Buckle up, everybody, because we're finally getting another PlayStation 1 classic with this week's PS Plus update. That's right, we're pushing the peddle to the metal and filling a need for speed with the release of R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 coming to PlayStation 4 and 5. That's cool news, but is this game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, PSM and other old school magazines to see what the critics said back when Ridge Racer Type 4 first came out. Brace yourself, the next corner is tough, because this is another fast-paced episode of PS Plus Review Crew.


When Ridge Racer was first released on the PlayStation, critics praised the game for being a high-quality arcade port that brought the fast-paced action home like never before. Fast-forward a few years, and Ridge Racer (and its slightly underwhelming sequels) had gone from being the leader of the pack to playing catch-up, all thanks to the game-changing success of Gran Turismo. Not one to rest on their laurels, Namco responded to the competition with R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, a much bigger and deeper Ridge Racer game that took inspiration from the influx of simulators, all while still managing to honor the arcadey-spirit that made the franchise a household name.

While Sony's Gran Turismo may have been sucking up a lot of the racing game oxygen, the critics were still ready to praise Ridge Racer's evolution. Electronic Gaming Monthly's Dean explained that “R4 does a great job of carrying forth the personality of the former Ridge Racer games. The drifting technique is easier than ever – floating around corners in the perfect slide is awesome!” John went even higher, giving the game a 9.5 out of 10, and calling it “ludicrously addictive.” “The controls are just about perfect. The underlying “story” of the game, while a bit camp, gives it a far more complete feel than ever before. And I just love the tracks. Wow. Nearly perfect.” EGM gave the game an average score of 8.75 out of 10.

That's not far off from the 86% we saw from Die Hard Game Fan. Next Generation magazine was also in that range, giving it a 4 out of 5. They argued that the amount of repetition and slightly old-fashioned AI keep this otherwise amazing game down, but “when it comes to the crunch, there's no doubt that R4 is the best arcade-style racer yet seen on PlayStation. It's fast, fun and highly addictive. And the added bonus of the hi-res, 60 fps version of the original Ridge Racer certainly gives the product an enormous amount of bang for the buck.”

You'll find that 4 out of 5 is the sweet spot for most of the reviews. That's the score Ridge Racer Type 4 received from GamePro, and that's where Computer & Video Games came down in their 209th issue. Even the notoriously cranky Edge gave the game an 8 out of 10. GMR went a bit higher, giving the game a 9 out of 10 and comparing it to past iterations: “It was a close call to make, but R4 narrowly edged out the likes of Rage Racer, Ridge Racer 2 and Ridge Racer Revolution. Certainly, the entire series is solid and worth owning, but there's something about the fast and drifty feel of R4 that keeps us coming back for more. Or it could be the incomparable presentation and bumpin' music.”

Now, in case you're wondering, the highest score came from PlayStation Monthly in their 22nd issue. Giving it a perfect 5 out of 5, PSM loved that the Grand Prix mode innovated on the genre and called the visuals and track designs “better than Gran Turismo.” That said, they were disappointed with the AI drivers and the heavy repetition. “R4 does what it was supposed to – provide an exhilarating and enjoyable racing experience that any player can enjoy. And in that regard, it succeeds quite beautifully.”

While some critics may prefer the more simulation racing that comes with Gran Turismo, there's no debate regarding Ridge Racer Type 4's quality. With nothing but high marks, every magazine agreed that R4 is worth playing. And I agree, this game is great and worth downloading if you have PS Plus Premium.