Strategy Guide - Guide for Ridge Racer

By: James William Ayton Jr.  ([email protected])
For the Sony Playstation
Revision: 1
Last update: 10/09/1995


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<>                               Contents                             <>
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Section 1:  General Info
Section 2:  The Tracks
Section 3:  The Cars
Section 4:  Strategies
Section 5:  Tricks


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<>                              SECTION 1:                            <>
<>                             General Info                           <>
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_______
The FAQ

If you know something that is not in the FAQ that you can confirm
yourself, I would love to hear about it and you will get your name in
the credits section.  Also, send Questions, Comments, Additions, and
Corrections to me at [email protected].  Thank You.

_________________
Starting the Game

When you insert the Ridge Racer disk into your Sony PlayStation, a
game of Galaga will start which keeps you from being bored while the
game loads.  Then you will see the title screen.  The title screen is a
flag that says Ridge Racer on it and the wind is blowing it.  To make it 
rotate in any direction, press and hold any two of the top four buttons
and press any direction on the control pad.  Press start whenever you
have finished amusing yourself.  After that, the Game Mode Selection
Screen will come up.  At this screen, you can choose a variety of play
settings.

___________________
Game Mode Selection

The items you can choose from at the Game Mode Selection are: Course
Select, Transmission, Car Select, Sound Select, Start, and Options.


-Course Select

This is where you pick which track to race on.  It will also display the
info of the track and if you have won that race yet or not.  To make the
track rotate to the left, hit L1.  If you want to rotate the track back
to the right, hit R1.  To make the track spin around faster and faster,
hold down either L1 or R1, depending on which direction you want it to
go.


-Transmission

Automatic Transmission - AT - The gears will shift automatically to
match the speed.  This is good for beginners.  Pay attention to how the
automatic transmission switches gears, so you can match it whenever you
decide to play manual.

Manual Transmission - MT - With the manual transmission, you can change
the gears freely.  This is for experts.  You have more control over your
car with a manual transmission.


-Car Select

This is where you pick which car you will use.  It will also display the
info of the car.  To make the car rotate to the left, hit L1.  If you
want to rotate the car back to the right, hit R1.  To make the car spin
around faster and faster, hold down either L1 or R1, depending on which
direction you want it to go.


-Sound Select

You can choose the music that runs during game play.  Also, you can
enjoy playing just the music by choosing the Music Player Option.  One
feature in this game that is probably one of the best, is that you can
listen to your own CD's at ANY time while playing Ridge Racer.  After
the loading screen at the beginning with Galaga, the game will be
completely loaded into your PlayStation and you can take the CD
completely out for the rest of the time that you have your PlayStation
on.  You can then replace it with any of the music CD's that you enjoy
to listen to while you race.  However, you can only pick songs 1 through
6.  It only starts at the beginning on song number 1.  If you pick song
2 through 6, it will start in the middle of the song.  It plays song
Number 8 at the Menus before your race and in the replays when you
finish each race.  Number 7 is played during the demo.


-Start

By going here, you will (big surprise here) start your race with the
options and modes you have selected.


-Options


--Fastest Laps

This shows you the top 6 fastest finishers on the Time Trial Track.  It
shows the rank, the time, the initials of the driver, and the car they
used.  At the bottom you will see the best single lap time.  There are
also options here to load and save Fastest Laps onto Memory Cards.


--Button Configuration

This is where you can change what button does what.

In every configuration, 
Up        = Nothing
Down      = Nothing
Left      = Steers car to the left
Right     = Steers car to the right
Triangle  = Change View
L1        = Shift Down
L2        = Shift Down
R1        = Shift Up
R2        = Shift Up
Select    = Nothing
Start     = Pause


Type - A
Square    = Brake
X         = Accelerate
Circle    = Nothing

Type - B
Square    = Nothing
X         = Brake
Circle    = Accelerate

Type - C
Square    = Accelerate
X         = Brake
Circle    = Nothing

Type - D
Square    = Nothing
X         = Accelerate
Circle    = Brake


--Music Player

This is where you can sit and watch the demo and listen to any of the
songs on the CD as long as they are Number 1 through 6.


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<>                              SECTION 2:                            <>
<>                              The Tracks                            <>
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Beginner
2 Laps
Maximum Speed - 100 mph
The cars are slow, your car is slow, just perfect for a beginner.

Mid-Level
3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 125 mph
This track is just the same as the Beginner Track, just that all the
cars are faster and the other cars are more aggressive and your car is
faster.  There is also one more lap than in the Beginner Track.

High-Level
3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 125 mph
On the High-Level Track, there is a huge section added to the Beginner
and Mid-Level Tracks.  All the cars go the same speed as they did on
the Mid-Level Track.

T.T.
3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 138 mph
The Time Trial Track is just you against the Rt Yellow Solvalou.  If you
pick the Rt Yellow Solvalou as your car, you will race against the F/A
Racing Car.  This is the same track as the High-Level Track, but the
cars go a lot faster here, too.


**Extra Tracks** **See Tricks Section**

All of the Extra Tracks are the same as the normal tracks, just that you
race around them backwards.

Beginner Extra
-2 Laps
Maximum Speed - 100 mph
You just about have to run a perfect race (don't run into the wall and
don't hit any cars throughout the entire race) to win here.


Mid-Level Extra
-3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 125 mph
Same as Beginner Extra, just a little faster and a little harder.

High-Level Extra
-3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 125 mph
Same as regular High-Level Track, of course you race on it backwards but
it is a little harder.

T.T.
-3 Laps
Maximum Speed - 138 mph
This race can get difficult and frustrating sometimes.  This is where
you first get to see the 13" Racing car.  It stops on the track every
lap, but it goes fast.  You can't lose with the Rt Ryukyu Car.


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<>                              SECTION 3:                            <>
<>                               The Cars                             <>
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Performance scales are from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best in whatever
category.  Cars are in order in which they appear at the car select
screen.


__________
13" Racing
Car #13

Here it is, the Black Lamborghini, the most powerful car in the game.
To get it, you must win the Time Trial Extra Track.  You think the Rt
Xevious Green or the Rt Blue Solvalou is fast?  You don't know what fast 
is until you have seen this car.

Acceleration  - 5
Handling      - 5
Traction      - 5
Maximum Speed - 5


__________
F/A Racing
Car #3

The F/A Racing Car is all red with a white stripe on each side.  It says
Namco and Naviway on each side and Namco on the front and back.  Looks
like a European Sedan.  An all around average car.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 3
Maximum Speed - 3


_________
Rt Ryukyu
Car #4

This car is red in the front and green in the back with a white stripe
on both sides.  Looks like a European Sedan.  This car is recommended
for racing on the Time Trial Extra Track.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 5
Traction      - 5
Maximum Speed - 3


__________________
Rt Yellow Solvalou
Car #2

This car is completely yellow.  Looks like a Lamborghini or some other
type of sports car.  

Acceleration  - 5
Handling      - 2
Traction      - 1
Maximum Speed - 4


________________
Rt Blue Solvalou
Car #12

This car is completely blue.  Looks like a Lamborghini or some other
type of sports car.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 1
Maximum Speed - 4


_____________
Rt Pink Mappy
Car #15
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

This car is all pink.  It says MAPPY in rainbow colors on each side and
what looks like a little picture of Jerry from the Tom & Jerry cartoons
dressed up as a cop.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 4
Maximum Speed - 3


_____________
Rt Blue Mappy
Car #5
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

This car is all blue.  It says MAPPY in rainbow colors on each side and
what looks like a little picture of Jerry from the Tom & Jerry cartoons
dressed up as a cop on each side and on the hood.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 4
Maximum Speed - 3


________________
Galaga Rt Plid's
Car #16
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

The Galaga cars are the most colorful cars in the game.  This one is
yellow on the front, hood, roof, and trunk.  Orange is in the middle on
each side while red makes up the back on each side.  There is some type
of red and yellow creature on each side, probably was a creature in the
Galaga game.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 4
Traction      - 2
Maximum Speed - 4


________________
Galaga Rt Carrot
Car #6
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

This car is blue on the hood, the roof, and the entire back.  Orange is
on each side on the front and yellow and green are on each side on the
middle.  This car also has the same creature that is on the Galaga Rt
Plid's car.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 5
Traction      - 2
Maximum Speed - 4


____________
Rt Eosconian
Car #18
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

The hood and the trunk on this car is yellow with one red stripe up the
middle.  The top half of the rear is white and the bottom half of the
entire car is red.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 3
Maximum Speed - 3


_____________
Rt Neeulasray
Car #8
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

The hood and the trunk on this car is yellow with one blue stripe up the
middle.  The top half of the rear is white and the bottom half of the
entire car is blue.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 3
Maximum Speed - 3


______________
Rt Xevious Red
Car #7
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

This car is completely red.  Looks like a Ferrari or some other type of
sports car.

Acceleration  - 5
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 1
Maximum Speed - 3


________________
Rt Xevious Green
#17
*Secret Car, Read Tricks Section*

This car is completely green.  Looks like a Ferrari or some other type
of sports car.

Acceleration  - 3
Handling      - 3
Traction      - 2
Maximum Speed - 4



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<>                              SECTION 4:                            <>
<>                              Strategies                            <>
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Fish Tailing

Fish Tailing can be very fun if you can do it right.  Fish Tailing is
where your rear wheels slide to the outside of a turn and the front
slide to the inside.  It makes it where you can easily go around the
sharpest of all turns with no problems.  To do a Fish Tail, wait till
you are coming to a corner and let go of the accelerator, hit the brake
and turn in the appropriate direction.  Make sure not to go too far or
you'll spin out.  It takes experience to get it right every time.  When
you first learn how to Fish Tail, you will have problems with the car
losing a lot of speed when your car regains traction.  Try not to lose
control and you will be able to avoid the slowing down.  To make it
where you don't lose speed, hit tap the Brake lightly as you are Fish
Tailing.  Sometimes you can gain speed out of Fish Tailing.  To do that,
release the accelerator again and tap the Brake again and just redo the
entire process.  Just experience Fish Tailing and you'll be able to zip
through any turn every time.  Fish Tailing is only needed with fast cars
with bad traction and handling.


Cornering

If you haven't figured out Fish Tailing or you think you'll never be
able to do it, just go ahead and learn how to Corner real well.  With a
slow car with good traction, you will only need to tap the brake on 2 or
3 turns throughout the entire course.  With a fast car with not much
handling, you should at least tap the brake on every turn.  Some turns
don't need the tap at all.  The tap just sets you up on the turn to
where you should be so you'll go through the turn afterwards easier. 
Always make sure you don't hold the brake too long or you may hit the
inside of the turn, which would defeat the entire purpose of hitting the
brake in the first place.


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Secret Bonus Cars

To get the 8 Bonus Cars, for a total of 12 to choose from, simply
destroy every creature on the Galaga game at the loading screen.  It
will then say "PERFECT" and the game will start as normal.


Extra Tracks

To get the 4 extra courses, just simply win every race.  The extra
courses will be the same as the regular tracks, just that you will race
around them backwards.


Mirror Tracks

This can be done on ANY track.  To race on a mirror of a track, just
turn around at the start of the race.  On the normal tracks, turn just
before you get to the part where the track meets the other track.  On
the extra courses, just turn around right before the first curve.  Then
you hit the gas petal and drive straight through the brick wall you will
see.  You will still go forwards around the track, it's just that all
the left turns turn into right turns and vice versa.  All the buildings
that were on the left are now on the right an vice versa.


THE END OF THE FAQ!!!