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===Critical reception=== The arcade version was well received upon release. Following its North American debut at the AMAA show, ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' reviewed the game in its October 1993 issue. They described it as a "racing tour-de-force" and "incredible title" along the lines of [[SEGA]]'s ''[[Virtua Racing]]'' but improving on the graphics with "some of the most advanced circuity ever seen in a coin-op." They stated "the cars look so realistic and fluid" and noted the backgrounds are [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendered]] to "a very high degree of detail." They also praised the gameplay, stating the "tunnel sequences are real nail-biters" and obstacles such as "other cars," road hazards, "construction signs, speed bumps," guard rails, "warning barricades" and other "traps" cause the "car to spin helplessly out of control." Regarding the [[artificial intelligence]], they described the "competition" as "some of the best drivers the world has ever seen" and "completely relentless." They concluded the game "is awesome!"<ref name="egm_arcade"/> The January 1994 issue of ''[[Electronic Games]]'' praised the texture-mapped 3D graphics and described the arcade game as "exceptional" and "an incredibly realistic experience."<ref>https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1994-01/Electronic%20Games%201994-01#page/n17/mode/2up</ref> In the April 1994 issue of the UK magazine ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'', the arcade machine (based on the full-scale deluxe unit) was rated 80% overall by writer Paul Rand. Graphics received 97%, sound 95%, and gameplay 80%. The reviewer Paul Rand praised the "revolutionary graphics" as "the likes of which you've never seen" and "far and away the most realistic arcade game ever seen," as well as the sound quality, the use of an actual [[Mazda MX5]] as a cabinet, and the "side-ways skid" drifting mechanic that "really does feel that you could total that expensive car if you're not careful." However, he compared the gameplay unfavorably with ''Virtua Racing'' for lacking its greater "sensation of speed."<ref name="CVG_Arcade">http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/206/564/ridge_racer_review.html</ref> In Japan, the arcade game was nominated for several [[Wikipedia:jp:ゲーメスト大賞|''Gamest'' Awards]], including [[Game of the Year]], [[Action video games|Best Action Game]], [[Graphics|Best Graphics]], and [[wikipedia:Video game music|Best VGM]].<ref name="gamest">''[[:jp:Gamest|Gamest]]'', ''The Best Game 2: Gamest Mook Vol. 112'', pp. 6-26</ref> The PlayStation version was also mostly well received upon release. In Japan, ''[[Famitsu]]''{{'}}s panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 9, 9, 10 and 9 out of 10, adding up to 37 out of 40 overall.<ref name="Famitsu"/> This made it one of their two highest-rated games of 1994, along with ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''.<ref>http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review/</ref> ''[[Famitsu PS]]'' gave it a score of 36 out of 40.<ref name="FamitsuPS"/> In Europe, ''[[Edge]]'' gave it a score of 9 out of 10 in December 1994, stating that, from the "perfect game" of ''[[Galaxian]]s'' to "the dazzling graphics and arcade-perfect music and speech," ''Ridge Racer'' is "the [[killer app]]" that Namco and Sony "can be proud of."<ref name="Edge"/> In North America, ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s panel of two reviewers gave it ratings of 9 out of 10 each, adding up to 18 out of 20 overall.<ref name="EGM_PS1"/> ''Ridge Racer'' was awarded Best Driving Game of 1995 by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''.<ref name="egmbuyersguide1996">{{Cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1996 |month= |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url= |accessdate=2009-01-09 |quote= }}</ref> The game was reviewed in 1995 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #221 by Jay & Dee in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Jay did not rate the game, but Dee gave it 2 stars.<ref name="Dragon221">{{Cite journal|title=Eye of the Monitor|author=Jay & Dee|journal=Dragon|issue=221|date=September 1995|pages=115–118}}</ref> Retrospectively, reception to the PlayStation version has been positive to mixed. In 1996, [[IGN]] gave ''Ridge Racer'' 7.5 out of 10, saying that, despite two years since release, the game "has definitely stood the test of time".<ref name="IGN">{{Cite web | url=http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/150/150173p1.html | title=Ridge Racer | publisher=IGN | date=1996-11-26 | accessdate=2012-01-05}}</ref> However, IGN complained that "there is no two-player mode" and that "the cars don't really vary in performance that much".<ref name="IGN"/> [[Allgame]]'s Shawn Sackenheim praised the game, particularly graphics and audio, and ending that it "is a fun title that racing fans [...] will love."<ref name="allgame">{{Cite web | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2264&tab=review | title=Ridge Racer Review | publisher=allgame | accessdate=2012-01-05 | author=Sackenheim, Shawn | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115143655/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2264&tab=review | archivedate=2014-11-15}}</ref> Despite the positive reviews of the game, it was later criticized for the arcade style of gameplay. The artificial intelligence has also received criticism—the movement of the computer-controlled cars is restricted to predetermined waypoints.<ref name="1UP"/>
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