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

[dmk1198]

Are there any unlockables?
I can't even see how to change the cars lol

Having fun thou!

[dmk1198]

I'm 75 in the world on caravan & time on intermediate
Playing on switch 1

[RedCadre]

Is it possible to change the view to an overhead cam in Ridge Racer? Also, what's with the manual shifting? It's nothing like any racing game I've played before....Also, is neutral used at all? The new user interface is throwing things off a bit personally I think I like the older one better lol.

[BrianC]

Is it possible to change the view to an overhead cam in Ridge Racer? Also, what's with the manual shifting? It's nothing like any racing game I've played before....Also, is neutral used at all? The new user interface is throwing things off a bit personally I think I like the older one better lol.

DX version has a clutch and does the shifting with the right analog stick.

[Jonpachi]

I'm 75 in the world on caravan & time on intermediate
Playing on switch 1

59th here. 2:48.362

[PC Engine Fan X!]

----------
Also on the main title screen of the Switch port of ACA Ridge Racer, if you move the right analog stick around, you can mess around with the RR flag display including making it move slower & even apply "real-time" polygonal deformation effects to it as well. How cool is that? Talk about this very little-known hidden "Easter Egg" type of trick in regarding the Namco produced System 22 powered Ridge Racer arcade game. Something different for a change of pace, indeed.
----------

Namco even made a full-sized Ridge Racer cab that the player got into a full sized vehicle complete with a "larger-than-life" video screen presentation -- this is only something that Namco could "pull off/go-all-out" back in the early 1990s arcade gaming era.

Apparently, there's no dedicated button to change camera viewpoints from 1st-person viewpoint to 3rd-person "behind the car" viewpoint with the the arcade version of RR (like you can in the PSX ports of Ridge Racer/Ridge Racer Revolution/Rage Racer/Ridge Racer Type 4).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sengoku Strider]

Namco even made a full-sized Ridge Racer cab that the player got into a full sized vehicle complete with a "larger-than-life" video screen presentation -- this is only something that Namco could "pull off/go-all-out" back in the early 1990s arcade gaming era.

Well, maybe not only Namco. There's a certain other arcade manufacturer whose lead they tended to follow in those days.

Spoiler

[Sima Tuna]

Is there any performance difference between Ridge Racer on Switch vs Switch 2? Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, Sega's famed AM2 arcade division whom made the up-to 8 player max linked-up Daytona USA arcade racer that was legendary for it's time. It was always awesome to race against complete strangers with Daytona USA as you didn't know how you were going fare out at the end of each race. I'd, usually, end up in last place or close to it at the end of each linked-up race with a huge grin on my face.

It'd be ace to have Sega release such a linked-up gaming session of Daytona USA on the Switch 2 -- it can be done.

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The Switch 1 version of ACA Ridge Racer runs at the original arcade-spec 60fps framerate as that of it's Namco System 22 powered counterpart of the same name (which is absolutely impressive/jaw-dropping nevertheless) -- Hamster went "all-out" with this particular ACA RR port indeed and it shows. Hence the higher asking MSRP of $15.00 for it thus making it a super premium ACA release bar-none.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Carmen]

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! ^_~

I don't know about Switch or Switch 2, but I've been using a wheel on PS4 (a Logitech G29) and it's been a blast. Especially with clutch + h-shifter support (make sure to select the DX version). PS4 leaderboards must be pretty sparse because I'm still at spot 20 on the expert course (reached top 10 last nite on both advanced and expert)... I guess PS4 and PS5 leaderboards will be seperated because of the AA/AA2 division?

Looking forward to Rave Racer next!!

EDIT: Just wanted to add that it's disappointing that best times aren't saved without making savestates... I've noticed AA releases getting worse and worse about that. They used to save everything before but the past couple of releases (Numan Athletics, Burning Force) seem to only save when prompted to post to the leaderboards... unless there's some setting I missed?

[Steven]

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????

Doesn't this game run at a 480 vertical resolution and therefore wouldn't really have visible scanlines on a CRT anyway? I wouldn't be surprised if the original game runs in an interlaced resolution given its age, though, so in that case you'd get the whole up and down flickering thing.

In any case, a good scanline filter would require uniform pixel sizing, which is something that Hamster seems allergic to. It's not that hard, Hamster... all you have to do is make it 4:3 with interpolation on the horizontal axis and an integer scale on the vertical axis.

[Marc]

The new overplay is distracting. It should work better, it's probably just me, but it feels weird.

Ridge Racer though...... An imperfect £40 PS1 launch title now a £13 download. Where'd the last 30 years go man?

[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

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.

Yes, and i buy plenty of those "emulated old arcade releases from the 70s-90s" myself, it's just that i think that ridge racer does not hold up just fine. Do you remember the excitement around Ridge Racer PSP announcement? Nothing has changed since that, for me it's the PSP ridge racer announcement excitement all over.
Anyway, just my opinion. If you think it's the bomb and enjoy playing ridge racer on a switch in 2025 tremendously then sure have a good time and do so.

[dmk1198]

I'm 75 in the world on caravan & time on intermediate
Playing on switch 1

59th here. 2:48.362

Sweet I'll be coming after you!
Just so I'm not bein dumb ...no car select? No unlockables? Switch 1 version same as switch 2 except the race to beat oppo on final track timer hi-score?

[Lord British]

Should I assume this isn't steering wheel compatible? I have cheap Thrustmaster lying around.

[Jonpachi]

Is there any performance difference between Ridge Racer on Switch vs Switch 2? Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

Runs great on Switch 1. Very worth it!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Should I assume this isn't steering wheel compatible? I have cheap Thrustmaster lying around.

I'd give it a spin & see if the Switch port of ACA Ridge Racer supports such dedicated steering wheel setups.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sima Tuna]

Is there any performance difference between Ridge Racer on Switch vs Switch 2? Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

Runs great on Switch 1. Very worth it!

I appreciate the feedback! I hope the trend continues. I must confess, I had thought for some reason that ACA2 would be switch 2 exclusive and not available on switch 1.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Is there any performance difference between Ridge Racer on Switch vs Switch 2? Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

Runs great on Switch 1. Very worth it!

I appreciate the feedback! I hope the trend continues. I must confess, I had thought for some reason that ACA2 would be switch 2 exclusive and not available on switch 1.

Hamster didn't want to disappoint the already well-established Switch 1 fanbase/audience, hence the ACA port of Ridge Racer for that specific gaming platform. It's definitely a cause to celebrate nevertheless. I've noticed that by hooking up a dedicated 3rd-party Switch gamepad via usb-c adapter, it seems more responsive in actual RR gameplay sessions.

Color me impressed by the stellar & addictive gameplay of an " 100% arcade perfect" rendition of RR on the Switch 1, especially if played on an Oled Switch setup. Hamster definitely has it "in spades for the winning hand" indeed. The ability to play on the original 1993 Namco Ridge Racer cab is nigh impossible nowadays unless it's at an "old-school" retro arcade hangout or private arcade room these days -- let alone trying to find a Rave Racer cab out in "the wilds of America" is extremely "slim pickings" as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dmk1198]

I'm 75 in the world on caravan & time on intermediate
Playing on switch 1

59th here. 2:48.362

51st in the world 4.13.382 advanced

[dmk1198]

59th in the world at TT 3.56.554

[dmk1198]

Oh 51 again in caravan TT
Beat the yellow car lol
13763

[dmk1198]

Think I've found my level lol
51 on advanced caravan 12910
Above TT is caravan also

[PC Engine Fan X!]

On the PS4, the ACA Ridge Racer is a 378.2mb d/l with a $15.00 pricetag whereas on the PS5, it's the ACA2 version of Ridge Racer with a albeit higher $15.99 pricetag (but ends up being $2.99 if you buy the PS4 version of RR first then buy the PS5 ACA2 RR version secondly at the much cheaper discounted price through the PS5 PS Store portal itself) and is a 129.2mb d/l.

However there's a certain caveat though, the online leaderboards of PS4 ACA RR & PS5 ACA2 RR are separate from the online leaderboards of Switch 1 ACA RR & Switch 2 ACA2 RR.

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If you enable scanline effects on either the PS4 version of ACA RR or even on the PS5 version of ACA2 RR, the "smoothing filter" will be automatically be applied also (just like with it's Switch 1 & Switch 2 counterparts of ACA RR & ACA2 RR respectively).
----------

And is the ACA RR port available on the Microsoft Series S/X consoles as well?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[hamfighterx]

Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

Absolutely, it runs great and basically has all features, except that (1) it has its own leaderboards and (2) Switch AA version does not have the additional Time Attack mode. There might be very minor performance differences, but it's extremely minor if anything - I've played them literally side by side and it feels the same.

HOWEVER, if you ever feel like you might care about getting both, it's a mistake to buy the Switch 2 version first. That's exactly what I did, which means I ONLY got the Switch 2 version for $16.99 US.But then I thought, hey I'd like it on Switch 1 too, when I grab my Lite to take it out with me. So I *should* have bought the Switch 1 version first for $14.99, then paid the $2.99 upgrade fee to also get the AA2 Switch 2 version. So, I paid $32 for both instead of what I could have done by paying merely $1 more than the Switch 2 version I bought and getting both.

It's Hamster, I'm fine chalking it up to my mistake and subsidizing them for whatever crazy stuff they put out that won't sell as much (by the way when IS J.J. Squawkers gonna come to Arcade Archives?) Though I realize part of that is me being weird, and I guess a lot of people don't need BOTH versions even if they're nearly the same price as just buying one.

[Sima Tuna]

Is the Switch 1 version worth getting?

Absolutely, it runs great and basically has all features, except that (1) it has its own leaderboards and (2) Switch AA version does not have the additional Time Attack mode. There might be very minor performance differences, but it's extremely minor if anything - I've played them literally side by side and it feels the same.

HOWEVER, if you ever feel like you might care about getting both, it's a mistake to buy the Switch 2 version first. That's exactly what I did, which means I ONLY got the Switch 2 version for $16.99 US.But then I thought, hey I'd like it on Switch 1 too, when I grab my Lite to take it out with me. So I *should* have bought the Switch 1 version first for $14.99, then paid the $2.99 upgrade fee to also get the AA2 Switch 2 version. So, I paid $32 for both instead of what I could have done by paying merely $1 more than the Switch 2 version I bought and getting both.

It's Hamster, I'm fine chalking it up to my mistake and subsidizing them for whatever crazy stuff they put out that won't sell as much (by the way when IS J.J. Squawkers gonna come to Arcade Archives?) Though I realize part of that is me being weird, and I guess a lot of people don't need BOTH versions even if they're nearly the same price as just buying one.

I feel you. I don't really regret any of my ACA purchases. I'm a pretty cheap person and I don't like unnecessary spending or owning things I don't use. But the Hamster project is so worthwhile and the games are so gat-dang interesting that I feel they're generally worth owning even if I don't end up loving the game. I mean, I agree with BIL that you don't want to buy actual trash garbage kusoge and have it stinking up your digital library forever... But if I accidentally overpay for a game or buy a solid arcade game I don't end up loving, well that's fine by me.

Sometimes it's still crazy to me the games Hamster is willing/able to license. I hope and pray that now that Ridge Racer has opened up the floodgates on 3d games, we will see some of the big names 3d arcade games showing up. I'm mostly thinking of SEGA titles (beat em ups, fighting games and racing games.) Which I know is unlikely. So maybe other people can mention 3d arcade games we could get instead.

Assuming Hamster is able to get the emulation working on the Switch, Bamco own the Soul Calibur franchise. Could we see Soul Calibur 1 released? That game fucking owns. I like it more than 2.

[Carmen]

I feel like Sega would just rely on M2 to get their stuff through rather than going through Hamster. But then again, Nintendo was OK with them doing their arcade game ports, so who knows.

We need Parodius on Arcade Archives!

[hamfighterx]

I've fantasized about Hamster getting Sega onboard for Arcade Archives... would be awesome to see that some day. Crazier things have happened, they got Nintendo. And Sega seems more limited in what they want to publish themselves and hire M2 to develop, so maybe could sell them on letting Hamster and their proven track record do some releases.

Assuming Hamster is able to get the emulation working on the Switch, Bamco own the Soul Calibur franchise. Could we see Soul Calibur 1 released? That game fucking owns. I like it more than 2.

I sure wouldn't mind Soul Calibur! I also prefer it to the sequel, though I did have a blast with Gamecube NSO Soul Calibur 2 as the second game played on the new Switch 2 (yep, Ridge Racer and SC2, that's what I do with brand new hardware XD).

Before they get to Soul Calibur, assuming they go in more chronological order of games and Namco hardware, it would be fun to mess around with Soul Edge! Anything on System 11 feels like a realistic near term possibility too, just waiting for the day they drop Tekken 1 and 2. Would also be pretty cool to see Hamster put the Point Blank games on Switch 2 with some control schemes using touchscreen, mouse mode, gyroscopes, etc. I thought it was pretty cool that they added touchscreen functionality for the Switch release of Allumer's obscure Magical Speed (not quite sure why I like that weird little game as much as I do).

You're right though, so much exciting 3D stuff. Starblade is the one I find myself constantly thinking about. And Rave Racer. Ohhhhh yes.

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

I love this so much.

[Steven]

ACA After Burner II, please. I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED it. I guess I can just go play it on Saturn with the Mission Stick, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it on something that isn't 30 years old or the fragile 3DS. Actually, just give me all of the super scalers, even Out Run, which I already bought on Switch Sega Ages.

Oh, and most of all, Soukyuugurentai. See above regarding Saturn. I love my Saturns, but they are ancient now and they won't last forever. They're actually both experiencing hardware failure, now that I think about it, so yeah. Gotta fix the DIN and replace the battery on my primary Saturn and the second one stopped booting entirely for some reason.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

ACA After Burner II, please. I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED it. I guess I can just go play it on Saturn with the Mission Stick, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it on something that isn't 30 years old or the fragile 3DS. Actually, just give me all of the super scalers, even Out Run, which I already bought on Switch Sega Ages.

Oh, and most of all, Soukyuugurentai. See above regarding Saturn. I love my Saturns, but they are ancient now and they won't last forever. They're actually both experiencing hardware failure, now that I think about it, so yeah. Gotta fix the DIN and replace the battery on my primary Saturn and the second one stopped booting entirely for some reason.

Afterburner II is one of five Sega AM2 made games on the "Yu Suzuki's Gameworks Vol. 1" arcade game compilation for the Dreamcast console -- it even has VGA support as well if you have a Sega DC VGA Box also.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~