Rage Racer - A Deep Dive into Namco's Forgotten Gem - PlayStation 1 Classic

Rage Racer is the third title in the Ridge Racer series of racing games on the PlayStation. Developed and published by Namco, and this is how it holds up in 2022
00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Game Starts
03:15 - The Tracks
10:25 - Customization, Upgrades and New Cars
13:45 - Progression and Difficulty Curve
15:50 - Round and Round We Go
18:10 - What Makes This Game So Special
20:45 - Completing The Game
21:50 - Final Thoughts
23:30 - New Game Plus Feature
Played using Retro-Arch emulator - I own a Physical PS1 and copy of Rage Racer
Please enjoy like share and sub

[@yngwie115]

My Absolute favourite racing game of all times.I still play It today. Nice to see how many people like this game as I do!

[@purwantiallan5089]

Despite the AI in Rage Racer can be quite frustrating especially on Class 5 and 6.

[@karlstrausside107]

Me too, I'm glad I'm not the only one, I salute you

[@yngwie115]

@@karlstrausside107 Racers start you engines and let's get It on

[@VenusFlycast]

The art style is unique in Rage Racer, always loved this game and this saga.

[@purwantiallan5089]

I wish Gran Turismo 7 follows this game style from Rage Racer.

[@azz902011]

Love Rage racer. When you get to the later game and have no choice but to race with manual transmission only, paved the way for me using MT in future games in general! Superb game!

[@azz902011]

And! You have to play in 1st person!

[@theleftyboater]

The memories I have of rage racer… ditching school to go to my mates playing it…. What a game!!

[@purwantiallan5089]

Along with Wip3out, WipEout XL, WipEout 1995 and GRAN TURISMO 2.

[@purwantiallan5089]

RAGE RACER even 27 years after release still is an unforgotten hidden gem of PS1 racing games.

[@sneakyskunk1]

This is still my favorite of the Namco racers. Later racing games were not bad at all, but for me none of them ever recaptured the magic of this one. Great retrospective of a great game. SUBSCRIBED!

[@fikrizainudin6376]

Same bro. Feel the same way too. I even go back playing this games went I had free time.

[@sneakyskunk1]

@@fikrizainudin6376 I sometimes wonder what a full on remake would be like. Just the graphics though, leave everything else as it was. If handled correctly it could be glorious.

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@fikrizainudin6376Hikari Kagura surprisingly love all the songs in RAGE RACER.

[@VenusFlycast]

oh and another thing about Rage Racer. The tracks, are really rollercoaster-like. Never seen another racing game with so much verticality (excluding Wipeout but it doesn't have that sense of speed of a rollercoaster, the ships runs always at the same speed).

[@kosokuco]

I think the biggest thing for me that goes under the radar far too much with Rage Racer, is the art style. No other racing game have I seen emulate the pseudo-european-mediterranean-dark-medieval sort of look that a lot of RPGs and other games like Panzer Dragoon were praised for. Its incredibly unique especially for this era of racing games. I have the guide book for Rage Racer on my shelf and in it are various 'Postcard' high res renders of the tracks and cars which provide even more context for the Mediterranean setting, its so so cool.

[@shoux]

book name please!

[@Invokehazza3]

I remember when I was younger I was always scared of using the manual cars 😂 This is my all time favourite game. I revisited it over and over and still have my copy of the game. The soundtrack was absolutely elite and the feeling that the game gives you while playing is just next level.

[@yoshimitsu8922]

I'm looking into 90's D&B music, so to have this video recommended to me was fantastic. Thanks for covering this game!

[@blackcurtains4710]

If you want the night drum and bass music was invented here is your video. Notice the difference between DnB, dark dance and happy hardcore that created and then split that very night? I was too young but the commentators who were there will fill you in. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4Kkf6NpZ5h6b9k

[@steven5577]

This is what got me into d&b when I played it back in the day

[@MattySS]

It’s called jungle music

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@MattySSjungle musics?

[@pgr3290]

RRT4 was the next iteration, the better game and it perfected Rage Racer. Rage Racer was a step change from Ridge Racer Revolution. More realistic and gritty visuals, deeper soundtrack, attempt at a career mode. RRT4 took everything and polished it to a high gloss removing the rough edges here. I appreciate RRT4 would not exist without this game first though.

[@GeeseH]

It lost the high level intensity though.

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@GeeseHthe AI in RRT4 is a bit easier compared to Rage Racer tho.

[@paulgallagher6027]

Love the way you got the drift when showing the difference between music and non music 😝 great video!

[@NewGabeOrder]

22:19 There is a PlayStation controller designed for racing games in mind, complete with pressure sensitive buttons and a twisting function. This is the NeGCon (named after the controller's twist feature), and this is the go-to controller for most racing games released on the system. All of the Ridge Racer games work with the NeGCon, and it makes a difference since the twist controls make your steering slower or quicker depending on how hard you twist the NeGCon.

[@mumblingbrit]

I should of invested in one, it was so hard using the dpad 😂

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@mumblingbritthe AI in Rage Racer can be very difficult especially on final class.

[@Lornext]

It was the best racing game for PS1 with the best soundtrack of any game on PS1.

[@resist4184]

Transition to night time was awesome

[@ShaunInce123]

This was one of my first games that I got on the PS1. I actually bought the game again some years back because I wanted to complete both Grand Prix modes & I could never get past Class 6 on the extra GP. I also hadn't figured out how to use manual transmission effectively back then, but it's basically a requirement once you get to the later stages. There's also a jumping start strat that you can use at the start of the race where you get a huge burst of speed and blitz past the 2 cars in front. This can only be done in manual transmission and there's videos that tell you how to do it.

[@Realbreather]

Top video lad, Rage Racer is probably my favourite racing game of all time too, absolutely criminally underrated.

[@geosword6]

The soundtracks to RR games were always stars in their own right. You talk about your inner 5 old, I was 21 at the time at Leeds Uni! Pirate Radio was still going strong and Shnji Hosoe's gabber tracks along with Ayako Saso's Prodigy influenced work really hit the zeitgeist of the era in RR1 &2 and was just like nothing we'd heard before in arcade games and set the beat perfectly for tearing by those silky smooth 60fps texture mapped city scapes and shores. Then this absolute gem as you say came along on the OG PS with it's own absolutely on-trend moody atmosphere and even moodier music to match. R4 was the natural progression at the time whose whole soundtrack was basically a love letter to Shogun / Artemis with a bit of acid jazz thrown in and was again cool AF. But there's just something about the soundtrack to Rage Racer that is on a whole other level of cool. It just sits apart from the rest. Not shouting about itself. Knowing it's better than the rest. On its own but happy just to know it's the best. The Sigma Male of soundtracks. I'm rambling but this brilliant video has got me going! Just come across your channel mate. Love the style and content. Subscribed tonight - keep it going.

[@Jerlynvins]

This game is not a hidden gem or forgotten masterpiece it's a very well-known PS1 game.

[@greskilgaming1235]

This is a game i still play now, and have always enjoyed it since i first played it. Even streamed it a little while ago, still as fun for me now as it was back then, just something about it. Enjoyed your video

[@purwantiallan5089]

Rage Racer along with RRT4, only require 4 chances to retry the race whenever players finished worse than 3rd. Out of chances, GAME OVER.

[@Gr8Dane]

This is the first game I was addicted to, that music is bringing back memories

[@XTheJenovaProjectX]

That’s it. I’m gonna start this game again. I have some of the best PS1 memories ever with this game. It was the first PS1 game I got.

[@AvexFuddle]

I haven’t played this since it came out, but I did love it. I need to revisit it 😊👍

[@steve36207]

I still love this game and its prob my fav racer. I just did a speed challenge on the first course and I still crashed into that sharpe bend 😂 great vid there bud really enjoyed that 👍

[@MrRobin0057]

Took me back to the game parlour after seeing this video. I was one of them masters of many of them games in ps1. Tekken 3 , rage racer, street fighter ex2+ , school fighter, king of fighters, soul edge, kensai, metal slug, xmen, capcom vs arika, bloody roar, twisted metal, ridge racer(racing game similar to rage racer), Tom and Jerry, wwf wrestling, resident evil, bandicoots, NASCAR rumble, were some of the games I could play better than others. It was such a great time i can never forget. Those token coins still ring in my ears .

[@Horeteppe]

Played the shit out of tit back then, and still play it today! It's another great arcade experience from Namco!

[@mboss13b]

Rage Racer is the first game I played on an emulator. The little abarth with the boot wired open after upgrading is so frickin cool.

[@cookiemonster2189]

So many memories with this game very enjoyable

[@kufjapierdziele]

Great to heat that somebody love this game as much as I do!

[@cris872]

Excellent review, Ridge Racer has always been one of my favorite racing games franchise, and Rage Racer is no exception, it a little different that the regular games but just as good with his own soul with his janky controls, very gray-ish graphics and textures, superb customization considering the limitations and a absolute banger soundtrack has always happen with Namco games. Also I always loved the narrator's in every RR game, specially the one from Type 4; "It's the final straight, floor it!".

[@mumblingbrit]

Thanks for your kind words - and agree'd - the ridge racer series - or any early namco arcade racing game will hold a special place in my heart! I used to love playing pac-man at loading screens - a shame Rage Racer didn't have that

[@J.Wick.]

yesssss....man this game gets forgotten! love to see this! this game is a gem. was a big step up from Ridge Racer in 96. RType4 is probably my overall favorite for its depth, also a good OST. But this is a close 2nd.

[@yetanotheruser1989]

Type 4 is a beautiful game all around. The visuals, the soundtrack.. it's a dream like experience.

[@AllThisOverASliceOfGabagool]

Type 4 is great but just felt a little repetitive after a while, which I know is the same for this game but getting every car in every decal became laborious after a while imo.

[@1hons1]

YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! I feel the exact same way about this game. I have like 3 copies of this game lol. This is by far my favorite racing game

[@Kensoy83]

Love this game growing up! me and my friends beat the whole game. This is also the first game that taught me how to drift.

[@andrewT23]

Great video. One of my all time favorite games. To be fair, the graphics looked much better at the time on a Sony CRT. And the controls were much better if you used a negcon. (Same for all the Ridge Racer games)

[@sagaris93]

interesting video, i found about this game quite recently through a friend who recommended me to check out one of songs from soundtrack, i was very impressed. never heard about this game before

[@MrCalland]

Loved this game played it for years and years the soundtrack is definitely the best bit

[@Thehulksterbeast]

ordered it on ebay yesterday . Cant wait to give it a go once again

[@pppupu936]

Rage Racer OST went so hard. Grade “?” was brutal as a kid.

[@carllampard2423]

Loved this game as a kid ❤

[@tsukasa0802]

Got a sub

[@karlstrausside107]

I appreciate this video so much and I fully agree, this was the best racing game I probably ever played, maybe 2nd to one of the F1 games

[@daiashthomas]

This game was a dream to play with the Namco Jogcon controller

[@Tuskingan]

This game seems excellent and now I will try it but I implore you to try Ridge Racer Type 4 it is my favorite racing game of all time.

[@mumblingbrit]

I'll check it out dude! Nice one

[@pedroj234]

soundtrack and racetrack are cool

[@sdmalpas]

This game was and still is my absolute favourite racing game on the playstation. I still have my mint original copy...but no ps1 2 or 3 to play it on. Now looking to build a machine to emulate and upscale it nicely. I think it looks better grittier and lower res, but going to experiment

[@DARKCORE02]

The game makes you learn by force how to drift for most of the hard corners, no other games was this dificult.

[@scottmclean8910]

Can’t believe you don’t drift that’s the best bit of these games 😬

[@FabioGnecco]

Very interesting game ! I have fun playing ridge racer 7 and the 64 too ! Even being bad at both lol Dunno if I'm doing something wrong or if i have to learn how to drift Also played RR3D ! The rubber band is crazy lol

[@deckofcards87]

I love this game. I like it more than Type 4.

[@arik4643]

Rage Racer. My father is not a gamer. Not even keen on gaming. But he loves playing this game. I remember his favorite car was Age. The car with the highest handling. I loved the Lizard. The car with high acceleration

[@Haulinbassracing]

i used to rent this in the big case from the local radio shack

[@mahiru20ten]

You seem to talk a bit about the Extra GP, but missed the important bit - the very final GP, Diable GP, and the three special Grade 6 cars.

[@mumblingbrit]

Shh that video isn't coming until Friday . I didn't realise until after I'd published this

[@michaelrussell3890]

It's the game I got with my PS1, and I still own it

[@daviddavenport1485]

One of Namco Bandai's underrated gems

[@EmoDKTsuchiya]

Namco*

[@blackcurtains4710]

Rage Racer in the UK was actually June 199-7......December 1996 was its Japanese home release. There was an arcade game called "Rave" Racer 1995 by Namco also part of the Ridge Racer franchise. Title change to not step on the toes of, nor undermine Namco's homeport race-game releases but a sequel nonetheless. With digital racergirl Reiko Nagase debuting with "Rave" but on the "Rage" starting grid too connecting Ridge with Rave.

[@tigertony7724]

Just fond from retro store awesome game ps1

[@4izm0v]

I am lucky to have played all PS1 Ridge Racer games

[@theenemy333]

Kinda wild how far you managed to get through a Ridge Racer gaming without drifitng lol

[@mumblingbrit]

I didn't realize the machanic was important tbh, literally drove like I did as a kid!!! ... Tbh it was hard as an adult no idea how I done it when I was like 5 haha

[@thetickingman]

I preferred Type 4 but enjoyed playing this one too.

[@mumblingbrit]

i tried type4 , i just love the rubbish you get from the team owner / engineer

[@JamesStocks]

Rage Racer did a lot of things right and is arguably the best-designed Ridge Racer game. It did however introduce having weird overpowered end-game cars. Also "I can walk faster than that, get going!" when your lap time is 1 millisecond slower than your personal best

[@mumblingbrit]

Hahaha, 😂 such a classic line I forgot about that one!!

[@richardsavings6690]

Can I ask for help? I've basically nailed the drifting in Ridge Racer 4 and 5, but it seems very wild and bizarre here. Whenever I try to drift around a hairpin, the back of my car slides inward and I slam head-on into the outside wall. What am I doing wrong?

[@gsgunawan80]

maybe you didn't turn enough before you initiate the drift

[@Andreadeluxe]

Played on my ntsc-j ps2 brought on may 2000 share with ridge racer v (i live in italy)

[@mumblingbrit]

I didn't really play ridge racer on the PS2, think I switched more towards gran tourismo at the time - Was RR5 and good as type4?

[@Sparkcell275]

I think out of every song in Rage Racer “Mech Monster” is probably my favorite but all of them are good. I can’t say that for other ridge racer games although I might be bias since rage racer and the original ridge racer were my first ridge racer games. Although I didn’t rage racer much so I’m not sure?

[@ytyndale3643]

If you love this game so much you should try it with the neGcon controller.

[@WilsoTron]

About time someone bigged up rage racer. Easily the best ridge racer game. Although how you can play without drifting is beyond me. Once you get used to it it’s easy enough. Especially if you played the first two games on ps1

[@shoux]

loved the logo editor, managed to make one gold flame-ish logo, really proud of it xD the only thing a little jarring for me was the female voice announcer in race.. too calm and sounds out of place for this game & music

[@MrDreamer60]

This and wipeout 2097 were best racing games on ps1.

[@v4skunk739]

Rage Racer best Ridge Racer game.

[@tobiasisrael3758]

this game actually made me a better driver in real life

[@mumblingbrit]

Drifting round corners are we? Lol

[@NewGabeOrder]

I made a modded version of Rage Racer that uses music from the Metal Gear Solid series (mostly MGS2). I can post a video demonstrating that mod, and feel free to check it out once it's ready.

[@mumblingbrit]

So sorry my guy I didn't spot this, let me know when it's out I will watch it for sure!

[@NewGabeOrder]

@@mumblingbrit I have yet to capture a video of me winning a race with MGS2 music enabled.

[@KylarTyphlosion]

Rage racer. Cus the way cars can randomly regain grip in a drift makes me want to rage

[@xKiNx]

So this may be me misremembering, but it's making my brain hurt so I gotta ask. After getting 1rst in all the class 6 races, wasn't there a jet black car that would appear under some strange conditions? The car wouldn't be on the start line, but would come up behind you mid-race, and the only way to beat it was to literally block it for like 2 and a half laps.. I know I'm ancient, and maybe this is some glitch in the matrix for me. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the nostalgia trip!!

[@mumblingbrit]

ill have to look into this dude, i am unsuer - sounds like a NAMCO thing to do tho :P

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Brit, you're gonna have to play Racig Lagoon (but on emulator, with the English patch) It has legendary status back in Japan, and was never officially sold elsewhere. But my fucking god, it will rock your world.... Racing Lagoon on PS1... (please for fuck, download the english patch though)

[@ivocaha3756]

RR is really the best arcade racer on PS1... no doubt

[@rogercruz1547]

Same composers as the Ace Combat 3 OST

[@safeasf_uck7020]

I'm like a year late but you didn't actually complete the game... After you complete the reverse GP's you get access to the Diablo GP where you race 4 secret cars.

[@mumblingbrit]

see the follow up video ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWa2pJSpq5WAaZY

[@safeasf_uck7020]

@@mumblingbrit Just watched it, my bad bro!

[@mumblingbrit]

@@safeasf_uck7020 all good dude, got an extra view outta you lol!

[@Loader2K1]

In my humble opinion, while I've always liked _Rage Racer_ , the game can get deceptively hard. I also didn't like the process of racing over and over again to either buy and/or upgrade cars with small amounts of prize money, not to mention the specific cars that force you to use manual transmission. It wasn't until recently that I bought a used original PlayStation and a GameShark and finally saw the end of this game.

[@robengley4209]

I agree it's good but graphic tearing and horrible hit dictection. Best in the series overall though.

[@musclebear]

I wanted to love it but it's too damn hard no????

[@kclink1579]

Pretending people don't know this game.

[@BurntRAM]

considering this is your fav racer youre not very good at it haha. hitting walls left and right. the original ridge racer had a vastly superior soundtrack but i like rage racers physics a lot more.

[@kalasatwater2224]

Well I was disappointed by this ''gem'' 😅

[@mumblingbrit]

my childhood game, its a gem to me and not many people know about it, everyone knows "RIDGE RACER" no one knew "RAGE RACER"

[@DontForgetOldKolobok]

*THE BEST ARCADE RACER ON PS1* doesn't know how to powerslide 🤣 .....Power off, turn, power on while turning, steer...it's really not that hard

[@jyakku79]

Means a LOT to see some love for this criminally underrated CLASSIC!🥹