Ridge Racer 8 is an upcoming racing game by Bandai Namco Games for Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC-Steam. The game will be the eighth mainline game, and it will be the first Ridge Racer game in 19 years since its' last mainline release.
The game is an amalgamation of previous games such as Type 4, V, 6 and 7, and the game will feature all tracks in the series where the tracks will be divided into regions that represent the environmental parts of Ridge State, which also returns as the main setting of 8. All cars return from 7, 3D and Vita while some cars from the past games return with new look and others debut in this game.
Gameplay[]
Similar to previous games in the series, Ridge Racer 8 is a high-speed circuit drift racing where players slide their cars without any significant loss of speed, and all of the mechanics present in such as slipstreaming, nitrous, customization from Ridge Racer 7 return for 8, now enhanced.
New to the series is the open world segment where players can roam freely across Ridge State divided into several regions, which will be the vital mechanic in new single player Career Mode. When free roaming, players can interact with and challenge Ridge Racers in the region in illicit street races; these races do not produce a lot of Credits but it increases player's Reputation Points quickly. Free roaming can also be used to do side quests across Ridge State: most of the quest were given Reiko Nagase, who returns as the icon for Ridge Racer 8; UFRA, the organization that holds sanctioned Ridge Racing events, which returns from 7, now filled by the new chairman; as well as Car and Parts Manufacturers may also give players side quests, which all of them may increase player's Reputation Points or unlock new events for the player to compete.
The new single player Career Mode oversees the player in their aim to become UFRA Ridge Racer World Champion which can be achieved by completing 20 main championships of the game called UFRA Ridge Racer World Series. Players will start as a rookie from the newly established UFRA Ridge Racer Academy that races R4 car in four championships that include UFRA R4 Championship (Series 1-4) to graduate and fully debuting as a full-fledged racer in in R3 competitions (Series 5-8) which will eventually lead to UFRA R3 Championships (Series 9). Completing it will allow players to compete in four R2 events and UFRA R2 Championship (series 10-14). And finally, players will debut as an R1 driver which contains six series: Four main championships (Series 15-18), UFRA R1 World Championship (Series 19) and the final event which is an exclusively invitational event by UFRA to challenge for the overall championship against the best of the best (Series 20).
Other events in the game include UFRA Support Events which are side events that are not tied to RRWS yet still provides a good amount of Credits and Reputation Points reward which replaces UFRA Single Events from 7. UFRA Support Events are divided into two: Single Events, the events that is an actual single race, and Series Events, championship-styled events outside the RRWS.
Manufacturer Trials also return from 7, enabling player to establish relationship with manufacturers. Extreme Events also return, which is the post-game that tests players to the ultimate challenges of Ridge Racer 8, mainly competing in harder races and battling Special Machines. Both returning and new is the Endurance Events which are part of UFRA Support Events, which in players race until the certain amount of time or long amount of laps; this event type has not seen the day since Ridge Racer V's 99 Lap Trial.
Machines[]
Main article: Ridge Racer 8 (andreashp96 ver.)/Machines
Courses of Ridge State[]
Set in the Ridge State, the State is divided into several regions that host races in multiple courses. Ridge State can be roamed freely on the single player career mode, and players can take on illicit street races and various side missions while the game maintains closed circuit feel.
Ridge City[]
- Seaside Route 765
- Ridge City Highway
- Downtown Ridge City (Above the City)
- Outer Route 765 (Outer Pass)
- Trading Square (Park Town)
- Newridge Airport Speedway (Airport Oval)
- Ridge City Bay Line (Bayside Line)
- Ridge City Raceway (Ridge Racer Extreme from 64/DS)
Rave City[]
- Downtown Rave City
- Rave City Riverfront
- Crossbay Tunnel
- Midtown Expressway (Rave Racer City Course)
- Oceanfront Cruiseway
- Cosmic Terminal (an unused track based on Ridge Racer 7 E3 Trailer)
Midtown[]
- Harborline 765
- Midtown Parkway
- Island Circle
South Bay[]
- Aviator Loop
- Southbay Docks
- Airport Lap
Lakeshore[]
- Laketop Parkway
- Lakeshore Drive
- Highland Cliffs
Seacrest[]
- Seacrest District
- Surfside Resort
- Sunset Heights
Bayside[]
- Industrial Drive
- Old Central
- Bayside Freeway
South[]
- Mist Falls
- Lost Ruins
- Shadow Caves
Crystal Coast[]
- Sunset Drive
- Crystal Coast Highway
- EX Revolution Road
Redstone Canyons[]
- Silver Mountain Skyway
- Redstone Thunder Road
Overpass City[]
- Mythical Coast
- Union Hill District
- Lakeside Parkway
- Extreme Oval
Greenpeak Mountains[]
- Greenpeak Highlands (Rave Racer Mountain Course)
- Silvercreek Dam
Renegade County[]
- Renegade Fair (Renegade Novice)
- Arid Byway (Renegade Intermediate)
- Highway Zero (Renegade Expert)
East Roots - North[]
- Hurricane Skyway (Helter Skelter)
- Ocean Bay (Out of Blue)
- Phantom Mile (Phantomile)
East Roots - South[]
- Diablo Canyon Road (Wonderhill)
- Crimsonrock Pass (Heaven and Hell)
West Roots Island[]
- Edgestone Expressway (Edge of the Earth)
- Brightnite Cruiseway (Brightest Nite)
- Shuttleloop Highway (Shooting Hoops)
Events[]
Main article: Ridge Racer 8 (andreashp96 ver.)/Events