Developer: Namco Publisher: Namco Release:09/30/96 Genre: Racing
Ridge Racer is one of the most important games of the PlayStation launch. Sony was new to being a platform holder and needed hit games to create an air of legitimacy. Let’s be honest; their track record as a publisher on the SNES and Genesis was less than stellar. But I will give them credit; they assembled a good team of developers that crafted exciting and innovative games like Twisted Metal, Wipeout, and Jumping Flash. But Ridge Racer was the heavy hitter alongside Toshinden. Where Sega had trouble porting Daytona USA to the Saturn Namco did a stellar job with their flagship racing game. Ridge Racer Revolution builds on that foundation and is a better game. However those looking for a completely different experience should probably look elsewhere.
Ridge Racer Revolution is an exclusive PlayStation sequel to the arcade game rather than a port of Ridge Racer 2. By and large the game’s setup is near identical to the first game. You can face eleven CPU opponents in timed races with checkpoints granting more time. The game’s three courses correspond to novice, intermediate, and expert difficulty. Like its predecessor it is essentially one giant track. However each course opens up different routes through the track. Admittedly it is similar at first glance. But there are a number of subtle differences under the hood that makes the experience somewhat unique.
As an arcade racer the controls in Ridge Racer were loose in comparison to simulation racing games. Drifting was an effective tactic to get around rough turns but was a little hard to accomplish consistently. Ridge Racer Revolution makes drifting easier by easing up on resistance so that you can initiate a drift in seconds. This becomes a critical skill as the turns are sharp and you will not succeed without it using automatic shift. If you are a master at gear shifting that also works but I have never quite glommed on to it. The tracks strike a nice balance in my opinion. They are lengthy enough for a good run while short enough that besting your previous time is not annoying. The first game was a barebones package but luckily Namco round this one out with more features.
The focus with Ridge Racer Revolution was to increase the amount of content. Time Trial and Free Run allow you to practice each course to your heart’s content. You begin with four cars and can earn eight more by completing the Galaga minigame while the game is loading. That is a pretty cool incentive to get better at a throwaway minigame. Time Trial is more than just an outlet to best your previous lap time. Once you beat the Grand Prix you have the opportunity to race against three special opponents to win their cars. A tall task indeed. There are also two hidden modes, pretty racer and drift contest to round out the package with the two-player link up. The one thing I wish there were more of are tracks. You get mirrored tracks but that is a weak excuse for new courses.
Namco improved the game’s performance and have a better looking title than the first. The backgrounds are more detailed and feature a lot more track side detail. Mountain peaks, lakeside villas, and fully realized city blocks make the driving experience more palatable even if it looks similar at first. The cars are better-rounded as well. Most importantly the game sticks to its 30 fps target consistently despite the various visual improvements. The draw distance still has occasional pop-in but they smartly hide most of it behind corners and larger background objects. Namco round out the package with a banging techno soundtrack making Ridge Racer Revolution feel like an arcade game although it is a console exclusive.
In Closing
Ridge Racer Revolution is a good follow-up that improves on its predecessor with its engaging drift mechanics, solid track design, and infectious soundtrack. While it may not have the depth of some more recent racing titles, it offers a fantastic experience for fans of the genre and serves as a strong continuation of the Ridge Racer series. I do still wish it had more tracks; flipping and mirroring is no contest for unique courses. But even still they manage to do a lot with a little and have crafted a fun racer overall. For anyone with a fondness for classic racing games, Ridge Racer Revolution is definitely worth revisiting.
