History VideoGame / RidgeRacer

* GaidenGame: ''R: Racing Evolution''. It's actually very close to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOCA_Race_Driver Toca Race Driver/Pro Race Driver]], with real cars, real tracks and a story mode with cutscenes.

* BrutalBonusLevel: The MAX Tours in the [[RegionalBonus North American version]] of ''Ridge Racers'' and in ''Ridge Racers 2''.

** ''Ridge Racer 64'' and ''V'' are implied to take place in [[VideoGame/AceCombat Strangereal]], with Neucom and General Resource's logos dotting the scenery here and there.

** ''Ridge Racer 64'' and ''V'' are implied to happen in [[VideoGame/AceCombat Strangereal]], with Neucom and General Resource's logos dotting the scenery here and there.

** The tracks are also littered with {{Shout Out}}s to other games. Pay close attention in ''Ridge Racer V'' and ''64'', for example, and you'll see the logos of the factions from ''VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere''.

* OddballIntheSeries: ''R: Racing Evolution'' or ''Unbounded''.

** ''Unbounded'' eschews the elegance and professionalism of ''Ridge Racer'' and goes with a gritty, destruction-focused affair. Drifting is also much less liberal in ''Unbounded'', which is a huge shift from the core series.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''6'' could be regarded as one to ''Revolution'' and the PSP installments; ''7'', instead, is definitely regarded as one to ''Rage Racer'', as both games share customization mechanics and a credits system, plus the career modes in both games are very similar to each other.
** ''Unbounded'' is this to ''Critical Velocity'', but inversely, the latter was Japan-exclusive while the former was not released in Japan.
** ''Slipstream'' is this to ''Accelerated'', as both are made for iOS and Android devices.
** The arcade installments would be followed by ''VideoGame/MarioKart'''s ''Arcade GP'' sub-series, with Pac-Man and the Ghosts as {{Guest Fighter}}s.

* ShoutOut: Everything [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] has ever done, period. VideoGame/DigDug makes car parts, ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' characters make wheel mods, [[VideoGame/{{Klonoa}} Phantomile]] is a track in ''Type 4'', Ridge State has a ''VideoGame/{{Xevious}}'' tournament, [[VideoGame/TalesOfEternia a Craymel-powered engine for the Kamata Angelus]]...

** The Special cars in all games. Some of them are pimped out hot-rods, others are little speedsters, others are UsefulNotes/FormulaOne car look-a-likes, others are antigravity racers, others are tremendously weird, others are rocket cars , but, let's just say it, these cars are absolutely epic. There are also the Kamata Angelus, the Angel car, which is very fast and easy to handle, posing a big threat even to the more experienced players, and the (badass) Soldat Crinale, the Devil car, which is the fastest car in the game, but handles like the road's made of ice.

* ''Ridge Racer'' (1994 - Japan, 1995 - USA/EU), for arcades and the UsefulNotes/PlayStation (Launch Title).
* ''Ridge Racer 2'' (1994 - Worldwide) for arcades.
* ''Ridge Racer Revolution'' (1995 - Japan, 1996 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=]. The console port of Ridge Racer 2.
* ''Rave Racer'' (1995 - Worldwide) for arcades.
* ''Rage Racer'' (1996 - Japan, 1997 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=].
* ''R4: Ridge Racer Type 4'' (1998 - Japan, 1999 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=].
* ''Ridge Racer 64'' (2000), for Nintendo 64, features tracks from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2 and its very own set of desert tracks exclusive to the N64. Unlike the other entries, it was developed by a Nintendo studio in America and never officially released in Japan.
* ''Ridge Racer V'' (2000), for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (Launch Title).
* ''Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle'' (2001 - Japan) for arcades.
* ''R: Racing Evolution'' (2003 - Japan, 2004 USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=] 2, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube and Xbox.
* ''Ridge Racer DS'' (2004 - USA, 2005 - EU), for Nintendo DS, a port of Ridge Racer 64.
* ''Critical Velocity'' (2005 - Japan), for [=PlayStation=] 2, plot-based action-adventure, WideOpenSandbox driving game. First Japan-exclusive Ridge Racer game.
* ''Ridge Racer[[MarketBasedTitle (s)]]'' (PSP) (2004 - Japan, 2005 - USA/EU), for UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, mixed new vehicles with tracks from the previous games.
* ''Ridge Racer 6'' (2005), for Xbox 360 (Launch Game).
* ''Ridge Racer[[MarketBasedTitle (s)]] 2'' (PSP) (2006), for [=PlayStation=] Portable.
* ''Ridge Racer 7'' (2006), for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (Launch Game) - Allowed complete customization of vehicles from body kits to engine parts and paint jobs. One of the few [=PS3=] games to run at 1080p and 60 FPS[[note]]Even ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}} HD'', which claims it can, cheats by adjusting the resolution when things get too hectic.[[/note]]
* ''Pachislot Ridge Racer'' (2008), for [=PlayStation 2=]. A pachislot RolePlayingGame developed by Yamasa.[[note]]They are also known for creating a real-life reproduction of the Soldat Raggio, the cover car of the PSP releases. This reproduction appears as the LethalJokeCharacter in ''Ridge Racers 2''.[[/note]]
* ''Ridge Racer Accelerated'' (2009), for iOS and Android devices, a reformulated port of ''Ridge Racers 2''.
* ''Ridge Racer 3D'' (2011), for UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS (Launch game).
* ''Ridge Racer'' (2012), for UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita (Launch game).
* ''Ridge Racer Unbounded'' (2012), for Xbox 360, [=PlayStation=] 3, PC (developed by Bugbear Entertainment)
* ''Ridge Racer Driftopia'' (2013), a FreeToPlay game, based mostly on ''Unbounded'', developed by Bugbear for [=PlayStation 3=] and PC.
* ''Ridge Racer Slipstream'' (2013), for iOS and Android devices, developed to celebrate the [=20th=] anniversary of the series.

* ''Rage Racer'' (1996 - Japan, 1997 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=]

* ''Ridge Racer 6'' (2005), for Xbox 360 (Launch Game)
* ''Ridge Racer[[MarketBasedTitle (s)]] 2'' (PSP) (2006), for [=PlayStation=] Portable

* ''Pachislot Ridge Racer'' (2008), for [=PlayStation 2=]. A pachislot RolePlayingGame developed by Yamasa[[note]]They are also known for creating a real-life reproduction of the Soldat Raggio, the cover car of the PSP releases. This reproduction appears as the LethalJokeCharacter in ''Ridge Racers 2''.[[/note]]

* ''Ridge Racer 3D'' (2011), for UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS (Launch game)
* ''Ridge Racer'' (2012), for UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita (Launch game)

* ''Ridge Racer Driftopia'' (2013), a FreeToPlay game, based mostly on ''Unbounded'', developed by Bugbear for [=PlayStation 3=] and PC

''Ridge Racer'' is a series of racing games created by Namco and initially released in arcades in 1993. They found greater popularity on the [=PlayStation=], where the first ''Ridge Racer'' game was announced as a launch title, owing much of its success to its emphasis on fast-paced racing over super-realism. It's become a tradition for a new [=PlayStation=] console to have a new ''Ridge Racer'' game as a LaunchTitle, and the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]], [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} were launched with one as well. So far, seven official games have been released, mostly on the [=PlayStation=]. An eighth game, dubbed ''Ridge Racer Unbounded'', was released in 2012 and developed by Creator/BugbearEntertainment (developers of the first two ''VideoGame/FlatOut'' games).

* Ridge Racer (1994 - Japan, 1995 - USA/EU), for arcades and the UsefulNotes/PlayStation (Launch Title).
* Ridge Racer 2 (1994 - Worldwide) for arcades.
* Ridge Racer Revolution (1995 - Japan, 1996 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=]. The console port of Ridge Racer 2.
* Rave Racer (1995 - Worldwide) for arcades.
* Rage Racer (1996 - Japan, 1997 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=]
* R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998 - Japan, 1999 - USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=].
* Ridge Racer 64 (2000), for Nintendo 64, features tracks from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2 and its very own set of desert tracks exclusive to the N64. Unlike the other entries, it was developed by a Nintendo studio in America and never officially released in Japan.
* Ridge Racer V (2000), for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 (Launch Title).
* Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle (2001 - Japan) for arcades.
* R: Racing Evolution (2003 - Japan, 2004 USA/EU), for [=PlayStation=] 2, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube and Xbox.
* Ridge Racer DS (2004 - USA, 2005 - EU), for Nintendo DS, a port of Ridge Racer 64.
* Critical Velocity (2005 - Japan), for [=PlayStation=] 2, plot-based action-adventure, WideOpenSandbox driving game. First Japan-exclusive Ridge Racer game.
* Ridge Racer[[MarketBasedTitle (s)]] (PSP) (2004 - Japan, 2005 - USA/EU), for UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, mixed new vehicles with tracks from the previous games.
* Ridge Racer 6 (2005), for Xbox 360 (Launch Game)
* Ridge Racer[[MarketBasedTitle (s)]] 2 (PSP) (2006), for [=PlayStation=] Portable
* Ridge Racer 7 (2006), for UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 (Launch Game) - Allowed complete customization of vehicles from body kits to engine parts and paint jobs. One of the few [=PS3=] games to run at 1080p and 60 FPS[[note]]Even ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}} HD'', which claims it can, cheats by adjusting the resolution when things get too hectic.[[/note]]
* Pachislot Ridge Racer (2008), for [=PlayStation 2=]. A pachislot RolePlayingGame developed by Yamasa[[note]]They are also known for creating a real-life reproduction of the Soldat Raggio, the cover car of the PSP releases. This reproduction appears as the LethalJokeCharacter in ''Ridge Racers 2''.[[/note]]
* Ridge Racer Accelerated (2009), for iOS and Android devices, a reformulated port of ''Ridge Racers 2''.
* Ridge Racer 3D (2011), for UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS (Launch game)
* Ridge Racer (2012), for UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita (Launch game)
* Ridge Racer Unbounded (2012), for Xbox 360, [=PlayStation=] 3, PC (developed by Bugbear Entertainment)
* Ridge Racer Driftopia (2013), a FreeToPlay game, based mostly on ''Unbounded'', developed by Bugbear for [=PlayStation 3=] and PC
* Ridge Racer Slipstream (2013), for iOS and Android devices, developed to celebrate the [=20th=] anniversary of the series.

** Some of the nitrous types in 7 ''breathe'' this trope. Example given, the [[MythologyGag General]][[VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere Resource]] Reverse Charge nitrous, which only charges when the boost is active during a drift. Use it wrong, and the rest of it is [[PermanentlyMissableContent gone for the duration of the race]], but use it right, and you can have endless level 3 nitrous boosts.

* RuleOfFun: The series' main claim to fame is its absurd drifting physics (which just requires you let off the accelerator for a second then swing into a turn as your car slides like it's on ice skates). You can drift for several seconds without losing any velocity and pulling out is as easy as just straightening the front end out. It makes no sense but it feels really good.

* RuleOfFun: The series' main claim to fame is its absurd drifting physics (which just requires you let off the accelerator for a second then swing into a turn as your car slides like it's on ice skates). You can drift for several seconds without losing any velocity and pulling out is as easy as just straightening the front end out.
* SceneryGorn: In ''Unbounded'': after destroying many scenery objects or in the ''Ghost Bay'' scenery, which is the final world of the game.

* Expy: Assoluto Squaldon in Rage Racer, to Soldat Crinale in the main series.

* Ridge Racer 64 (2000), for Nintendo 64, features tracks from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2 and its very own set of desert tracks exclusive to the N64.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: It's hard not to expect fantastic cars from a manufacturer named ''Assoluto''. Aside from sounding like "assault", [[BilingualBonus it's also Italian for "absolute"]]. As in, they put out some of the ''absolute'' best cars in the series.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: It's hard not to expect fantastic cars from a manufacturer named ''Assoluto''. Aside from sounding like "assault", [[BilingualBonus it's also Italian for "absolute"]]. As in, they put out some of the ''absolute'' best cars in the series.

* LikeASonToMe: Playing GP Mode under Racing Team Solvalou has your leader Enki Gilbert [[DefrostingIceKing warming up to you over time]] and telling you that you remind him of his late son, who [[spoiler:died in a racing accident]]. This isn't exactly a good thing for him, as while he stops demanding perfection from you and treating you with no respect even for a first-place finish, he also starts getting very concerned for your safety and begs you to just finish the final race even if it means coming in last[[note]][[GameplayAndStorySegregation not that you're allowed to anyway]], as a 1st-place finish is required or else you have to try the race again[[/note]], because [[spoiler:he doesn't want you to fall to the same fate his that son did]].

* GenreShift: R4 is considerably more down-to-earth than the usual arcadey Ridge Racer games, before and after.