Ridge Racer 64

リッジレーサー64

Ridge Racer 64
System Nintendo 64
Developer Nintendo Software Technology, Namco
Genre Racing
Nintendo 64
US 14th February 2000
EU 7th April 2000

Information

When Ridge Racer was storming arcades and other home consoles, Nintendo was disappointed to hear that Namco had no plans for an N64 version. Nintendo's American development studio, Nintendo Software Technology, stepped in to create an N64 port.

The game is a compilation of Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution, taking all the tracks and cars from both games and putting them into one place. A new N64-exclusive "Ridge Racer Renegade" track has also been added.

Each car handles slightly differently, but all of them have a drift mode. By drifting you can take sharp corners extremely tightly, shaving seconds off your time - invaluable when you're facing the gradually more difficult computer AI. The stages are also faithfully recreated, but graphically they have improved considerably.

When you start you have very few cars, but you can unlock loads more by challenging them in the Car Attack mode when it becomes available. Similarly you can also unlock extra tracks and versions in each of the three game modes by completing the ones that come before. As you progress through each game, the sheer amount of stuff you unlock is saved to cartridge, and can be used to play in Time Trial and multiplayer modes as well.

Cameos

Galaga '88

Galaga '88

Get 1st Place on Ridge Racer Extreme Extra (Grand Prix), and you get to play a level of the Galaga '88 arcade game from Namco.

If you defeat all 40 aliens, you unlock the Galaga '88 car and the Galaga Pac Jam song.

Submitted by Kohta

Cameo Cars

Many of the cars in the game feature references to Namco games, and a few exclusive to this game reference Nintendo.


Galaga '88

Galaga '88

A car shaped like the Galaga ship from Namco's Galaga '88 arcade game.

To unlock it, get 1st Place on Ridge Racer Extreme Extra (Grand Prix), and you get to play a level of the Galaga '88 arcade game from Namco. Defeat all 40 aliens and the car is unlocked.


Blinky

Blinky

A car shaped like Blinky, the blue ghost from Namco's Pac-Man.

To unlock it, complete 99 laps on Free Run in Time Attack Mode on any track.


Pooka

Pooka

A car shaped like the Pooka enemy from Namco's Dig-Dug.

To unlock it, clear the Set Record in Time Attack Mode on track 7 or track 8.


Ultra 64

Ultra 64

This car's name refers to the working title for the Nintendo 64.

To unlock it, clear every stage in 1st place on Z-class to get all 8 Platinum Trophies. After the staff roll, the Ultra 64 will be available in the Garage.


00 Agent

00 Agent

This car's name refers to James Bond, who was just one of several 00 agents (number 007) in the movies. The car may be a reference to Nintendo's hugely popular N64 game Goldeneye 007.


Pac Racing

Pac Racing

A car featuring sprite art decals of Namco's Pac-Man.


RT Solvalou

RT Solvalou

This car's name refers to the Solvalou ship from Namco's Xevious arcade game.


RT Xevious Red/Green

RT Xevious Red/Green

This car's name refers to Namco's Xevious arcade game.


Galaga RT Prid's/Carrot

Galaga RT Prid's/Carrot

This car's name refers to Namco's Galaga arcade game. The car features decals of Pooka from Dig-Dug.


RT Pink/Blue Mappy

RT Pink/Blue Mappy

This car's name refers to Namco's Mappy arcade game. The car features decals of Mappy.


Micro Mouse Mappy

Micro Mouse Mappy

This car's name refers to Namco's Mappy arcade game.


RT Bosconian

RT Bosconian

This car's name refers to Namco's Bosconian arcade game.


Screenshot Required

RT Nebulasray

This car's name refers to Namco's Nebulas Ray arcade game.


DIG Racing Team

DIG Racing Team

This car's name refers to Namco's Dig-Dug arcade game, and features decals of Pooka.

Submitted by Loves Nintendo, Fryguy64, Kohta

Are we missing any cameo appearances for this game? Please contact NinDB with the details.