Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Nintendo 64, GameCube, i-mode, J2ME, Zeebo, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
First release
Ridge Racer October 30, 1993
Latest release
Ridge Racer Draw & Drift October 20, 2016
Ridge Racer[a] is a racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, Ridge Racer (1993), was originally released in arcades for the Namco System 22 hardware, later ported to the PlayStation one year later as a launch title. It was met with several sequels and spin-off games for multiple platforms, the latest being the mobile game Ridge Racer Draw & Drift (2016) with the latest mainline game being Ridge Racer 7 (2006). Gameplay involves the player racing against computer-controlled opponents to be the first to finish in a race. Drifting is a core aspect of the series, and is used to keep speed while turning corners.
Ridge Racer is a spiritual successor to Sim Drive (1992), a racing simulation game met with a limited release in Japanese arcades using an actual body of a Mazda Eunos Roadster. Originally meant as an F1 racing game, similar to Namco's own Pole Position and Final Lap series, it was instead replaced with racing on mountain roads, a popular trend for Japanese car enthusiasts at the time. The PlayStation version was a launch title for the console and an astounding success for both Namco, prompting the creation of several sequels for arcades and home platforms. After Namco merged with Bandai in 2005, the series would become exclusive to consoles and later mobile phones. Several games in the franchise were released as launch titles for consoles.
Earlier Ridge Racer games received critical acclaim for their graphics, gameplay, and musical score, many citing it as a contributing factor to the success of the PlayStation in its early years. Later entries were criticized for straying too far from the source material and lack of content, with Ridge Racer Vita (2011) being the first game to receive generally negative reception from critics; its base content was considered extremely lacking, with the player forced to obtain the vast majority of additional content by purchasing DLC. [1] The last mainline title, Ridge Racer Unbounded received mixed-to-average reception from critics. [2] The series is considered influential to the racing game genre.[3]
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^MacDonald, Keza (2012-03-09). "Ridge Racer Vita Review". IGN. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
RidgeRacer is a racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco...
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selling out across the U.S. A high-quality port of the Namco arcade game RidgeRacer contributed to the PlayStation's early success, and garnered favorable...
PlayStation. Namco continued to produce hit games in the 1990s, including RidgeRacer, Tekken, and Taiko no Tatsujin. Namco endured numerous financial difficulties...
twist". The controller was intended for use in racing games, including RidgeRacer, Gran Turismo and Wipeout. Critical reception for the NeGcon was highly...
composer. He is best known for his work on Namco games, including multiple RidgeRacer and Klonoa titles, as well as Ace Combat 2 and the console version of...
rallying simulator. Bugbear also released a new game from the RidgeRacer series, RidgeRacer Unbounded, which was released in 2012. On June 14, 2018, the...
became the game's director and producer. Sega aimed to outperform Namco's RidgeRacer (1993). The developers researched motorsports extensively; they mapped...
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