Imagine a world where your favorite racing franchise has been largely absent, leaving fans yearning for its iconic gameplay. That’s the reality for many Ridge Racer enthusiasts who are feeling the sting of Bandai Namco’s silence. Once a staple that heralded the launch of new consoles, the last significant installment, Ridge Racer Unbounded, hit the shelves way back in 2012. Since then, the franchise seems to have been sidelined, and supporters have been left in limbo, hoping for either a brand-new entry or at least a high-definition remaster of the original arcade classic. Unfortunately, all they’ve received from the publisher are vague hints about possibly licensing its intellectual properties to other developers.
But wait! There’s a silver lining thanks to DG1Games, a creative developer who has taken matters into their own hands. Using Dreams on the PS4 and PS5, they have meticulously recreated the beloved PS1 version of Ridge Racer. This project, known as Ridge Racer Advanced, is not just a simple remake; it’s an ambitious “recreation and planned expansion” that draws inspiration from the original 32-bit game, which was a major selling point for the PlayStation at its debut.
"Everything has been constructed from the ground up in Dreams," the developer explains. A particularly exciting feature allows players to toggle between different graphic styles, offering options like the default high-resolution display, a nostalgic pixelated PS1 mode, and a modern look with enhanced visuals.
Visually, the project appears quite impressive, although some aspects, such as the drifting mechanics, might raise eyebrows among purists. The good news? DG1Games is gearing up to launch this exciting game in Dreams very soon.
A big shoutout goes to Larry Bundy Jr for bringing this development to our attention! What do you think about fan-made recreations of beloved franchises? Should companies like Bandai Namco take more risks by tapping into the creativity of their fanbase, or do you think they should stick to their traditional methods of game development? Join the conversation!
