Ridge Racer
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is a racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by
Bandai Namco Entertainment is a Japanese multinational video game video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are respectively headquartered in ...
, formerly Namco. The first game, ''
Ridge Racer is a racing game, racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, ''Ridge Racer (1993 video game), Ridge Racer'' (1993), was originally rel ...
'' (1993), was originally released in arcades for the
Namco System 22 The Namco System 22 is the successor to the Namco System 21 arcade system board. It debuted in 1992 with '' Sim Drive'' in Japan, followed by a worldwide debut in 1993 with ''Ridge Racer''. The System 22 was designed by Namco with assistance fr ...
hardware, later ported to the
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two years later as a launch title. It was met with several sequels and spin-off games for multiple platforms, the latest being the
Android Android may refer to: Science and technology * Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), Google's mobile operating system ** Bugdroid, a Google mascot sometimes referred to ...
and iOS game ''Ridge Racer Draw & Drift'' (2016). Gameplay involves the player racing against computer-controlled opponents to be the first to finish in a race. Drifting is a core aspect of the series, and is used to keep speed while turning corners. ''Ridge Racer'' is a spiritual successor to ''Sim Drive'' (1992), a racing simulation game met with a limited release in Japanese arcades. Originally meant as an F1 racing game, similar to Namco's own ''
Pole Position In a motorsports race, the pole position is usually the best and "statistically the most advantageous" starting position on the track. The pole position is usually earned by the driver with the best qualifying times in the trials before the rac ...
'' and ''
Final Lap is a 1987 racing simulation video game developed and published by Namco. Atari Games published the game in the United States in 1988. It was the first game to run on Namco's then-new System 2 hardware and is a direct successor to Namco's ''Pol ...
'' series, it was instead replaced with racing on mountain roads, a popular trend for Japanese car enthusiasts at the time. The PlayStation version was a launch title for the console and an astounding success for Namco, prompting the creation of several sequels for arcades and home platforms. After Namco merged with Bandai in 2005, the series would become exclusive to consoles and later mobile phones. Several games in the franchise were released as launch titles for consoles. Earlier ''Ridge Racer'' games received critical acclaim for their graphics, gameplay, and musical score, many citing it as a contributing factor to the success of the PlayStation in its early years. Later entries were criticized for straying too far from the source material and lack of content, with '' Ridge Racer Vita'' (2011) being listed among the worst video games ever made. The series is considered influential to the racing game genre.


Games

* ''
Ridge Racer is a racing game, racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, ''Ridge Racer (1993 video game), Ridge Racer'' (1993), was originally rel ...
'' (1993) is the first entry in the series, originally released for arcades and running on the
Namco System 22 The Namco System 22 is the successor to the Namco System 21 arcade system board. It debuted in 1992 with '' Sim Drive'' in Japan, followed by a worldwide debut in 1993 with ''Ridge Racer''. The System 22 was designed by Namco with assistance fr ...
arcade system. A
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
conversion was released in 1994 and 1995 as a launch title for the console. Two other versions of the game were released for arcades: ''Ridge Racer Full Scale'', which featured a replica
Eunos Roadster The Mazda MX-5 (NA) (sold in Japan as the and in North America as the Mazda MX-5 Miata) is the first generation of the Mazda MX-5 manufactured from 1989 to 1997. Inspired by the post-war era British sports cars, the MX-5 rejuvenated intere ...
that the player sat in to control the game, and ''Ridge Racer: 3-Screen Edition'', which used three different monitors to provide a peripheral vision effect, similar to Namco's earlier game ''
Driver's Eyes is a 1991 3D computer graphics, 3D driving simulation arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. The game has a pseudo-panoramic view using three Cathode ray tube, CRT screens; the player would sit in a then-realistic Formula One car c ...
'' (1991). A Japanese mobile phone version was released in 2000. The game was also released for
J2ME Java Platform, Micro Edition or Java ME is a computing platform for development and deployment of portable code for embedded and mobile devices (micro-controllers, sensors, gateways, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, TV set-top ...
in 2006 and Zeebo in 2009. * ''
Ridge Racer 2 is an arcade racing game that was released by Namco in 1994 for their System 22 hardware. Despite its name, ''Ridge Racer 2'' is more of an updated version of ''Ridge Racer'' (which had been released in the previous year), than an actual sequ ...
'' (1994) was released for arcades, running on the
Namco System 22 The Namco System 22 is the successor to the Namco System 21 arcade system board. It debuted in 1992 with '' Sim Drive'' in Japan, followed by a worldwide debut in 1993 with ''Ridge Racer''. The System 22 was designed by Namco with assistance fr ...
hardware. It serves as an update to the original game, featuring multiplayer, a rear-view mirror, and a remixed soundtrack composed by Shinji Hosoe. * ''
Rave Racer is an arcade racing game that was released by Namco in 1995. It runs on Namco System 22 hardware, and could be played by two people per cabinet for up to eight players total when up to four of them were linked together. It is the third arcade t ...
'' (1995) was released for arcades. It features two new tracks alongside the two present in the original ''Ridge Racer'', and had linkable arcade cabinets that allowed for up to eight-person multiplayer. Home conversions for both the PlayStation and
Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
were announced in 1996, but were later cancelled. * ''
Ridge Racer Revolution ''Ridge Racer Revolution'' is an arcade racing game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation in 1995. It is the PlayStation sequel of ''Ridge Racer'' (the arcade sequel is ''Ridge Racer 2''). Like the original ''Ridge Racer'', the ...
'' (1995) was released for the PlayStation. It is a modified home release of ''Ridge Racer 2'' with three completely new and different tracks than the arcade and original games, new music, additional vehicles, and multiplayer via the
PlayStation Link Cable The PlayStation Link Cable (SCPH-1040) is a peripheral cable for the PlayStation console. Utilizing the serial I/O port found on the back of most PlayStation models, it allows for two consoles to be connected in order to play compatible multiplay ...
peripheral. * ''
Rage Racer is the third title in the ''Ridge Racer'' series of racing games on the PlayStation. Developed and published by Namco, it was released in Japan on December 3, 1996, with releases in the U.S. and Europe following in 1997. It was the first game in t ...
'' (1996) was released for the PlayStation. Alongside the introduction of series mascot
Reiko Nagase is a virtual idol fictional character in Namco's ''Ridge Racer'' series of racing video games who is its most prominent race queen and one of Namco's mascot characters. Reiko has first appeared in ''Rave Racer'' in 1995, before her official intr ...
, it featured customizable cars and a retries rule, both of which have become prominent throughout the franchise. It also features a more gritty and darker graphical style, a departure from the series' more colorful art style. * '' Pocket Racer'' (1996) is a spin-off arcade game released exclusively in Japan. Gameplay is near identical to the original ''Ridge Racer'', but all the cars have instead been replaced with "super-deformed" Choro-Q-esc vehicles. A similar concept was included with ''Ridge Racer Revolution'', titled ''Buggy Mode'', which served as the inspiration for ''Pocket Racer''. * '' R4: Ridge Racer Type 4'' (1998) was released for the PlayStation, titled ''Ridge Racer Type 4'' in Europe. It marks the debut of racing teams, which became a core aspect for all games to follow, and is the first in the series to use Gouraud shading for its graphics. Multiplayer modes are also present, being displayed in a split-screen orientation. In 2018, it was released as one of the built-in games on the PlayStation Classic mini console. * '' Ridge Racer 64'' (2000) was released for the Nintendo 64 in North America and Europe; it was not developed by Namco, but by Nintendo Software Technology. It includes tracks from ''Ridge Racer'' and ''Ridge Racer Revolution'', alongside new tracks and cars. * ''
Ridge Racer V is an arcade racing game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2, and was a launch game for that platform. Focusing on high-speed drift racing in the fictional Ridge City, the game features 7 courses, 15 vehicles and 6 modes of ...
'' (2000) was released as a launch title for the
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
. An arcade version was released a year later, subtitled ''Arcade Battle''. The original ''Ridge Racer'' game's free-form structure is instead replaced with Grand Prix races found in ''Ridge Racer Type 4''. * '' R: Racing Evolution'' (2003) was released for the
GameCube The is a home video game console developed and released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, and in PAL territories in 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 (1996), and predecessor of the Wii ...
, PlayStation 2 and Xbox, serving as a spin-off of the franchise. The European release was titled ''R: Racing'' and published by
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
. It includes over 33 licensed vehicles from real-world car manufacturers, including the
24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans (french: link=no, 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest active Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance r ...
and
Super GT Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
. The game also has a story mode. Some releases of the GameCube version include ''
Pac-Man Vs. is a 2003 maze video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Namco for the GameCube. In the game, one player takes control of Pac-Man, who must eat all of the pellets in the maze, while the others control the ghosts to try to catch them. ...
'' as a free bonus. * '' Ridge Racer DS'' (2004) was released as a launch title for the
Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
. A remake of ''Ridge Racer 64'', it includes touch-screen controls that allow the player to use the stylus to steer the car, alongside a multiplayer mode via local wireless multiplayer. * ''
Ridge Racer is a racing game, racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, ''Ridge Racer (1993 video game), Ridge Racer'' (1993), was originally rel ...
'' (2004) was released as a launch title for the
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
, and was titled ''Ridge Racers'' in Japan. It features tracks, cars and music found in earlier ''Ridge Racer'' games, leading it to be described as a "compilation" of the series. The Japanese version was re-released as a budget title a year later under the ''PSP The Best'' label. * ''Critical Velocity'' (2005) is a plot-based spin-off game released in Japan for the PlayStation 2. Known in development as ''Rune Chaser'', it features ''Ridge Racer'' vehicles and settings in a more adventure-like game with a storyline. * ''
Ridge Racer 6 ''Ridge Racer 6'' is a racing game by Namco released in 2005. It was the sixth console game in the ''Ridge Racer'' series but unlike the previous mainline entries, which were released for PlayStation consoles, this entry was released exclusivel ...
'' (2005) was released as a launch title for the Xbox 360, featuring a total of 130 vehicles and 30 playable tracks, alongside 14-person online multiplayer through
Xbox Live The Xbox network, formerly and still sometimes branded as Xbox Live, is an Internet, online multiplayer video game, multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. It was first made available to the Xbox ...
. The game's soundtrack was released through Xbox Live by SuperSweep Records in 2009, titled ''Ridge Racer 6 Direct Audio''. * ''
Ridge Racer 2 is an arcade racing game that was released by Namco in 1994 for their System 22 hardware. Despite its name, ''Ridge Racer 2'' is more of an updated version of ''Ridge Racer'' (which had been released in the previous year), than an actual sequ ...
'' (2006) was released for the
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
and was named ''Ridge Racers 2'' in Japan keeping the unique PSP naming scheme. The European release was published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It is a direct sequel to the 2004 ''Ridge Racers'' and retains the same concept of the first game featuring tracks, cars and music taken from earlier games in the franchise. * ''
Ridge Racer 7 is a 2006 racing video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3. The seventh mainline installment in the ''Ridge Racer'' series, it was developed as a launch title for the console. The game has around 40 cars, many ...
'' (2006) was released as a launch title for the PlayStation 3. * ''Pachi-slot Ridge Racer'' (2008) is a pachi-slot spin-off of the series, released in Japan. A digital remake was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan later the same year. * ''Pachi-slot Ridge Racer 2'' (2009) is a direct sequel to ''Pachi-slot Ridge Racer'', again released in Japan. * ''
Ridge Racer Accelerated ''Ridge Racer Accelerated'' for iOS, SoftBank 006SH with 3D screen and Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet on Android is an arcade racing video game developed by Namco Networks. It is part of the ''Ridge Racer'' video game series. The game was released on ...
'' (2009) was released for iOS devices. * ''Ridge Racer Drift'' (2010) was released for
J2ME Java Platform, Micro Edition or Java ME is a computing platform for development and deployment of portable code for embedded and mobile devices (micro-controllers, sensors, gateways, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, TV set-top ...
, Windows Mobile, BREW and BlackBerry devices. * ''
Ridge Racer 3D is a Racing video game, racing video game for the Nintendo 3DS console published and developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games. The game was released in Japan on 26 February 2011 and in North America on 22 March, five days prior ...
'' (2011) was released as a launch title for the
Nintendo 3DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generatio ...
. * ''
Ridge Racer is a racing game, racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, ''Ridge Racer (1993 video game), Ridge Racer'' (1993), was originally rel ...
'' (2011) was released as a launch title for the
PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...
. * ''
Ridge Racer Unbounded is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games (under the Namco brand) for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. It is the eighth installment of the ''Ridge Racer'' franchise, and t ...
'' (2012) was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows. The game is a large departure from the series' core gameplay, instead focusing on vehicular combat akin to the ''
Burnout Burnout or burn-out may refer to: Entertainment * ''Burnout'' (film), a 2017 Moroccan film * ''Burn Out'' (film), a 2017 French film * Burnout (ride), a Funfields amusement ride in Australia * ''Burnout'' (series), a racing game series created by ...
'' series. * ''Ridge Racer Slipstream'' (2013) was released for iOS and
Android Android may refer to: Science and technology * Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), Google's mobile operating system ** Bugdroid, a Google mascot sometimes referred to ...
devices. * ''Ridge Racer Draw & Drift'' (2016) was released for iOS and
Android Android may refer to: Science and technology * Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), Google's mobile operating system ** Bugdroid, a Google mascot sometimes referred to ...
devices.


Common elements

The basic gameplay of the ''Ridge Racer'' series has remained relatively consistent throughout each installment. The objective is to race against computer-controlled opponents to finish each track in first place — the player begins the game in last place, and have a limited number of laps around the track to complete where they can overtake opponents. Some entries have a time limit that the player must race against, with each completed lap extending the timer; if the timer reaches zero, the game ends regardless of which lap the player was on. Later entries remove the timer and instead requires the player to finish the race in a minimum-assigned place to advance to the next course. Unlike other racing games, which usually feature closed circuits, ''Ridge Racer'' instead has races laid out on streets, beaches, cities and mountains, taking place in the fictional coastal metropolis "Ridge City" — circuit tracks are included in some entries. Nearly every entry in the series features the original tracks from ''Ridge Racer'' and ''Ridge Racer 2'', sometimes modified to accompany for certain mechanics. Players can
drift Drift or Drifts may refer to: Geography * Drift or ford (crossing) of a river * Drift, Kentucky, unincorporated community in the United States * In Cornwall, England: ** Drift, Cornwall, village ** Drift Reservoir, associated with the village ...
their car around corners to maintain speed, as most of the tracks were based on real-world locations that were not intended for race speeds. ''
Ridge Racer Unbounded is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games (under the Namco brand) for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. It is the eighth installment of the ''Ridge Racer'' franchise, and t ...
'' (2012) removes the drifting mechanic in favor of vehicular combat, similar to the ''
Burnout Burnout or burn-out may refer to: Entertainment * ''Burnout'' (film), a 2017 Moroccan film * ''Burn Out'' (film), a 2017 French film * Burnout (ride), a Funfields amusement ride in Australia * ''Burnout'' (series), a racing game series created by ...
'' franchise. The playable cars each have their own stats and mechanics, such as a faster speed or improved drifting. Many of these are also named after older Namco video games, including '' Dig Dug'', '' Xevious'', ''
NebulasRay is a vertical-scrolling shooter arcade game developed and released by Namco in 1994. Players take control of a starship named the Fighting Ray through a series of levels in its mission to eradicate the universe of an intergalactic organization n ...
'', '' Rolling Thunder'', ''
Bosconian is a multidirectional scrolling shooter arcade game which was developed and released by Namco in Japan in 1981. In North America, it was manufactured and distributed by Midway Games. The goal of the game is to earn as many points as possible by ...
'' and ''
Solvalou is a 1991 first-person rail shooter arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. The sixth entry in the ''Xevious'' series, the player takes control of the Solvalou starship from a first-person perspective as it must destroy the Xeviou ...
''. The PlayStation sequel '' R4: Ridge Racer Type 4'' introduces the concept of racing teams for the series, all being named after ''Dig Dug'', ''
Mappy is an arcade game by Namco, introduced in 1983 and distributed in the United States by Bally Midway. A side-scrolling platform game featuring a mouse protagonist and cat antagonists, it runs on Namco Super Pac-Man hardware modified to suppo ...
'', ''
Pac-Man originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. Th ...
'', ''Xevious'' and '' Galaga''. Similar to Namco's own ''
Tekken is a Japanese Media mix, media franchise centered on a series of fighting game, fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco). The franchise also includes film and print adaptations. The ...
'' series, several games feature classic Namco arcade games as short minigames that play during loading screens, a mechanic that was later trademarked by Namco — the PlayStation home port of the original ''Ridge Racer'' features '' Galaxian'', while ''
Ridge Racers ''Ridge Racer'', released in Japan as , is an arcade racing video game developed by Namco for the PlayStation Portable. It is named after the eponymous ''Ridge Racer'' video game series to which it belongs. The game was released in Japan on 12 ...
'' features '' New Rally-X''. Completing these minigames will award the player with new tracks or cars, sometimes unlocking a full emulated version of the minigame to play.


Automakers

Starting with ''
Rage Racer is the third title in the ''Ridge Racer'' series of racing games on the PlayStation. Developed and published by Namco, it was released in Japan on December 3, 1996, with releases in the U.S. and Europe following in 1997. It was the first game in t ...
'', each game offers cars with fictional automakers and model names. Certain manufacturers specialize in a particular component of their cars' performance, such as top speed, grip, and acceleration: * Kamata – A Japanese brand specializing in basic all-rounder sports coupes and hatchbacks. They also make the Angelus supercar, one of the fastest cars in the entire series. * Terrazi – A Japanese brand specializing in all-rounder cars with bizarre designs, including the Wildboar (a futuristic three-wheeled car exclusive to ''
Ridge Racer Type 4 (''Ridge Racer Type 4'' in Europe) is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. It is the fourth title in the ''Ridge Racer'' series and the last to be released for the PlayStation. It was released on December 3, ...
''). * Lizard/Danver – An American brand specializing in muscle and sports cars with high acceleration. * Âge (Âge Solo in ''Ridge Racer Type 4'') – A French brand specializing in compacts and sports cars with excellent grip. * Assoluto – An Italian brand specializing in high-performance sports cars and supercars with high top speeds and unique designs. * Rivelta/Soldat – An Italian brand specializing in sports cars. They also make the Rumeur hatchback, a car with incredible top speed and handling. * Gnade – A German brand specializing in all-rounder luxury and sports coupes and sedans. * Himmel – A German brand specializing in sports cars. * Sinseong Motors – A South Korean brand exclusive to ''
Ridge Racer 7 is a 2006 racing video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3. The seventh mainline installment in the ''Ridge Racer'' series, it was developed as a launch title for the console. The game has around 40 cars, many ...
'' that specializes in luxury sports coupes.


Reception

The original ''Ridge Racer'' was very well received by critics for its
3D graphics 3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for the ...
, audio, and the drifting mechanics. It also received an admirable port to the PlayStation, where it became one of the best selling titles in the console's early lifetime. It is also considered as playing a part in giving Sony's system an edge over rival
Sega is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
's
Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...
during 1994–1995. Its sequels during the 1990s were also highly successful, in particular ''Ridge Racer Type 4'', often considered the series' best. Its sequel ''Ridge Racer V'' received more mediocre reviews, but the subsequent PSP title achieved very high praise. The series' 'idol' mascot
Reiko Nagase is a virtual idol fictional character in Namco's ''Ridge Racer'' series of racing video games who is its most prominent race queen and one of Namco's mascot characters. Reiko has first appeared in ''Rave Racer'' in 1995, before her official intr ...
, who has appeared in most games since 1996's ''Rage Racer'', has often been rated among the most recognizable female characters in video games. In 1999, ''
Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'' listed the ''Ridge Racer'' series as number 11 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that "there are certainly better car simulations, but when it comes to fun, ''Ridge Racer'', the game that helped make PlayStation cool, is the one we come back to". 2006's ''Ridge Racer 7'' is considered to have been the series' peak before declining in popularity - the Vita title was negatively received for various reasons, whilst the latest console game, ''Ridge Racer Unbounded'', was marked with a departure from the drifting style and mechanics of what the series is known for, experimenting with a more destructive style similar to the ''
Burnout Burnout or burn-out may refer to: Entertainment * ''Burnout'' (film), a 2017 Moroccan film * ''Burn Out'' (film), a 2017 French film * Burnout (ride), a Funfields amusement ride in Australia * ''Burnout'' (series), a racing game series created by ...
'' series, although ''Ridge Racer 3D'', a launch title for the 3DS, was better received compared to ''Vita'' and ''Unbounded''. The game was never as popular as its previous main titles and never had a Japanese release either.


Notes


References


External links


Official series website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridge Racer (Series) Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises Video game franchises introduced in 1993