Rage Racer
2452771
221490405
2008-06-24T18:59:41Z
SchfiftyThree
556700
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/69.116.108.206|69.116.108.206]] ([[User talk:69.116.108.206|talk]]) to last version by MisterVodka
{{Infobox VG| title = Rage Racer
|image = [[Image:RageRacerBox.jpg|256px]]
|developer = [[Namco]]
|publisher = [[Namco]]
|designer =
|engine =
|released = [[December 3]] [[1996]] <small>([[Japan|JPN]])</small><br>[[May 15]] [[1997]] <small>([[North America|NA]])</small><br>June [[1997]] <small>([[Europe|EU]])</small>
|genre = [[Racing game|Racing]]
|modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer game|multiplayer]]
|ratings = [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: Everyone (E)
|platforms = [[PlayStation|Sony PlayStation]]
|media = [[CD-ROM]]
|requirements =
|input =
}}
'''''Rage Racer''''' (レイジレーサー) is the third title in the ''[[Ridge Racer (series)|Ridge Racer]]'' series of [[racing game]]s on the [[Sony]] [[PlayStation]]. Created by [[Namco]], it was first released in Japan on [[December 3]] [[1996]].
==Gameplay==
Visually the game takes a different approach compared to the previous PlayStation titles. The game looks more realistic and has a darker colour scheme, it takes a lot of this from the arcade game in the ''Ridge Racer'' series, ''[[Rave Racer]]''. ''Rage Racer'' introduces a brand new singleplayer credit system.
[[Image:Rage Racer.jpg|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot]]
;Tracks
''Rage Racer'' has 4 tracks, which all can be driven backwards. Compared to the tracks in the previous games, ''Rage Racer'''s tracks are very long and detailed, except for "The Extreme Oval", at 3,074m. The remaining 3 tracks are "Mystical Coast" (4,641m), "Over Pass City" (6,640m) and "Lakeside Gate" (6,237m). Rage Racer was also one of the only games in the series that did ''not'' feature an onscreen map during the race.
;Vehicles
The player starts with a very basic and slow car, and must win races to upgrade and buy new cars. Each car can be upgraded a certain amount of times (depending on the car's grade when bought)and offer visual changes to the car body.
This is the first game in the [[Ridge Racer (series)|''Ridge Racer'']] series that permits the player to race with a truck, but it only comes with [[manual transmission]]. The only truck in this game is the Lizard Hijack, and is available from Class 4 in the game. In an extra Grand prix,there is an extra grade 6 class where you can buy super cars for ridiculous prices.These cars are called the Vanquire [2,000,000],Bulldog [3,700,000] and the Squaldon [6,000,000]. The grade 6 has only 5 cars in the race and can only be done backwards.
The Makes are particular for different courses. Age is for "Lakeside Gate", Lizard is for "Over Pass City", Esperanza is for "Mythical Coast" and Ausolotto is for "The Extreme Oval".
==Development==
In an interview with the Namco development team, Nobuhisa Mikoda (''Rage Racer'' game designer and project director) admitted that the game was "somewhat off series and aimed to pursue enjoyment in shift controlling".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=10541 | publisher=Computer And Video Games | title=Ridge Racer V: the definitive interview | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref>
''Rage Racer'' was the first in the ''Ridge Racer'' series to feature a [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] animated introduction. Here the ''Ridge Racer'' "mascot girl" [[Reiko Nagase]] was introduced for the very first time.<ref name="reiko">{{cite web|last= Mielke|first= James |date= 2006-09-14|title = Reiko Nagase Feature| url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3153582 |accessdate = 2007-05-15 | publisher=[[1UP.com]]}}</ref>
==Soundtrack==
As with ''[[Ridge Racer 6]]'', there was never an "official" direct-audio soundtrack released for this game unlike its prequels, ''[[Ridge Racer (arcade game)|Ridge Racer]]'', ''[[Ridge Racer 2]]'', and ''[[Rave Racer]]'', which all had soundtracks on Victor Records in Japan before the Playstation was released in the United States. Produced during summer/fall 1996, the genre of music consisted mostly of Electronic Music, which was a slight departure from the strictly euro-dance/club styles that early ''Ridge Racer''. It marked the beginning of Namco's new primary sound team after their former members began working with other companies doing production on games such as ''[[Street Fighter EX]]'' (1996) and ''[[Driving Emotion Type-S]]'' (2000). Notable tracks include "Silverstream", "Deep Drive", "Rage Racer", and "Lightning Luge" among others.
==Reception==
<div style="font-size: 90%;float:right;border-left:1em solid white">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+'''Reviews'''
!colspan = 2|Compilations of multiple reviews
|-
|''[[Game Rankings]]''
|colspan=2|83.7% (based on 17 reviews)<ref name = "gamerankings">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/198393.asp |title=Rage Racer Reviews |author = Game Rankings staff |publisher=[[Game Rankings]] |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref>
|-
!Publication
!Response
|-
|-
|''[[Game Revolution]]''
|4/5<ref name="gamerevolution">{{cite web|date= 2004-04-06|title = Rage Racer review for the PS| url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/sony/rage_racer|accessdate = 2007-05-14 | publisher=[[Game Revolution]]}}</ref>
|-
|''[[GamePro]]''
|4.5/5<ref name="gamepro">{{cite web|author= Major Mike|date= 2000-01-01|title = Review: Rage Racer| url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/510.shtml|accessdate = 2007-05-14 | publisher=[[GamePro]]}}</ref>
|-
|''[[GameSpot]]''
|7.6/10<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web|last= Gerstmann|first= Jeff |date= 1997-05-20|title = Rage Racer for PlayStation Review| url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/driving/rageracer/review.html|accessdate = 2007-05-14 | publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>
|-
|''[[IGN]]''
|7/10<ref name="ign">{{cite web|date= 1997-05-19|title = IGN: Rage Racer Review:| url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/150/150505p1.html|accessdate = 2007-05-14 | publisher=[[IGN]]}}</ref>
|}
</div>
The game received generally favourable ratings, [[IGN]] concluding "It's not a bad game, we've just seen it all before (and before that even)".<ref name="ign" /> [[GameSpot]] described it as "an outstanding sequel" but added "let's hope Namco addresses the collision problems in their next racer", a reference to the unrealistic crashes in the game.<ref name="gamespot" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{allgame|id=1:24316|name=Rage Racer}}
*{{moby game|id=/rage-racer}}
{{Ridge Racer series}}
[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:Namco games]]
[[Category:PlayStation games]]
[[Category:Racing video games]]
[[Category:Ridge Racer series]]
[[id:Rage Racer]]
[[ja:レイジレーサー]]