Arcade-Only Ridge Racer Sequel Rave Racer Is Finally Making Its Home Console Debut, 31 Years On

What's interesting is the announcement of "console archive." As shown in the Nintendo Direct, it's very likely that games that might not come to the Nintendo Switch Online/Virtual Console due to licensing issues will be available here, like the example of the Doraemon game, which is based on an anime series. Other games that, I can deduce, would follow this pattern include some as Tiny Toons and The Goonies, by example.

Furthermore, the mention of "console" may means that "any" video game system could be included, even older PCs like the MSX, TurboGrafx, and Amiga. Well, we'll have to wait and see.

Would be nice if this is how we get games that for whatever reason didn't appear in collections like Sonic Origins, Mega Man Legacy Collection, or Castlevania Anniversary Collection. I'd happily buy Knuckles Chaotix, the Saturn Version of Sonic 3D Blast, or the Dreamcast versions of Mega Man 8 and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Well, one can dream.

1. It's a shame Console Archives are Switch 2 only.

2. I don't expect any licensees that aren't already signed to Hamster will have their games show up in Console Archives.

So, I'd expect a lot of Tecmo/Koei, Nichibutsu, Taito, and Bandai/Namco. Probably not any of the Square/Enix stuff a lot of people are dreaming about.

More Namco stuff would be great, Starblade & the rare Solvalou, I can dream but you never know.

This is great news hope rave racer is also coming to PS5 . Console archives is something I didn’t know I needed but if they release some more obscure games that you don’t normally get on collections and stuff like switch online I will be extremely pleased

Still need a wheel to play this. Which ones have they tested it with ? I might try one of the cheap hori switch ones. (I don’t want to play it with a pad). I want pedals. (Force feedback takes the price to £300 which is too much for the use it will likely get.)

Wish it was coming to more than just Switch.

@AllieKitsune Taito is a subsidiary of SE

Also I'm glad they skipped ridge racer 2 and went straight to rave!

Is there any point of buying Ridge Racer now, considering that it's double the price of the average game on AA? From what I've read, Rave Racer has all of the features of Ridge Racer, plus multiplayer, more courses, and better controls.

So there's a chance for Einhänder to show up in Console Archives.

With the new Console Archives line, we might get as well Rage Racer and Ridge Racer Type 4.

What buffles me is that they don't release this games everywhere. There seems to be no PC versions at all. Some may or may not appear in Xbox, some appear to be Switch exclusives but apparently aren't ect.

@The_Nintendo_Expat Rage Racer is definitely a much different game in my opinion. The aesthetics themselves are pretty different as well as how the cars feel to drive.

Ridge Racer was a fantastic and groundbreaking series, especially in the Arcades. Great release.

@belmont Yeah Hamster's release platforms are rather random:

AA Neo Geo: PC, NS, PS4, XB1
AA2 Neo Geo: PS5, XBS
AA: NS, PS4
AA2: NS2, PS5, XBS
CA: NS2, PS5

I thought this did come out for PS1? 🤔

@Damo
It says "Borders" instead of "Boarders." I know that topic is on a lot of people's minds right now, but this and NL have mixed this up in a couple of different spots in the discussion of this release.

Jeez why did you have to put “31 years ago”? This feels like only a few years ago. Now I feel ancient.

one other thing that the Arcade Archives 2 version will have is splitscreen multiplayer, while the Arcade Archives 1 version will be limited to singleplayer, just like Tokyo Wars was

@Sylamp where is this confirmed?

@sixrings on their website https://www.hamster.co.jp/en/release/6558/

@Sylamp It's unfortunate that these do not seem to include online multiplayer as well, the splitscreen is cool and all and I've already played some 2 player Tokyo Wars but back when the ACA2 lineup was first announced they advertised a "Network Mode" exclusive to ACA2.

"In addition to the “ORIGINAL MODE,” “HIGH SCORE MODE,” and “CARAVAN MODE” included in the “Arcade Archives” series, “Arcade Archives 2” series will add new features such as “TIME ATTACK MODE” and “NETWORK MODE.” In “TIME ATTACK MODE” you compete to see who can beat the final boss the fastest stating from the first battle. This mode focuses on how quickly you can complete the game, regardless of the score you achieve. In “NETWORK MODE” you can play against other users over the network. However, “TIME ATTACK MODE” and “NETWORK MODE” may not be implemented in some games.

Since “RIDGE RACER” is a single-player game, “NETWORK MODE” is not implemented."

Made it seem like Rave Racer should receive online play but that does not seem to be the case.

@IceClimbersMain considering what I've heard about the online play in the ACA 2 Neo Geo I don't think we're missing out on much

@JohnnyMind Console Archives isn't on switch 1.