Ridge Racer (1994)

Ridge Racer is an arcade racing game, first created for arcade machines and then ported to PlayStation 1. The game was a PS1 launch title and over time the series has become the flagship series of Sony's family of devices. The game was created by Namco, still an independent entity at the time, and now part of Bandai Namco Entertainment.

Mechanics

The gameplay resembles other popular racing games. After pressing the Start button, the player selects one of nine fictional car models, then decides on a particular track, automatic or manual gearbox, a piece of matching music, and is already set on the start line, and only a short countdown separates them from the race.

Initially, there were only four models of cars available, and the next ones are unlocked after completing the challenges prepared by the devs. "The "Boss" of the game is "the 13th Racing", also known as the "devil's car". It is the fastest car in the game. Vehicles differ in many aspects, e.g. level of control, acceleration or maximum speed. Some present a balanced set of statistics, while others stand out in their class in one way. The title also has drifting mechanics, which allows for sharper cornering. However, the competitor risks losing control of the vehicle.

Game modes

The game has only one race track, but it is divided into several tracks with different levels of difficulty. There are three levels of sophistication - Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. In each of we race with eleven other riders. The higher the difficulty level, the faster the game and the more laps we have to complete before we cross the finish line. More demanding levels also add more track segments to the route, extending the length of a single circuit.

Slightly different rules apply in Time Trial mode. In it, we compete with only three other cars, with which we compare our individual times. In the game we will also find a hidden Mirror Mode, which provides all the routes in mirror image - so the left turns become right turns and vice versa. These routes are also a bit more difficult because one of the checkpoints has been eliminated, which increases the chances of disqualification due to lack of time.

Technical aspects

The title is one of the first games using 3D graphics based on textured polygons and Gouraud's shading. The resolution of the PS1 version had to be reduced to 320x240 pixels and 30 frames per second, which is half as high as the arcade machine version. In the audio layer, the player can choose from several energetic music tracks. Interestingly, we can also replace the CD to one of your own and choose from the first six songs on it. The races themselves are additionally enriched with cheeky remarks from a cheerful commentator.

Last updated on February 14, 2020