Republished on Saturday, 18th March, 2023: We’re bringing this evaluate again from the archives following the announcement of March 2023’s PS Plus line up. The unique textual content follows.
Push Sq. has contemplated the infancy of 3D console graphics in the course of the 32-bit period, and mirrored that the ageing course of was not at all times visually form, particularly to PS1 launch video games. Some early titles like Leaping Flash! cover their pixelated wrinkles behind vivid colors and plain fashions, whereas others like Battle Area Toshinden appear creaky with well-worn textures immediately. Subsequently, it feels nice to evaluate Ridge Racer Sort 4 — generally known as R4: Ridge Racer Sort 4 in Japan and North America — as a result of Namco’s arcade drift racer has aged splendidly throughout the context of the capabilities of the fifth era, since its European launch on the tail finish of PS1’s lifespan in 1999.
The December 1998 preview — throughout the identical month because the Japanese launch of R4 — in Challenge 113 of Digital Gaming Month-to-month journal titled ‘One thing To Lastly Kick Gran Turismo’s Ass’ defined that, “the Ridge Racers have at all times been about high-speed motion slightly than technical accuracy. R4 will probably be no totally different, however will push the very limits of the PlayStation by way of graphical presentation. Rumoured to be Namco’s final sport for Sony’s field (as a result of the system cannot be pushed any tougher).”
As reinforcement to EGM’s level, in John Linneman’s frankly superlative protection of previous video games for DF Retro — on this case a technical evaluation video about Ridge Racer Sort 4 on Digital Foundry — he praises it as top-of-the-line trying racing video games on the platform, describing an environment unparalleled on the PlayStation. He applauds the pre-rendered introduction film with mascot Reiko Nagase as being magical in 1999, and commends the sport for persistently hitting its goal of 30fps.
Namco has added particulars to the eight programs within the Actual Racing Roots ’99 Grand Prix by setting Ridge Racer Sort 4 throughout seasons from Could to December in 1999, and the builders have related the observe design’s areas collectively, whether or not the programs are in Japan or America. For instance, for those who take a look at the left facet of the circuit format for the Could early-evening, peach sunset-lit Wonderhill course, after which examine it to the November afternoon mint-blue sky setting of the Heaven and Hell observe, you may discover they share a portion of one another’s Japanese, Fukuoka circuits. You may probably realise the tracks hyperlink collectively subconsciously, ranging from if you drive underneath the cables of the suspension bridge.
This makes the programs extra memorable, as does the roadside surroundings that pertains to Namco’s gaming heritage. Consequently, Race 1 of the Ultimate GP is named Phantomile — named after the wonderful PS1 2.5D platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile — and as you race alongside to a tune referred to as Motor Species with a pulse-rate pumping bass, you may go each Pac-Man and Pooka from Dig Dug peering over billboards. The race earlier than this additionally shares a Yokohama backdrop, however this time the Out of Blue course has a calming and relaxed vibe due to the stunning Lucid Rhythms piano tune as your automobile powerslides across the ridge of a harbour, previous a lighthouse, beneath the gliding seagulls.
All of this ambiance builds in direction of Ridge Racer Sort 4’s eighth and final course — Capturing Hoops set in Los Angeles — as Race 4 of the Ultimate GP is about at 11:45pm on New Yr’s Eve, in 1999. The announcer declares, “Okay it’s the ultimate lap, hold your cool”, and you are feeling cool drifting by means of a night-time cityscape, previous a helicopter with a highlight. For those who look upwards you may see Galaxian enjoying on the overhead display screen, because the vocalist sings “shifting to the beat, Ridge Racer” within the track Movin’ in Circles. You may even have refined your driving expertise by realising that you do not essentially have to brake or drift at throughout Capturing Hoops’ corners, so you possibly can preserve your automobile’s most pace.
After an excellent hour it is satisfying if you beat the Grand Prix to place your ft up, and relish the funky finish credit tune Ridge Racer (One Extra Win). You’ll be able to then rejoice your victory by means of appreciation of the beautiful digital dance soundtrack, together with the vocals of Kimara Lovelace, and the musical contributions of composers like Hiroshi Okubo. At this level it’s possible you’ll nicely declare your love for this PS1 racing sport.
The basic Ridge Racer quick arcade-style racing gameplay is unbroken, despite the fact that it is not really based mostly on a coin-op. Therefore, the AI of competing racing groups continues to be aggressive and they’ll block you from passing, or side-barge you into tunnel partitions. The leaders of the racing pack are significantly wanting to cease you from overtaking, however the problem curve is gratifyingly balanced. Regardless, your nerves will nonetheless construct as in the course of the second warmth you should end at the very least in second place, and within the remaining spherical’s final 4 races you should at all times end first.
Fittingly, you possibly can nonetheless impede your AI rivals by watching your rear view mirror within the inner automobile view, and drift round them as you grasp the responsive controls. It’s also possible to select the Grip methodology of automobile dealing with the place you cut back pace utilizing the accelerator to time clearing a pointy nook, however most Ridge Racer followers will clearly desire the Drift methodology of turning sharply into the curve and setting the tail of the automobile right into a satisfying slide, because it’s synonymous with the collection.
Though it roughly takes lower than one hour to finish all eight programs within the Grand Prix, there’s additionally a distinct story for every of the 4 groups, and they’re assigned a set problem based mostly upon the tuning of their automobiles. Subsequently, say you beat the sport with the Regular tuning of Pac Racing Membership (PRC) — and uncover why its supervisor Yazaki is obsessed in regards to the demise of an ace driver referred to as Giuliano — you may nonetheless have three different staff tales to play by means of. You’ll be able to then attempt the Exhausting problem of Solvalou, or the Skilled tuning of Dig Racing Crew (DRT).
There are three fundamental save sport factors scattered all through the Grand Prix, though it is advisable to manually save your sport straight after you beat the eight tracks to maintain any automobiles or modes that you’ve got unlocked. You’ll be able to unlock a complete of 321 racing autos (together with a hidden automobile that could be a giant Pac-Man on wheels), in addition to an Additional Trial mode, and reverse tracks for Time Assault and Vs Battle multiplayer showdowns. The Vs Battle is a primary split-screen one-on-one race on a single course, the place you possibly can configure the variety of laps and assign as much as two pc managed automobiles — which retains the observe from feeling too empty, however would not issue into the results of the precise two-player race.
An additional little bit of celebratory Champagne cork popping for avid gamers was the inclusion of a separate Ridge Racer Hello-Spec Demo disc included in Ridge Racer Sort 4’s sport field, which was a enjoyable bonus, with an up to date 60fps and gouraud shaded conversion of the unique 1993 arcade sport. In any case, enjoying Ridge Racer Sort 4 once more is a reminder of how nice gaming was in 1999. It is the head of the 4 Ridge Racer video games on PS1, and compares favourably when pitted in opposition to the competitors of Daytona USA and Sega Rally Championship on the Saturn. Subsequently, rekindling recollections of arcade racing by means of a wonderful PS1 sport that has aged in addition to Ridge Racer Sort 4 may give you a glimpse of feeling R4-ever younger.
Conclusion
Namco’s builders had been adept at squeezing nice technical performances out of the 32-bit PlayStation — particularly with late fifth era video games like Tekken 3 — and in 1999 Ridge Racer Sort 4 stayed steadily on observe at attaining its 30fps goal and slick circuit designs. The ambiance from course particulars provides fine-tuning to the graphics, which is boosted by an impressive dance soundtrack by musicians like Hiroshi Okubo, with further pizzazz supplied by Kimara Lovelace’s vocals. The arcade-style gameplay delivered a enjoyable and quick distinction to Gran Turismo’s sim racing, and it confidently tail-slid alongside one of the best Nintendo 64 and SEGA Saturn drift and blue sky racers. As a Namco racing sport it holds pole place amongst the 4 PS1 Ridge Racer titles, placing the pedal to the steel en path to Ridge Racer Sort 4 turning into a real PlayStation basic.
