Pop quiz, hotshot: What's the long-running racing game franchise celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year that is best-known for its over-the-top drifts? It's Ridge Racer! While Kaz Hirai may have accidentally turned it into a meme, there was a time when Ridge Racer was known as a fun and always reliable game that could launch with just about any system. With R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 hitting PlayStation 4 and 5 this week, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly to see how it ranked against the other games in the 30-year-old franchise.
Now, in case you're wondering, EGM reviewed a total of eleven Ridge Racer games between 1995 and 2009. That includes pretty much all of the sequels and spin-offs leading right up to the magazine's death. Sadly, they weren't around long enough to cover the terrible Vita game, Ridge Racer 3D and the shockingly great Ridge Racer Unbounded. The good news is that they covered pretty much everything else, making this a fun and competitive list. What we're going to do is countdown the best and worst Ridge Racer games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, pull up to the starting line and rev your engine, because this is another white-knuckle inducing episode of EGM Ranks Ridge Racer.
Ridge Racer DS (Nintendo DS)
#11
"Just look at the screenshots of Ridge Racer for the PSP to get an idea of Namco's priority as far as the next generation of handhelds – it ain't DS. None of the control schemes here offer the snappy drifting required for a good Ridge Racer game. The D-pad isn't responsive enough, while the touch-screen controls, bereft of tactile feedback, are so slippery that a quick drift frequently turns into a race-killing bootlegger 180. When the reward is mastering a busted control scheme is mainly cars and tracks recycled from Ridge Racer 64, it's hardly worth a bother." (5.2 out of 10)
R: Racing Evolution (PS2, GCN & Xbox)
#10
"R's take on obsessive racing realism is a miserable failure. It gets the basics down, but forgets the most vital ingredient – gameplay. As a driving sim, R feels watered down, with twitchy, frustrating controls and zero customization options. As an arcade racer, the game lacks any sense of danger, requiring you to brake into corners and speed out of them with as little drifting as possible. R is neither here nor there ... nowhere you'd want to be." (5.7 out of 10)
Ridge Racer 6 (Xbox 360)
#9
"Ridge Racer is the cheese pizza of the 360 launch – it's safe, no-frills arcade racer that is guaranteed to please, but only mildly. The graphics are fine, but nothing special. The controls are solid and ... well, that's really all the game has to offer. I like how you can choose the order and tracks you'll race, but since new cars are your only real reward for winning, beating your best time quickly becomes the sole reason to keep playing. I was impressed with Namco squeezed the very same game onto the PSP, but a modern home-console racer, mush less one with competition like Project Gotham Racing 3, needs more." (6.5 out of 10)
Ridge Racer 7 (PlayStation 3)
#8
"Really, Namco? You sure you want to call this Ridge Racer 7? I'd feel more secure dubbing it Ridge Racer 6: Director's Cut, seeing as it adds only a handful of original tracks, additional tunes and new car customization options to last year's (already derivative) Xbox 360 offering. Sure, if you have access to a whiz-bang 1080p HDTV, then you'll spy a greater visual upgrade, but even then the series' spartan aesthetic keeps it from looking particularly real. At least the gameplay remains rock-solid – perfect control, absurd drifting and an exhilarating sense of speed combine to make a truly addictive experience." (6.8 out of 10)
Ridge Racer 64 (Nintendo 64)
#7
"For the most part, Nintendo did a good job of condensing Revolution, Ridge Racer and several new features into a neat N64 package. Personally, I'm not a fan of the trademark Ridge Racer handling. The drifting is so unnatural and forced it ruins the game for me. But if you're a fan, you'll like what Ridge Racer 64 has to offer. Don't count on four-player being too fun, though, it's slose. Also, when using the chase cam, the cars appear to vibrate on the road. Weird." (8 out of 10)
Ridge Racer (PlayStation)
#6
"This is one of the most addictive games I have ever played. This game is incredible, and after the game has been loaded, you can take the Ridge Racer CD out and replace it with one of your favorite music CDs. You can still play the game listening to your favorite music. I don't know why you would ... the music for this game rocks. This game is a must-play." (8.75 out of 10)
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (PlayStation)
#5
"I'd forgotten how anally competitive the Ridge Racer games make you. R4 is just as ludicrously addictive, but what sets it apart from its predecessors is that there's so much more to do. The controls are just about perfect – finally, Namco has sorted out the power sliding, and it's now a joy. I just love the tracks. Wow. Nearly perfect." (8.75 out of 10)
Ridge Racer (PSP)
#4
"After 2003's utterly atrocious R: Racing Evolution, I'd pretty much given up on my beloved Ridge Racer series. But lo and behold, with the birth of the PSP comes the glorious rebirth of one of the greatest arcade racing franchises of all time, and to say I'm thrilled would be the understatement of the year. Ridge PSP marks a triumphant return to form for the series; the drift mechanics have been completely restored, resulting in a racing game that offers 100 percent adrenaline-fueled arcade-style fun." (8.8 out of 10)
Ridge Racer Revolution (PlayStation)
#3
"The improvements may seem just cosmetic on the surface, but the cars' handling has been tweaked for the better. This result in cars that are easier to control and a more accurate feel to the track surface. If you liked the first version, you'll truly love the sequel." (9 out of 10)
Rage Racer (PlayStation)
#2
"It's tough to compare Rage Racer to the original Ridge Racer, because this one is so much better in every way. The rolling courses dotted with mountains, buildings and even an awesome waterfall graphically blow away anything seen in the original Ridge Racer. A gradual light change to evening is also simulated in longer races. For arcade racing, Rage Racer will satisfy all." (9 out of 10)
Ridge Racer V (PlayStation 2)
#1
"I love this game. Even with all the great American developed launch titles on the way, Ridge Racer V is the reason I'll be buying a PlayStation 2 this month. It embodies almost everything I look for in an arcade-style racer: Awesome graphics, smooth framerate, intense speed and a collection of cars that cater to every driving style imaginable. The cars handle so well it's almost scary. The debate as to which of the first four Ridge Racer games had the best control can be put to rest, since fans of every one of them will find a car they like in Ridge Racer V. The big reason why this game isn't receiving a 10 from yours truly: The two-player split screen mode is ugly to the point of being offensive – inexcusable on a system this powerful." (9 out of 10)
