R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
Encyclopedia
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is the fourth game in the Ridge Racer
series on the PlayStation
.
Unlike some of the other titles in the series, this game is made only for a home console, and does not have an arcade machine version. It is the final Ridge Racer series
game released in the PlayStation
console before Ridge Racer V
released exclusively on PlayStation 2
. There are eight tracks and 321 vehicles, all of which are fictional. This iteration was one of the first games on the PlayStation to feature gouraud shading
on the polygons, giving the game a visual depth that was previously missing. It was also the first Ridge Racer game on the Sony system to feature a two-player split screen mode, and featured two different driving models.
1999 - between which the player receives either a new car or an upgrade to their current one, based on their performance in the stage. In order to unlock every one of the cars, the player must race with every racing team and every manufacturer, in every qualifying position possible, hence enhancing the longevity of the game.
On the black background, we see the word "WELCOME" in eagle bold font in white. Then the words began to shake up and down and after that, the red and white lines started to go left to right and do the same thing but the little bit of lines begins to fade out and after the same thing the word "WELCOME" started to fade out or disappear and the R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 game logo fades in white and soon, the background begins to change to yellow background and the game logo is now black instead of white. Also, the game logo begins to move up and stops at the top. The Announcer says "R4" or "Ridge Racer Type 4 and there is the copyright stamp at the bottom.
There are three types of variants:
On Sony Computer Entertainment
America, the logo says R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 and the copyright stamp says (C) 1998 Namco
Ltd. All Right Reserved.
On Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, this is a different game logo. The R4 logo has been dropped and nowhere to be found. Also, the copyright stamp is different and now said "TM and (C) 1998 Namco Ltd All rights reserved.
On Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. this is a same thing as North America logo, but the info will appear below the logo.
R4 featured two models of handling; drift handling was the classic Ridge Racer handling where the player oversteers into the turn to slide the car around the corner, whereas grip handling is more realistic, employing the brake more and not utilising powerslides at all. There are a total of eight tracks to choose from.
There are four fictional car manufactures to choose from and one special car available:
Heat 1
Heat 2
Final Heat
By winning at least one time the Real Racing Roots '99, these circuits are available in Normal and Reverse directions for Multiplayer and Time Attack game modes.
controller designed specifically for use with the game. The portable PocketStation
device could also be utilized in R4 to trade cars with friends.
animated intro with the Ridge Racer "mascot girl" Reiko Nagase, who first appeared in Rage Racer
set to an acid jazz piece called Ridge Racer: One More Win by Kimara Lovelace
.
Ridge Racer (series)
Ridge Racer is a series of arcade racing games developed and published by Namco for both the arcade and various gaming systems. In each of the games, players race on courses set in and around the fictional Ridge City while utilizing the concepts of drift racing to quickly traverse...
series on the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
.
Unlike some of the other titles in the series, this game is made only for a home console, and does not have an arcade machine version. It is the final Ridge Racer series
Ridge Racer (series)
Ridge Racer is a series of arcade racing games developed and published by Namco for both the arcade and various gaming systems. In each of the games, players race on courses set in and around the fictional Ridge City while utilizing the concepts of drift racing to quickly traverse...
game released in the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
console before Ridge Racer V
Ridge Racer V
Ridge Racer V , the fifth game in the Ridge Racer series on the PlayStation, became one of the launch games for the PlayStation 2. It features 14 tracks and 18 vehicles, with 5 modes of play.-Game play:...
released exclusively on PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. There are eight tracks and 321 vehicles, all of which are fictional. This iteration was one of the first games on the PlayStation to feature gouraud shading
Gouraud shading
Gouraud shading, named after Henri Gouraud, is an interpolation method used in computer graphics to produce continuous shading of surfaces represented by polygon meshes...
on the polygons, giving the game a visual depth that was previously missing. It was also the first Ridge Racer game on the Sony system to feature a two-player split screen mode, and featured two different driving models.
Gameplay
The main mode of the game is "Grand Prix", where players take on the role of a racing driver new to the game's fictional "Real Racing Roots '99" Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is split into four stages - two qualifying races, two quarter-final races, three semi-finals and one final race on New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1999 - between which the player receives either a new car or an upgrade to their current one, based on their performance in the stage. In order to unlock every one of the cars, the player must race with every racing team and every manufacturer, in every qualifying position possible, hence enhancing the longevity of the game.
Title Screens
There are three types of variants for the video game logo for the NTSC-U/C (National Television System Committee), NTSC-J and PAL (Phase Alternating Line).On the black background, we see the word "WELCOME" in eagle bold font in white. Then the words began to shake up and down and after that, the red and white lines started to go left to right and do the same thing but the little bit of lines begins to fade out and after the same thing the word "WELCOME" started to fade out or disappear and the R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 game logo fades in white and soon, the background begins to change to yellow background and the game logo is now black instead of white. Also, the game logo begins to move up and stops at the top. The Announcer says "R4" or "Ridge Racer Type 4 and there is the copyright stamp at the bottom.
There are three types of variants:
On Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
America, the logo says R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 and the copyright stamp says (C) 1998 Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
Ltd. All Right Reserved.
On Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, this is a different game logo. The R4 logo has been dropped and nowhere to be found. Also, the copyright stamp is different and now said "TM and (C) 1998 Namco Ltd All rights reserved.
On Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. this is a same thing as North America logo, but the info will appear below the logo.
R4 featured two models of handling; drift handling was the classic Ridge Racer handling where the player oversteers into the turn to slide the car around the corner, whereas grip handling is more realistic, employing the brake more and not utilising powerslides at all. There are a total of eight tracks to choose from.
Teams and vehicles
There are four fictional racing teams available, each one managed by a different character who briefs the player between races. All the team managers have their own backstories.- Dig Racing TeamDig Dugis an arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan in 1982 for Namco Galaga hardware. It was later published outside of Japan by Atari. A popular game based on a simple concept, it was also released as a video game on many consoles.-Objective:...
- a former front-running team led by Robert Chrisman, this American organization has recently fallen on hard times after the team's director cut back on funding. This team features cars with "expert" tuning, and they are the hardest team to drive for in the game. - Pac Racing ClubPac-Manis an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
- the newest entry into the Real Racing Roots '99 championship this Japanese team led by Shinji Yazaki tunes their cars to a normal standard making them the more moderate of the four teams available and ideal for intermediate-level players. - Racing Team SolvalouXeviousis a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game by Namco, released in 1982. It was designed by Masanobu Endō. In the U.S., the game was manufactured and distributed by Atari. Xevious runs on Namco Galaga hardware. In Brazil the arcade cabinet was printed with the name 'COLUMBIA' for the game, while the...
- this elite Italian team led by the charismatic Enki Gilbert are currently dominating the Real Racing Roots '99 championship. Their cars are widely regarded as the fastest in the game. - R.C Micro Mouse MappyMappyis a 1983 arcade game by Namco. In the United States, it was manufactured and distributed by Bally/Midway. Mappy is a side-scrolling platformer that features cartoon-like characters, primarily cats and mice. The game's main character itself is a mouse. Mappy runs on Namco Super Pac-Man hardware,...
- this French team has a new owner, Sophie Chevalier, replacing her ill grandfather this season. Ideal for beginners, cars are easier to control than those of the other racing teams and the CPU car's speed is low. It is notable for its unusual headquarters which is a building inside a garage.
There are four fictional car manufactures to choose from and one special car available:
- Age Solo - a French manufacturer which specialises in compact designs with grip handling. Their Ecureuil supercar is able to tackle corners at high speeds. The Age Solo cars are Prophetie (resembles Mazda MX-5Mazda MX-5The MX-5, also known as Miata in North America and Eunos Roadster in Japan, is a lightweight two-seater roadster, of front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. The model was introduced in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show...
), Dirigeant, Bataille (resembles the coupe version of AC CobraAC CobraThe AC Cobra, also known colloquially as the Shelby Cobra in North America, is an Anglo-American sports car that was produced during the 1960s.-History and development:...
), Megere, Antilope (resembles Jaguar E Type), Averse, Licorne (resembles Panoz Esperante GTR-1Panoz Esperante GTR-1The Panoz Esperante GTR-1 was a race car developed by Panoz Auto Development and Reynard Motorsport for grand tourer endurance racing in 1997. Although named after the Panoz Esperante roadster, the GTR-1 actually bore no mechanical relation to the production Esperante, instead sharing only minor...
), Sorciere (resembles McLaren F1McLaren F1The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
), Supernova (resembles Nissan R391Nissan R391The Nissan R391 was a prototype racing car built by Nissan and their motorsports counterpart Nismo for competition at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans...
) and Ecureuil. - Lizard - an American machine company who creates outrageous, dynamic designs with flamboyant drift handling. Their Nightmare supercar - alike to the "Devil 13" from previous games - boasts ferocious speed. The Lizard cars are Bonfire, Detector (resembles Ferrari F40Ferrari F40The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car...
), Wisdom (resembles Chevrolet Corvette (C2)), Officer (resembles Chevrolet Corvette (C3)), Colleague, Comrade, Ignition, Tamer, Cataract, Reckless and Nightmare. - Assoluto - an Italian manufacturer which designs cars with sleek, aerodynamic curves ideal for drifting. The Vulcano special machine levitates and hence can tackle corners with very little speed loss. The Assoluto cars are Promessa (resembles Ferrari 308Ferrari 308The name, Ferrari 308, refers to a 3 liter 8-cylinder Ferrari sports car. There were two different Ferrari 308 models:* Ferrari GT4, a Bertone-styled 2+2 V8 successor to the Dino* Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS, a Pininfarina-styled 2-seat version of the GT4...
with modernizations), Bisonte (resembles Ferrari F355Ferrari F355The Ferrari F355 is a sports car built by Ferrari from May 1994 to 1999. It is an evolution of the Ferrari 348 and was replaced by the Ferrari 360. It is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive V8-powered 2-seat coupe...
), Regalo, Fatalita (resembles the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-RNissan Skyline GT-RThe Nissan Skyline GT-R is a Japanese sports car based on the Nissan Skyline range.The first GT-Rs were produced from 1969–1973. After a 16 year hiatus since the KPGC110 in 1972, the GT-R name was revived in 1989 with the Skyline R32. This car was nicknamed "Godzilla" by the Australian motoring...
), Rondine, Cavaliere, Infinito, Aquila, Estasi, Squalo and Vulcano. - Terrazi - a Japanese manufacturer with stylish yet minimalist designs and cars which stick to the road. Their Utopia prototype is shaped like a rocket, boasts acceleration just like one and is therefore the fastest car in the game (399 km/h). The Terrazi cars are Ambitious (resembles Toyota SupraToyota SupraThe Toyota Supra is a sports car/grand tourer that was produced by Toyota Motor Company from 1979 to 2002. The styling of the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. Starting in mid-1986, the Supra became its own model and was no longer based on the Celica...
), Troop (resembles Toyota MR2Toyota MR2The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Central Motors, a part of Toyota, from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in Japan...
), Rumor, Wildboar, Capital, Cowboy, Starlight (resembles Lotus 49Lotus 49The Lotus 49 was a Formula One racing car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe for the 1967 F1 season. It was designed around the Cosworth DFV engine that would power most of the Formula One grid through the 1970s and was the first successful Formula One car to feature the engine as a...
), Decision (resembles Honda NSXHonda NSXThe Honda NSX, or Acura NSX, is a sports car that was produced between 1990 and 2005 by the Japanese automaker Honda. It is equipped with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, powered by an all-aluminium V6 gasoline engine featuring Honda's Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control ...
), Terrific, Destroyer, and Utopia. - Pac-Man - when the player unlocks all 320 cars, they are awarded with a secret 321st car shaped like Pac-Man and a bonus music track Eat 'em Up!
Courses
The game has eight courses, six of them have an shared portion. The courses are:Heat 1
- Helter-Skelter - in YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
; - Wonderhill - in FukuokaFukuokaFukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
;
Heat 2
- Edge of the Earth - in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; - Out of Blue - in YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
. The finish line straight are shared with Helter-Skelter;
Final Heat
- Phantomile - in YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
; - Brightest Nite - in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The finish line inside the airport are shared with Edge of the Earth; - Heaven and Hell - in FukuokaFukuokaFukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
. Half of the circuit are shared with Wonderhill; - Shooting Hoops - in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
By winning at least one time the Real Racing Roots '99, these circuits are available in Normal and Reverse directions for Multiplayer and Time Attack game modes.
Other information
Special edition box sets of R4 were packaged with the Namco JogconJogCon
The Jogcon is a controller developed and produced by Namco for the Sony PlayStation videogame console.Originally released in 1998 as part of a special edition package with Namco's R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 videogame, it was designed to combine the function of a steering wheel controller, while...
controller designed specifically for use with the game. The portable PocketStation
PocketStation
The is a peripheral by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation home video game console. Categorized by Sony as a miniature personal digital assistant, the device features a monochrome liquid crystal display , infrared communication capability, a real-time clock, built-in flash memory, and...
device could also be utilized in R4 to trade cars with friends.
Reiko Nagase
R4 featured a CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animated intro with the Ridge Racer "mascot girl" Reiko Nagase, who first appeared in Rage Racer
Rage Racer
Rage Racer is the third title in the Ridge Racer series of racing games on the Sony PlayStation. Created by Namco, it was first released in Japan on December 3, 1996. This game uses the same game's covers for both the Japanese version and the North America version.-Gameplay:Visually the game...
set to an acid jazz piece called Ridge Racer: One More Win by Kimara Lovelace
Kimara Lovelace
Kimara Lovelace is a female dance music vocalist who placed three songs in the Top 10 of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the late nineties. "Circles" spent a week at #1 in 1998...
.
Ridge Racer Turbo/Hi-Spec Demo
The game includes a bonus disc containing a new version of the original Ridge Racer, called Ridge Racer Turbo (known in Europe as Ridge Racer Hi-Spec Demo). This game runs at 60 frames per second with gouraud shading utilised on the car models, as seen in R4.Reviews
- Official PlayStation Magazine UK: 9 out of 10 (90%)
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
: 9.4 out of 10 (94%) - GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
: 8.7 out of 10 (87%) - EdgeEdge (magazine)Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
: 8 out of 10 (80%)
External links
- R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 at NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
(Japanese Site) - R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...