If arcade racers and old school Namco references is your thing, you've probably had a go at
the Ridge Racer series famous for zippy drift racing a la Fast and the Furious.
Or maybe it's just because of Reiko Nagase, the leggy grid girl.
Either way, Namco has done well to bust out onto the race track with the series, first
in the arcades with the Namco System 22, to CD-ROM format with the PlayStation, and finally
making its way onto cartridge with Ridge Racer 64.
There's nothing as quick and easy to play as racing games, but each of them has their
own feel.
Ridge Racer 64 can be played just with your analog stick and the A button, but honing
your drift skills is the ticket to success, since the tracks have extremely sharp curves
that you'll need to speed through without breaking stride.
In previous reviews of racing games you might be able to tell that my steering is never
exactly up to par.
Yes I drive recklessly.
If someone's in my way, I'm more likely to crash into him than try to finesse around
him.
Once you've started making first place in all the races, your skills will need to become
less like mine and more like the typical Ridge Racer style of complete 360 spins from powerslides
that will razzle and dazzle your opponents.
I suppose this method of sliding all over the road is a start for me.
If it wasn't for Namco's illustrious arcade history, these racing teams would have different
names.
Dig Racing Team, Racing Team Solvalou, and Pac Racing Club are all examples of how Namco
pays respect to itself.
Ridge Racer is also famous for more than one type of track selection.
Ten music tracks will get your blood pumping and adds to the already frantic, almost rockstar
atmosphere that is a hallmark of the Ridge Racer series.
Although I may prefer racers like Gran Turismo over the purely arcade style of games like
Cruisin' or Daytona, Ridge Racer 64 definitely is in a class of its own.
It's stylish, sleek, and lightning fast, and perhaps after an eyeful or two of Reiko Nagase,
you'll be coming back for more than just the racing.
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