Play Rr64 - Ridge Racer 64 Online

Ridge Racer 64 came out for the Nintendo 64 in 2000, developed by Nintendo and published under their name. It was a solid arcade racer for a system that always had strong competition in that genre. This was a time when you either had a PlayStation for Ridge Racer or an N64 for something like F-Zero X, so having a version of this particular series on the cartridge-based console felt like a notable event.

You control a driver in a selection of high-powered cars, aiming to win races across various circuits. The core mechanics involve aggressive drifting around corners to maintain speed and a boost system called the Nitro Gauge. You fill the gauge by drifting skillfully, and then you can unleash a burst of speed on straightaways. The game moves at a fast clip, and the difficulty ramps up significantly as you progress through the Grand Prix cups. The sensation of sliding a car perfectly through a long bend, hearing the tires screech, and then rocketing forward is consistently satisfying.