I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[jehu]

Very kino post of you, Kino. I don't have any experience with this one, but I'll take the $8 bet that it'll be something interesting - if only for a little while.

I'm still playing NebulasRay and loving it. Very reasonable clear - a few things have to be memo'd, but the majority of the harder bosses can be obliterated from the face of the earth with pointblank 30hz L power.

I can kind of take or leave stage 1 and stage 3. The vacuum of space is not the greatest at making stark impressions. But from stage 4 straight through to the end, the game's pacing is incredible IMO. OST highly underrated in those later stages. Got that plucky solo be-bopping you down the hall of turrets trying to nail you in stage 5 or that chunky bass propelling you through the desert dunes in stage 4! Jazzy campy space adventure. It owns; nothing else like it.

[BrianC]

I like RyuKyu so far. Nice that another system 16 game hit AA.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Oh wow, nifty writeup on RyuKyu, I hadn't heard of it! Always fantastic seeing someone passionate and knowledgeable about an underappreciated gem.

It reminds me a bit of another board game turned arcade puzzle game, China Town, which takes Japanese Riichi mahjong and demands you make the best scoring hand by matching 3 tiles to add sets to your hand. It's not as complex as RyuKyu, I don't even think it has a score minimum to aim for, just make the biggest hand possible before you gameover due to the board filling up.

There's also Mr. Jong which has the same "make a mahjong hand" but instead combines it with Pengo style gameplay of all things! I found this one really tough as the enemies are super aggressive, making it difficult to make a hand at all, let alone a high scoring one.

[hamfighterx]

That was a stellar writeup, Kino!

Absolutely. I also can't pass up the opportunity to say thanks for that one

Pretty solid week, I'd say, along with the news that us Swatch and PS4 plebs will also get a version of Ridge Racer

Also nice to see there is an modestly priced upgrade from the PS4/Switch Arcade Archives version ($14.99 USD/1,500 yen) for the PS5/Switch 2 "Arcade Archives 2" versions. Upgrade costs $2.99/330 yen.

Oh, Hamster also confirmed an Xbox Series version of AA2 Ridge Racer. Looks like Xbox may just be getting any of the AA2/ACA2 Neogeo releases. I'm guessing that once Switch 2 is out, we'll probably see more ACA2 Neo games - feels like they may have just held off on going beyond the single current release of KOF'98 until the other likely platform was actually released.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Is here for the sports fans.

And, I'm not really a big fan. Because... I don't know, I-I guess I like fantasy games more, because it's something that you couldn't do in real life, whereas a sports game, you could... go outside and play sports.

Friendly reminder: Super World Court is this week's release, closing the Namco Month of this 2025.
Next week: Arcade Archives/Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer.

[Sengoku Strider]

I mean, you could just go outside and shoot up the regimes of evil dictators too, but could you do it at a major league level?

[NightBeast]

Arcade Archives sale happening

- DIG DUG
- GAPLUS
- PAC-MAN
- DRAGON SPIRIT
- PAC-LAND
- MAPPY
- The Genji and the Heike Clans
- DRAGON BUSTER
- ORDYNE
- YOUKAI DOUCHUKI

Youkai Douchuki seems pretty cool. Is it?

I bought Youkai Douchuki on sale. It’s fun but….are there no continues?? This is sadistic!

[Daytime Waitress]

I mean, you could just go outside and shoot up the regimes of evil dictators too, but could you do it at a major league level?

Scouts won't even look in your direction if your moving vehicle gymnastics and incendiary operation aren't on point, and there's no way you're hitting the big time without combining both.



Sorry, BIL - this one's way too good not to nick.

[Sengoku Strider]

Always loved Thunder Fox. Kinda tragic the Genesis version doesn't live up to the arcade.

[velo]

I bought Youkai Douchuki on sale. It’s fun but….are there no continues?? This is sadistic!

I seem to remember reading that that game is really, REALLY hard. Harder than you'd expect. I haven't played it enough to verify.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Ready for the race?

Friendly Reminder: Ridge Racer is released this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc8OGCx6u_c

[hamfighterx]

I'm picking up a Switch 2 in-store tonight at 9pm Pacific time (midnight Eastern). Really hoping that, considering it's system launch time and there are lots of download only games, they have everything up on the eShop then instead of waiting for the typical Thursday 9am Pacific update.

And if it is... gonna add Switch 2 to the list of systems where my first played game was a Ridge Racer
- PS1 (but not the OG PS1 Ridge Racer, I picked up my first PS1 used with a copy of Ridge Racer Revolution!)
- PS2 (RRV)
- Xbox 360 (RR6)
- PS3 (RR7)
- PSP (Ridge Racers)

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I'm picking up a Switch 2 in-store tonight at 9pm Pacific time (midnight Eastern). Really hoping that, considering it's system launch time and there are lots of download only games, they have everything up on the eShop then instead of waiting for the typical Thursday 9am Pacific update.

And if it is... gonna add Switch 2 to the list of systems where my first played game was a Ridge Racer
- PS1 (but not the OG PS1 Ridge Racer, I picked up my first PS1 used with a copy of Ridge Racer Revolution!)
- PS2 (RRV)
- Xbox 360 (RR6)
- PS3 (RR7)
- PSP (Ridge Racers)

There's always Namco's two-disc set of Ridge Racer Type 4 with bonus Ridge Racer disc running in 640 x 480i mode in 60fps mode as well released back in 1999 along with the PSX port of Rage Racer.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[spmbx]

Oh my, ridge racer. I can see myself firing it up once for a 5min nostalgia trip thinking back to the psx release days but actually playing it for any length of time in 2025? No way

[hamfighterx]

Oh my, ridge racer. I can see myself firing it up once for a 5min nostalgia trip thinking back to the psx release days but actually playing it for any length of time in 2025? No way

You realize you're writing in the topic that is explicitly about emulated old arcade releases from the 70s-90s, right? For anyone who's into 90s arcade racers, Ridge Racer holds up just fine.

There's always Namco's two-disc set of Ridge Racer Type 4 with bonus Ridge Racer disc running in 640 x 480i mode in 60fps mode as well released back in 1999 along with the PSX port of Rage Racer.

I am no heathen, I definitely appreciate those too! But by the time those came out, I already had the PS1 for a while so they were unable to be the first game I played on the machine. Bonus points for playing any of these with Namco's weirdo home controllers. I got a used NeGcon with my system and RRR! And I bought the JogCon with R4 hehe.

I did miss out on the opportunity to make Ridge Racer DS the first game played on my day 1 US DS system, shame on me! I'll give myself a pass on Vita Ridge Racer since that was only a launch title in Japan, released after system launch in the US.

[Jeneki]

If nothing else, Arcade Ridge Racer looks so clean after spending time with the PS1 version, which had all the random lines popping up between the polygons.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

30fps Ridge Racer PS1 (1994) comparison with 60fps Ridge Racer Hi-Spec (aka Turbo Mode) that came on a 2nd disc with R4 Ridge Racer Type 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqxypBanfV4

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Oh my, ridge racer. I can see myself firing it up once for a 5min nostalgia trip thinking back to the psx release days but actually playing it for any length of time in 2025? No way

You realize you're writing in the topic that is explicitly about emulated old arcade releases from the 70s-90s, right? For anyone who's into 90s arcade racers, Ridge Racer holds up just fine.

There's always Namco's two-disc set of Ridge Racer Type 4 with bonus Ridge Racer disc running in 640 x 480i mode in 60fps mode as well released back in 1999 along with the PSX port of Rage Racer.

I am no heathen, I definitely appreciate those too! But by the time those came out, I already had the PS1 for a while so they were unable to be the first game I played on the machine. Bonus points for playing any of these with Namco's weirdo home controllers. I got a used NeGcon with my system and RRR! And I bought the JogCon with R4 hehe.

I did miss out on the opportunity to make Ridge Racer DS the first game played on my day 1 US DS system, shame on me! I'll give myself a pass on Vita Ridge Racer since that was only a launch title in Japan, released after system launch in the US.

Plus the fact that the PS2 Ridge Racer V racer supports the optional Jogcon as well. How cool is that? Namco's R&D gaming division was quite happy that RRV supported both the Dual Shock 2 controller along with the Jogcon.

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I picked up a used poly-bagged Jogcon controller from my local Gamestop for a mere $3.99 many moons ago as a backup controller in addition to the one supplied with the Asian region variant PSX RRT4 bundled set that I bought new back in 1999 (even came with an XL-sized Hanes silk-screened RRT4 T-Shirt as well which I proudly wore) -- quite a steal at that attractive price indeed.
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Also that Sears sold brand new Namco NeGcon controllers at $34.99 each back in 1997 and they were actually distributed by SCEA themselves (they received extremely limited distribution at the current time but well worth the time & extra effort to source one new as the dedicated speciality video game retailers such as Babbage's, Software Etc., Electronic Boutique & Funcoland weren't selling them). I bought one new to play with my genuine new copy of PSX Rage Racer.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sima Tuna]

I regret not discovering ridge racer as a franchise until some years ago. My young NFS and F-Zero playing self would have loved it. RR4 I think is the one with the new year's track? Magical.

Like Ace Combat, these games show the level of passion and love for their games and universes that bamco used to have. Outside of Atelier (which isn't for me,) I doubt that is true anymore. God Eater 1 and 2 were some similarly heartfelt games... It seems to me that bamco stayed strong until sometime after the PSP era.

[Sengoku Strider]

I'm picking up a Switch 2 in-store tonight at 9pm Pacific time (midnight Eastern). Really hoping that, considering it's system launch time and there are lots of download only games, they have everything up on the eShop then instead of waiting for the typical Thursday 9am Pacific update.

And if it is... gonna add Switch 2 to the list of systems where my first played game was a Ridge Racer
- PS1 (but not the OG PS1 Ridge Racer, I picked up my first PS1 used with a copy of Ridge Racer Revolution!)
- PS2 (RRV)
- Xbox 360 (RR6)
- PS3 (RR7)
- PSP (Ridge Racers)

Same, though I guess technically I played Toshinden on a PS1 launch kiosk first. I was so disappointed when PS4 launched without a Ridge Racer. The system's turned out to be an all-time workhorse (I still haven't felt the need to upgrade yet, I can't believe Destiny 2 is staying supported through 2026), but it truly felt like an era had passed. Outside SNES Maro Kart the original RR was the first racing game I ever really loved.

[AGermanArtist]

I remember being blown away with Ridge Racer on my brand new white import PSP. I have it on PPSSPP on my $300 Android and it's even more amazing, giving it a new lease on life. The reflections look so improved and everything has such a high sheen compared to PSP, it just looks more polished with fewer jaggies.
It isn't that much of a stretch to say it looks almost comparable with RR6/7.
I have to carry a controller, but that's totally OK. Also, my Series S is essentially a RR6(and Fortnite Zero Build) box.

[hamfighterx]

Happy to report I was able to get my hands on a new Switch 2. Like many others, I started with a racing game. But wait what, Mario who? No, it's Riiiiidge Racerrr!

My only initial comments are that (1) feels great, and (2) heh, the Aladdin's Castle and Cyber Station billboards are in there.

[Daytime Waitress]

Playing on the OG Swatch, but this has had - what I guess is - the new ACA2 overlay applied to it.
It feels pretty plush, but I did get a chuckle out of seeing these revolutionary things called "multiple save states" debuting in the one title where you're probably not going to need multiple save states
A few other neat QoL additions are present, though, like being able to instantly load to certain screens when restarting - very nice!

Not a huge fan of the online rankings apparently being some kind of overlay instead of a separate screen like it was before, though.
In OG ACA, when you finished up in caravan mode, you'd upload your score and then either restart the game or head to the rankings to survey your progress.
Now after uploading, you get an automatic prompt to reset the game, after which you can then view rankings...
... While the the menu screen times out, kicks you to the game and the crowd screams at you to move off the starting line - which you can't do because you're just trying to read the damn rankings in peace.
Seems like a bummer that you'll have to manually mute games when you want to have a quick scan of other folks' scores...

Despite having cultivated a bit of a simracing habit over the past few years, and having an enduring love for R4, I'm quickly coming to the realisation that I've put bugger all time into this here original game and am, in fact, utterly rubbish at it.
Damn but if it doesn't still look gorgeous after all these years!

[BrianC]

Heads up. The DX version is the version with the clutch. Definitely not used to that version.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Sure enough the ACA Ridge Racer appeared on the US region Switch eShop at 9am pst with a $15.00 pricetag and is a mere 186mb d/l at best. On the Namco Ridge Racer cab, you had the opportunity to select either manual or automatic transmission before the start of a race (this applies to the Namco Rave Racer arcade game as well). Interesting to learn that Hamster chose the "Ridge Racer DX" variant to be released for the first time as a proper home game console release. Online Ranking Leaderboard is implemented from the "get-go."

Scanline options are included for completeness this time around and looks awesome if played on an Oled Switch setup -- you will need to increase the brightness level if scanlines are enabled.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[SavagePencil]

If one buys it for Switch, does one get the Switch 2 version magically if updating to new hardware, or will it be the Switch 1 version running on a Switch 2?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Has Hamster or BandaiNamco mentioned any official dedicated steering wheel + gas & brake pedal support for the ACA Ridge Racer Switch/Switch 2 setups? Of course, that'd be the ideal and proper way to play it as originally intended.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dmk1198]

If one buys it for Switch, does one get the Switch 2 version magically if updating to new hardware, or will it be the Switch 1 version running on a Switch 2?

Switch 1 on 2 it will be unless u pay £3

I paid £90 for this and £800 for jap import ps1 day it came out met the guy at airport lol

[hamfighterx]

Scanline options are included for completeness this time around and looks awesome if played on an Oled Switch setup -- you will need to increase the brightness level if scanlines are enabled.

I'm not so impressed on the Switch 2 with the scanline options.

It has the usual Hamster screen filters: off, 00 (blur filter with no scanlines), and the usual Arcade Archives scanlines A1-A5 and B1-B5 (all of which also apply the smudge filter, boo).The new "CRT TV Filter" is in a separate "Custom Screen Settings" option on the Display settings page - but filter does the screen curvature thing, which I find annoying.

Why can't they just give us a freaking scanline filter with no distorted image and no smoothing filter applied????

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Scanline options are included for completeness this time around and looks awesome if played on an Oled Switch setup -- you will need to increase the brightness level if scanlines are enabled.

I'm not so impressed on the Switch 2 with the scanline options.

It has the usual Hamster screen filters: off, 00 (blur filter with no scanlines), and the usual Arcade Archives scanlines A1-A5 and B1-B5 (all of which also apply the smudge filter, boo).The new "CRT TV Filter" is in a separate "Custom Screen Settings" option on the Display settings page - but filter does the screen curvature thing, which I find annoying.

Why can't they just give us a freaking scanline filter with no distorted image and no smoothing filter applied????

There's no distorted image if scanlines are applied if played on a LCD or Oled Switch setup -- the only other alternative is to use an external HDMI-based scanline generator with either the Switch or Switch 2 in "docked mode" and not have to deal with the dreaded "smoothing filter" issue either. Problem solved.

Or use a downscaler and output either the Switch or Switch 2 at the 240p resolution for use on an RGB monitor or SD TV setup -- you'll get the obligatory scanlines as a bonus, "free of charge."

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And does the Switch port of Shinorubi still run at the slower 30fps framerate if played on the Switch 2?
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~