Play R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 Online

Summary

Ridge Racer Type 4 pushed the PlayStation’s graphics further than its predecessors by introducing Gouraud shading on every polygon, giving the tracks a surprising depth and smoother lighting. It also marked the series’ first two‑player split‑screen mode, letting friends race side‑by‑side. On top of that, the game offered two distinct powersliding styles—Drift and Grip—so each car handled in its own unique way.

The circuit roster features eight tracks, each with a reverse layout, delivering sixteen courses. Over 300 fictional vehicles populate the garage, and the Grand Prix mode, Real Racing Roots ’99, lets you join one of four international teams—France, Japan, Italy or the United States. Your team and manufacturer choice decides whether you drive a Drift or Grip car, and higher qualifying positions unlock more exotic rides, eventually revealing a hidden Pac‑Man‑themed car as the 321st vehicle.

Beyond the championship, you can chase personal bests in Time Attack, duel friends in split‑screen VS. Battle, or connect up to four players via the undocumented Link Cable. Extra Trials pit you against prototype machines, and the PocketStation in Japan lets you trade cars with friends. A bonus disc even includes a high‑spec version of the original Ridge Racer running at 60 fps.

The soundtrack, overseen by Hiroshi Okubo, swaps the series’ earlier rave vibe for a mature mix of funk, breakbeat, acid jazz, UK garage, progressive house and neo‑soul. For tactile control, Namco released the Jogcon, a controller with a central steering wheel. The opening movie starring mascot Reiko Nagase took six months to craft, highlighting the team’s polish.

Critics responded enthusiastically, awarding high scores and praising the presentation, art direction, driving feel and soundtrack, though some noted the drifting felt lighter than earlier titles. Retrospective lists often rank it among the greatest racing games ever made, and its legacy lives on through re‑releases on PSN, the PlayStation Classic, and modern PS4/PS5 ports. Ridge Racer Type 4 remains a benchmark for arcade‑style racing on the original PlayStation.

Storyline

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is an arcade‑style racing game that centers on powersliding. Depending on the car’s make, players use either a Drift style—tapping the brake while turning—or a Grip style—alternating brake and accelerator during a turn. Vehicles are unlocked by progressing through Grand Prix mode, where you pick one of four teams (R.C. Micro Mouse Mappy, Pac Racing Club, Racing Team Solvalou, Dig Racing Team) and one of four manufacturers (Age Solo, Lizard, Assoluto, Terrazi), each setting the car’s difficulty and slide type. Qualifying positions determine whether you receive a new car or an upgrade, and completing every team‑manufacturer‑qualify combo yields 320 cars, with a Pac‑Man themed model as a bonus. The title also offers Time Attack, a two‑player split‑screen VS Battle, and an undocumented Link Cable mode for up to four players, plus a Decal Edit feature, JogCon support, and PocketStation car‑trading.