Play Ridge Racer Revolution Online

Summary

Ridge Racer Revolution builds on the original’s arcade‑style sprint, pitting you against eleven AI opponents while slipping in two secret cars that unlock after you conquer the Time Trial challenges. The game also embraces the PlayStation’s Link cable, letting two consoles race side‑by‑side on the classic ‘Special 1’ and ‘Special 2’ tracks, or go head‑to‑head in a Versus mode that even offers a speed‑handicap for the trailing driver. Beyond the standard Race and Time Trial modes, the title adds a Free Run where you can practice without rivals, a Drift Contest that scores your slides, and a quirky Pretty Racer mode that stretches the cars into Choro‑Q‑style miniatures. Using Namco’s NeGcon controller feels natural, especially with the newly added rear‑view mirror, and you can even pick the time of day for each race. The soundtrack largely recycles the high‑energy tracks from Ridge Racer 2, and you can swap in your own CD for a personal soundtrack. Developed over eight months by a team of more than twenty newcomers, the crew wrestled with the link‑up implementation, the rear‑view mirror, and keeping the game stable at breakneck speeds. By borrowing most of the music from Ridge Racer 2, they shaved development time, while composers Hiroshi Okubo and Nobuhide Isayama added fresh pieces to round out the audio experience.

Storyline

Ridge Racer Revolution keeps the core gameplay of the original Ridge Racer, adding a rear‑view mirror in the in‑car view and offering three distinct courses—Novice, Intermediate and Expert—each with sections that open as you progress. You can choose automatic or manual transmission, and the NeGcon controller is supported for a more tactile experience. A new Free Run mode lets you practice on any track without opponents or lap limits, while a selectable time‑of‑day setting, unlocked later, changes the race atmosphere.

The game starts you off with four cars, and the remaining eight become available after beating a Galaga ’88 mini‑game before the title screen. Winning the first three circuits unlocks reversed versions of the tracks and a boss time‑trial race against two rival cars, granting you the “13th Racing” devil car, the “13th Racing Kid,” or the “White Angel” depending on the course. A two‑player link‑up mode also gives access to the original game’s Special 1 and Special 2 courses. New race modes include the standard race against eleven AI cars, a traditional Time Trial, and the aforementioned Free Run.

Hidden extras feature a Drift Contest, where points are awarded for stylish spins, and a “Pretty Racer” buggy mode that inspired the arcade Pocket Racer. Mirrored tracks function just like in the original, and you can insert a music CD to replace the soundtrack, though only the last track played is retained in memory, requiring a disc swap to change courses.