It may be three sequels down the line on PlayStation, but on N64, Ridge Racer 64 is the fastest, smoothest thing since F-Zero X.
Martin Kitts

As one of the true classics of arcade driving games, Ridge Racer is something that you always had to own a PlayStation or a limitless supply of 50p pieces to experience. Until now, that is.

Ridge Racer 64 is a supercharged combination of the game's first two PlayStation outings, with a dash of RR4 and a perfectly weighted new powerslide system thrown in. It's impressively quick from the beginning, even while you're stuck with the first batch of 'slow' cars, but once you've unlocked a couple of the higher tiers it turns into the fastest thing on four wheels. When the speedo reads 150mph as you weave through a chicane, it feels like you're doing twice that. The scenery is detailed, perfectly smooth and the only place you'll notice any pop-up is in the rear view mirror - not that you can actually take your eyes off the road without crashing, of course. It certainly looks like it means business.

The familiar Ridge Racer handling is nicely reproduced too, despite Namco having had nothing to do with the game's development (Ridge Racer 64 was coded by the unknown NST, one of Nintendo's internal teams in the States). There's even the option to use PlayStation-style D-pad controls, although the analogue stick is better for holding those powerslides on target. By releasing the accelerator or tapping the brake, you can fling the car into a preposterous sideways slide, leaving rubber trails on the road and tackling the most savage corners with ease. It's possible to take a powerslide through a full 360 degrees if you really want to show off, although trying that in the first-person viewpoint is an invitation to motion sickness.