Ridge Racer V

Ridge Racer V

North American box art
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Series Ridge Racer
Platform(s) Arcade, PlayStation 2
Release date(s) PlayStation 2
  • JP March 4, 2000
  • NA October 26, 2000
  • EU November 24, 2000
Arcade
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Distribution Arcade machine
CD-ROM
Cabinet Sitdown
Arcade system Namco System 246
Display Raster (Horizontal)

Ridge Racer V (RRV) is an arcade racing game developed and published by Namco for the Sony PlayStation 2. Focusing on high-speed drift racing in the fictional Ridge City, the game features 7 tracks, 21 vehicles and 5 modes of play.

Gameplay

In Ridge Racer V the player is a racing driver taking part in events across Ridge City in a variety of fictional cars. The focus is on accessible and fun driving rather than simulating how a car behaves in the real world; as such the player is encouraged to powerslide around most corners by tapping the brake when entering the turn.

Racing on RRV is divided into different race formats. The primary mode is Grand Prix, a series of structured championships completion of which rewards the player with new cars. Other modes include Time Attack, a long distance endurance race called the 99 Trial and free runs on any of the unlocked tracks. Two players can also take part in a split-screen race against one another.

A special race is unlocked after the player fulfills certain requirements: it features the arcade game characters Pac-Man in a roadster and Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde on scooters. Winning this race unlocks the special characters for use in other game modes. Boss cars can be won by defeating the bosses in the game's Duel mode after fulfilling certain requirements. After all 4 bosses are defeated in Duel mode, Battle Royal mode is unlocked, allow the player to choose any boss cars and challenge all 4 bosses in a race (including ones the player have selected).

Tracks

Seaside Route 765 Length: 13,477 ft (4,108 m)

A reworked version of the Novice course in Ridge Racer. Standard course running through town to the shoreline.

Ridge City Highway Length: 19,251 ft (5,868 m)

A reworked version of the Advanced course in Ridge Racer. Extension of Sunny Beach, with high speeds the norm.

Park Town Length: 11,574 ft (3,528 m)

A simple Figure 8 track with long straightaways and simple turns.

Above the City Length: 17,037 ft (5,193 m)

An extension of Park Town, the track experiences sudden elevation drops and irregular corners.

Outer Pass Length: 14,878 ft (4,535 m)

A slightly modified version of Seaside Route 765. Defined with a mountainous terrain in the first half of the track.

Bayside Line Length: 25,688 ft (7,830 m)

Longest track in Ridge Racer V, meant to challenge the most experienced drivers. This is an extension of Outer Pass.

Airport Oval Length: 11,246 ft (3,428 m)

Setup similar to a NASCAR race, this ten-lap race is highlighted by the use of special Oval Engines; high power engines meant for full throttle racing.

Car list

Standard Cars

A light car, best suited for beginners (drift).

A wild and uncontrollable car best noted for its abundance of torque. A drifty car geared for intermediate drivers (drift).

A pure sports car, only suitable for advanced drivers (drift).

Strong grip car, which compensates for its lack of torque. Is the only car in the game with a FF drivetrain.

A symbol of Ridge City racing, this car balances speed, acceleration and handling.

Best grip car, however its rear mounted engine is not for everyone.

Boss Cars

A drift-type car with gut-wrenching acceleration at the expense of all-round functionality. Can only be obtained by defeating "Pluto" in an Above the City Duel.

A fast drift-type car which slides very easily. This car has been reworked from Ridge Racer and is well known for its black paint job, yellow-devil logo and the yellow number "13". Can only be obtained by defeating "Devil" in a Green Field Duel.

A fast and nimble car most well known for peerless handling. Can only be obtained by defeating "Spirit" in a Bayside Line Duel.

Another legendary car reworked from Ridge Racer Revolution, well known for its deceivingly pristine white paint job, blue angel logo and the blue number 0. This is the fastest car in the game, as well as being a grip-type car which doesn't drift. Can only be obtained by defeating ANGEL in a Sunny Beach Duel.

Pac-Man GP

Namco Pac-Man (The Red Roaster driven by himself.)

The 4 Ghosts

Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle

Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle, the arcade port of Ridge Racer V, first appeared in 2001 for the Namco System 246 arcade platform. The arcade version has some features such as Duel, Free Run and Pac-Man GP removed. It is the last Ridge Racer for arcade platform until the Pachislot Ridge Racer, which was a pachislot game released seven years later. The Ridge Racer arcade games were replaced by Mario Kart Arcade GP and Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune series.

Song list

Played by the Ridge City FM 76.5 MHz Call sign RIDGE

Reception

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the PlayStation 2 version of the game a 36 out of 40.[1]

References

  1. ↑ プレイステーション2 - リッジレーサーV. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.55. 30 June 2006.

External links