R4: Ridge Racer Type 4

Ever since the first Ridge Racer was published it has ether pushed or carried take your pick the console to tremendous levels that until so were though impossible. None the less the game is the same.

First off lets talk about the cars. There are 4 different car companies in the game: Assaulto the Italians, Lizard the Americans, Terrazi the Japanese, and Age Solo the French. Out of these four companies there are a  total of 45 different car models and  320 cars you can earn including the four special that are : Vulcano from the Italians , Nightmare from the Americans, Utopia from the Japanese, and Ecureuil from the French. Also you can choose from drift cars where the tail end slides out on tight turns and grip cars where the car will grip the road no matter how tight the turn. Mastering both of these driving styles  are very important if you want to get all the
cars.

On to the tracks. The "R4 team" decided to spice up the game by using 8 different track designs  instead of the dull un-fun 1 track design. This makes the atmosphere change and not stay the same during each race.

This brings us to the next point: Graphics.There is a great amount of detail in this game which makes it even better. Out of the 8 track designs they are all full of nicks and knacks which like I said makes the mood change from far ex.. In the day time and in the Nightime. This all makes the game very fun and interesting.

Back to the Cars. The cars where not based on real ones so the "R4 team" could use there creative edge to have fun with the car creation. Like the Cataract is identical to the Batmobile. The Cavaliere was one of my
favorites with the rear wheels covered. All the Japanese cars where crazy and off the wall but where still cool.

They range from the decision which was really a 3-wheeler. The wildboar which had only 1 rear wheel. Terrific which was more aerodynamic and looked more like a plane than a car. The destroyer which looked like a battle vehicle. Utopia which was a 3-wheeler and looked more aerodynamic. Finally, the Cowboy which is just plan cool.

Also there was the Tamer which had some awesome fanbelts in the back of it. Also Ignition and Recless are way cool. Nightmare also wheel you'll have to see it. This leaves me with the Age Solo group but there where so many you'll have to see it for yourself. There is only one minor let down in the and that is that some of the computer cars which ran on a set line where to easy. But other than that it was great.

On with the depth. Even though it wasn't surpassing of Gran Turismo it had some pretty nice things in it. Because the cars were fictional and didn't cater to normal physics and handling they were able to make a Grand Prix mode which had different developing background depending on the car company you pick. Just this one mode gives R4 a better feel than most other racing games. I left the last info. out and that is that you can get a 321 car. After getting all 320 cars go to Time Trial Mode and there is a new car which features  the most known creature Pac-man. But you'll have to do it for yourself because I am not giving how the car looks away. So have fun and keep racing.

RATINGS
GRAPHICS 98%
SOUND 96%
GAMEPLAY 98%
ORIGINALITY 97%
REPLAY VALUE 99%
OVERALL 98%

Review from Dane
Dane's Playstation page
and
Playstation in Orbit