Ridge Racer [Original Release] (USA)

Ridge Racer^[b] 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.

Development took eight months, and the game is based on a trend among Japanese car enthusiasts, which involves racing on mountain roads while drifting around corners. It was also the first arcade video game with 3D texture-mapped graphics, with its System 22 hardware capable of texture mapping and Gouraud shading. The first home version was released in Japan in 1994 as a launch title for the PlayStation; the versions for North America and Europe were released in 1995, also as a launch title for both regions. It was re-released in Japan for the PlayStation The Best range in 1997, and for the Greatest Hits and Platinum ranges in North America and PAL regions respectively the same year. Ridge Racer played a major role in establishing the new system and gave it an early edge over its nearest competitor, the Sega Saturn; it was considered a rival to Sega‘s Daytona USA.

Ridge Racer received a highly positive reception. Reviewers praised the 3D texture-mapped graphics, audio, drifting mechanics, and arcade racing gameplay, although some were critical of the lack of strong artificial intelligence and a multiplayer mode. The arcade version was followed in 1994 by a sequel, Ridge Racer 2, whereas the PlayStation sequel, Ridge Racer Revolution, was released in 1995 in Japan, and in 1996 in North America and PAL regions. The soundtrack was remixed and released on the Namco Game Sound Express Vol. 11 album.

Gameplay

A race in progress, a PlayStation version.

Players choose a course, a car, a transmission (automatic or six-speed manual),^[3] and a song. The cars’ specifications vary: some have a high top speed, others excel at acceleration or turning, and some present a balance of the three. Certain cars are named after other Namco games such as Solvalou, Mappy, Bosconian, Nebulasray, and Xevious.^[4]^[5] The racetrack can be observed from a first-person perspective or, for the PlayStation version, from a third-person perspective.^[6] Namco’s NeGcon controller can be used to play the game.^[7] Because Ridge Racer is an arcade-style racing game, collisions cause no damage and merely slow the player down. There is a time limit, which ends the race if counted down to zero.^[8]

A single course is featured comprising four configurations of increasing difficulty: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Time Trial (the latter two are extended).^[9] The player races eleven opponents except in Time Trial, where there is only one.^[10] The greater the difficulty, the faster the cars run; Time Trial is the fastest.^[9]^[11] Each race consists of three laps (two on the beginner course).^[11]^[12] Checkpoints that grant additional time when passed through are present throughout.^[13]^[14] In the PlayStation version, after every race is won, reversed ones become available, and an additional opponent is encountered in Time Trial: the 13th Racing (also known as the “Devil” car), the fastest car.^[6]^[15] On winning, the car is unlocked. The PlayStation version features a hidden “mirror” version of the tracks. It becomes a “mirror image” of itself; left turns become right turns and vice versa, and the surroundings switch sides of the road.^[5]^[16] In the arcade version, the winning player’s score is saved in action-replay highlights after finishing the game.^[3]^[5]

In the PlayStation version, a mini-game of Galaxian can be played as the game loads. If won, eight additional cars become available.^[17] Once the game has loaded, the CD is only needed to play six music tracks. The disc can be replaced during gameplay, although the game does not update; regardless of what disc is inserted, there will always be six tracks, corresponding to the starting points of the tracks on the game disc.^[5]^[18]

Development and release

At the Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association (JAMMA) 1992 Amusement Machine Show (AM Show) in Japan, held during 17–19 August,^[19] Namco debuted a racing game called Sim Drive^[19]^[20] for the Namco System 22 arcade system board.^[20] It was a sequel to Eunos Roadster Driving Simulator, a Mazda MX-5 driving simulation arcade game that Namco developed with Mazda and released in 1990.^[21] Its 3D polygon graphics stood out for the use of Gouraud shading and texture mapping.^[22] After a location test at the show,^[20] where it was previewed in the November issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly,^[19] Sim Drive had a limited Japanese release in December 1992 but did not get a mass-market release.^[20] It served as a prototype for Ridge Racer.^[20]