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GhostWriter24 · Jan 10, 2013

Let me get one thing out of the way, there can be no argument: it's a masterpiece.

I mean everything from the cars, those sleek menus, to the ridiculously good soundtrack and awesome gameplay were all top notch for its day. It's style was unparalleled and the game still holds up 14 (!) years later. What do you think, GAF, where does this one stand amongst some of the other great arcade racers ala Need For Speed/PGR/Burnout?

90281-r4-ridge-racer-type-4-playstation-screenshot-wouldn-t-be-a.jpg

90273-r4-ridge-racer-type-4-playstation-screenshot-if-you-thought.jpg

mollipen · Jan 10, 2013

Still one of the greatest racers ever, as well as one of the best soundtracks ever. This is also the game that made me a fan of Ridge Racer.

Reiko · Jan 10, 2013

Nah...

Amagon · Jan 10, 2013

Greatest arcade racer? No, though it is up there in that level for me along with Outrun 2 and Rallisport Challenge 2.

Hanningfield · Jan 10, 2013

It's a lot of fun and it's sense of style has never been matched. It's handling's a bit basic though.

SolidSnakex · Jan 10, 2013

I'd probably say that Sega Rally 2 is my favorite arcade racer. I spent so much time playing that on the Dreamcast. Competing with the HardcoreGaming forums in time trials through Sega's old SR2 site.

As far as RRT4 goes. I'd say that Rage Racer is a better game than it. But RRT4 ended up being more memorable because it just looked and sounded so good. Rage was pretty bland overall in those areas.

SneakyStephan · Jan 10, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luq2fIjWzGg

Nostalgia goosebumps.
Such great music in ridge racer type 4.

DidntKnowJack · Jan 10, 2013

Love R4, but its not even my favorite Ridge Racer. That would be the third - Rage Racer.

Router · Jan 10, 2013

Best RR game perhaps. Best arcade racer? No.

polyh3dron · Jan 10, 2013

OP is absolutely correct.

DiscoJer · Jan 10, 2013

It's probably the best in the Ridge Racer series. But I liked Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 the best. I'm not sure that is an arcade racer exactly, but probably my favorite racing game.

evilromero · Jan 10, 2013

Yes! Beautiful game with an amazing OST.

A Twisty Fluken · Jan 10, 2013

It's a really good game. But even in its sub genre, Outrun 2 is better. That game is so good.

Branching out, Wave Race 64, Excite Truck, and Uniracers would also come before it for me.

Lambtron · Jan 10, 2013

Ridge Racer V is definitely my favorite in the series.

GhostWriter24 · Jan 10, 2013

shidoshi said:
Still one of the greatest racers ever, as well as one of the best soundtracks ever. This is also the game that made me a fan of Ridge Racer.

polyh3dron said:
OP is absolutely correct.

evilromero said:
Yes! Beautiful game with an amazing OST.

RRT4 defense force assemble!

BocoDragon · Jan 10, 2013

My OutRun 2 sense is tingling....

SolidSnakex · Jan 10, 2013

Lambtron said:
Ridge Racer V is definitely my favorite in the series.

The last game before they went fully into the autodrift direction.

bangai-o · Jan 10, 2013

i liked R4, but Outrun2 is best still.

- J - D - · Jan 10, 2013

It's pretty good.

Uncle Rupee · Jan 10, 2013

Yes.
What the hell happened, Namco?

Risk Breaker · Jan 10, 2013

Yes it is, OP, yes it is. Amazing game. How I wish we would've gotten a sequel on PS2...

flipswitch · Jan 10, 2013

It's definitely my favourite RR game, ran at nice framerate on PSX, the intro was a classic and the music was so good I used to listen to it at night (Naked Glow FTW). The racing aspect was brilliant too. It's my second best racer after Gran Turismo (PSX). I believe it's very cheap on PSN.

Ban Puncher · Jan 10, 2013

Tis a fine arcade racer, but sure 'tis no Initial D Arcade Stage, English.

Edgeward · Jan 10, 2013

Still my favorite racer. The Grand Prix mode, while simplistic, was done well and the stories for them were good enough. Plus, the portraits for the managers were really unique and fit well with the cool vibe of "Garage Talk," one of my favorite tracks

Still have it on my psp just so whenever I feel the itch of racing on a track with a nice sunset and listen to a cool ost. When it clicks, you just feel in the zone and one with the track.

XtremeXpider · Jan 10, 2013

To OP: No...

Perfection made arcade racer

EDIT: You mean "arcade" as arcade machines?

Alex Connolly · Jan 10, 2013

I think that belongs to Burnout 2...

But hell, in this trying and desperate time for the arcade racer scene, let us celebrate each title with orgiastic love.

Great game.

Reiko · Jan 10, 2013

XtremeXpider said:
To OP: No...

Perfection made arcade racer

Can't argue there. Well except for PGR2.

neptunes · Jan 10, 2013

XtremeXpider said:
To OP: No...

Perfection made arcade racer

EDIT: You mean "arcade" as arcade machines?

Dear God, too many launch day memories.
PGR3 on Live during launch was fun.

On topic, I've had more fun with RR6 than RR4, Angelus was a mofo.

GhostWriter24 · Jan 10, 2013

XtremeXpider said:
EDIT: You mean "arcade" as arcade machines?

I meant arcade as in the style vs sim, not actual arcade cabinets.

XtremeXpider · Jan 10, 2013

24FrameDaVinci said:
I meant arcade as in the style vs sim, not actual arcade cabinets.

Then Im ok

, PGR is an arcade style game (not arcade cabinets). But I like the RR games too.

Sgblues · Jan 10, 2013

Well while not the "greatest" arcade racer, it is certainly up there and its one of my favorites and favorite ridge racer in general.

cyberheater · Jan 10, 2013

I had one of these for it.

It was made a big difference.

GhostWriter24 · Jan 10, 2013

cyberheater said:
I had one of these for it.

It was made a big difference.

Holy shit I remember this thing.

Jonnyram · Jan 10, 2013

neptunes said:
Dear God, too many launch day memories.
PGR3 on Live during launch was fun.

On topic, I've had more fun with RR6 than RR4, Angelus was a mofo.

That's 7, not 6

RRV was my favourite overall, though. Mainly because of the PS2 launch memories that it brings back.

Lambtron · Jan 10, 2013

SolidSnakex said:
The last game before they went fully into the autodrift direction.

They've kind of been doing the same things for 6, 7, and the two PSP RR games. If they just made a high res version of Ridge Racer V I'd probably buy a next gen console for it.

neptunes · Jan 10, 2013

Jonnyram said:
That's 7, not 6
RRV was my favourite overall, though. Mainly because of the PS2 launch memories that it brings back.

Thanks, I was wondering why they looked different. RR7 is the game both RR6 & RR PSP should have been.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/234/kamataangeluszu8.jpg

vagabondarts · Jan 10, 2013

I have many fond memories of it. I think it would be hard for people who didn't play it when it released to go back to it and enjoy it like we can.

The soundtrack is incredible!

Ridge Racer peaked with R4

evilromero · Jan 10, 2013

This game and Rage Racer are still my favorites in the series. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed with RRV on the PS2. It's pretty much what got me out of the series. I'll always have a soft spot for R4. I don't need those new games with their damn fancy graphics.

Skunkers · Jan 10, 2013

I was tempted to immediately say yes, but on reflection there are other arcade racers I've enjoyed more; Burnout 2, 3, and 4, TXR3, Initial D Arcade v3, PGR3, etc.

Even though it may not make sense, I have to say: even though I had more fun with some of those games, I don't consider them to be masterpieces like I do R4. There's something truly special about how pitch-perfect R4's presentation is and how purely it embodies the fanfare of arcade racing.

It's a damn pity despite it's success and acclaim, none of the sequels really took that template and went further with it. In fact, it's the only game in the series I really like. I mean what happened? Did the team change? Did the management of the series have them do things different?

Orobi · Jan 10, 2013

I still love Motorstorm Pacific Rift. So much fun, so many stunning visuals...

Ban Puncher · Jan 10, 2013

I would enjoy a Ridge Racer HD Collection of sorts, containing Ridge Racer Arcade (and upgrade variants), Ridge Racer Revolution and Ridge Racer Type 4.

mollipen · Jan 10, 2013

SneakyStephan said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luq2fIjWzGg

Nostalgia goosebumps.

And in response to that...

speedpop · Jan 10, 2013

RRT4 oozes with style. Excellent track design, groovy soundtrack from the Namco Sound Team, and it's fun as hell to race forever. I was over the moon that RR2 on PSP had every circuit and music track from RRT4.

The game was the pinnacle of the series.

JustAnotherOtaku · Jan 10, 2013

Not just that, it's also tied for my favourite game of all time as well. Everything is near perfect - handling, music, setting, cards, tracks. Paid a lot of money to import it when it came to Japan and never regretted it. As close to perfection as you can get.

Digital-Hero · Jan 10, 2013

speedpop said:
RRT4 oozes with style. Excellent track design, groovy soundtrack from the Namco Sound Team, and it's fun as hell to race forever. I was over the moon that RR2 on PSP had every circuit and music track from RRT4.

The game was the pinnacle of the series.

It sure fell apart after. I don't know why RRV, RR6 and RR7 didn't follow the path it laid out.

This song still gives me nostalgia chills:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M98SX3B-SnU (LUCID RYTHYMS)

Narag · Jan 10, 2013

cyberheater said:
I had one of these for it.

It was made a big difference.

Adored that thing.

kittens · Jan 10, 2013

cyberheater said:
I had one of these for it.

http://i.imgur.com/ZVzMt.png?1[IMG]

It was made a big difference.[/QUOTE]
WHOA. I totally forgot about those.

Also, if we're including futuristic racers in with arcade racers, then F-Zero GX is the best ever.

Xanadu · Jan 10, 2013

Elixist · Jan 10, 2013

great game op one my faves. my absolute fave is Burnout 3 or Revenge tho. and holy shit PGR still looks stunning, 360 had a good launch lineup loved the hell out of it and cod2.

Gravijah · Jan 10, 2013

OST is a downgrade from the earlier games. OutRun 2 SP is the true king, though.

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