34.0 34.1 Game Informer's Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100), Game Informer, 2001
  35. 35.0 35.1 {{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/egm-200-greatest-videogames |title=The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time |date=February 6, 2006 |website= |publisher=Electronic Gaming Monthly |accessdate=November 19, 2013 and Guinness World Records<ref name=Guinness>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100107164406/http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/270209_top50.aspx Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer<nowiki>'s Edition reveals the Top 50 console games of all time], ''[[wikipedia:Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition|Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]]''</nowiki>, 2009
  36. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Guinness
  37. 37.0 37.1 The 10 Greatest arcade games of ALL TIME, <nowiki>''[[wikipedia:FHM|FHM]]''</nowiki>, 2012
  38. 38.0 38.1 The 100 greatest computer games of all time, Yahoo, 2006
  39. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NowGamer
  40. https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1994-01/Electronic%20Games%201994-01#page/n17/mode/2up
  41. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review/
  42. 42.0 42.1 Davison, John (2006-09-13). Ridge Racer. 1UP. Retrieved on 2012-01-06.
  43. Top 25 Games of All Time: Complete List. IGN (2002-01-23). Retrieved on 2012-01-06.

External links[]

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
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