Ridge Racer © 1993 Namco, Limited.
A superb, single-person racing game from Namco, featuring texture-mapped polygon graphics; in which the player competes against computer cars or attempts to set a 'personal best' in a time trail event. Ridge Racer features just a single racing track, but different sections of the track become available to add variety to the racing.
Ridge Racer's superb gameplay places a large emphasis on 'power sliding'; locking the car in a slide and drifting through corners. Perfecting this skill is key to winning races.
Namco System 22 hardware
Game ID: RR
Main CPU: 68020 (@ 24.576 Mhz), (2x) TMS32025 (@ 49.152 Mhz), M37702 (@ 16.384 Mhz)
Sound Chips: C352 (@ 16.384 Mhz)
Screen Orientation: Horizontal
Video Resolution: 640 x 580 Pixels
Screen Refresh: 60.00 Hz
Palette Colors: 32768
See 'UPDATES' section below for more info of this game's hardware revision (including regions).
Players: 1 only.
Control: Steering wheel.
Pedals: Accelerator and brake.
Ridge Racer was released on October 7, 1993 in Japan. It was then released in December 1, 1993 in North America.
A Ridge Racer unit is prominently shown in the second episode of the Japanese TV show "Ninja Sentai KakuRanger," showing an actor playing the game rather poorly.
According to a promotional flyer, Ridge Racer was the first 3-D arcade game to feature texture mapped polygons.
Victor Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Ridge racer : Namco Game Sound Express Vol.11 - VICL-15025) on Januray 21, 1994.
A graphically enhanced version of the short track appears in Ridge Racer V as 'Sunny Beach' and Ridge Racer PSP as 'Seaside Route 765'. A graphically enhanced version of the long track appears in Ridge Racer V as 'Green Field' and Ridge Racer PSP as 'Ridge City Highway'.
Sony PlayStation (dec.3, 1994) Ridge Racer [Model SLPS-00001]
Sony PlayStation (sept.1995) Ridge Racer [Model SCES-00001]
Sony PlayStation (sept.9, 1995) Ridge Racer [Model SLUS-94300] : Also Long Box edition. Sony PSP (dec.12, 2004) Ridge Racers [Model UCAS-40015] Sony PSP (mar.22, 2005) Ridge Racer [Model ULUS-10001]
(may.2, 2005) Ridge Racers [Model UCKS-45002] Sony PS2 (jul.21, 2005) "namCollection [Model SLPS-25500]" Sony PSP (sept.1, 2005) "Ridge Racer [Model UCES=00002]" (dec.17, 2011) Ridge Racer [Model VLJS-00001] (feb.11, 2012) Ridge Racer (feb.22, 2012) Ridge Racer [Model PCSB-00048]
(feb.23, 2012) Ridge Racer (mar.13, 2012) Ridge Racer [Model PCSE-00001] (dec.1, 2005) Ridge Racer
Zeebo (aug.11, 2009)