R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998). Play online

Summary

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, often just called Ridge Racer Type 4, pushed the PlayStation’s visuals with Gouraud‑shaded polygons, giving the tracks a depth that previous titles lacked. The game features eight distinct circuits, each with a reverse layout for a total of sixteen configurations, and boasts an astonishing 321 fictional cars once the secret Pac‑Man model is unlocked.

Two driving styles—Drift, which uses a single brake tap, and Grip—requiring alternating brake and gas—let players master distinct powersliding techniques. The Grand Prix mode, Real Racing Roots ’99, lets you join one of four international teams, each with its own sponsor and story manager, and rewards higher‑placing finishes with better vehicles. A split‑screen two‑player mode debuted here, and an undocumented Link Cable extension even supports four‑player racing.

Namco paired the release with the unique Jogcon controller and a bonus disc that includes a high‑spec version of the original Ridge Racer at 60 fps, plus demos for several other PlayStation hits. Its soundtrack mixes funk, breakbeat, UK garage and progressive house, earning praise alongside the game’s art direction. R4 has been rereleased on PSN, PS Classic, and recent PS4/5 collections, and still ranks among the series’ most celebrated entries.