Best 32bit racers

[Sidez]

I know some people can't stand to look back at 3D games from this era due to how dated they look but personally I get a real kick out of playing games like Nights and Burning Rangers (from when Sonic Team were true geniuses). The racers are still fun also but these are the two I return to.

-Ridge Racer Revolution (PSone)
If only for the music and the track design. Such a fun game to play in small bursts and Grip is real 'feel good' tune. I'm not a fan of Type 4, I thought it was boring. Revolution is everything a Ridge Racer game should be; shallow, immediately accessible and ****ing good fun. I badly want a new Ridge Racer game, i'll even settle for a port of Rave Racer.

-Sega Rally (Saturn)
Again, the key here is track design which is perfect. I really like the sequel but this is the one with the most memorable circuits and target lap times. Fast and instant fun, the best rally game ever. I am so looking forward to a potential sequel on Chihiro.

Sega and Namco always have made the best racing games, i'd love to see a merger between the two. Seeing their development teams working together as opposed to competing against each other is so exciting to me. Finally Namco will have some decent cabinets and boards to house their games.

[Burai]

I can't play Sega Rally for too long now as the warpy textures make me feel a bit dizzy now.

My fave:

Wipeout 3: Special Edition

The fact that this actually looks better than most first-wave PS2 games and still gives a few recent releases a run for their money in the visual stakes is remarkable. It's a true work of genius. Stylistically it's very clean, very muted, the track designs are fantastic and constantly inspire you to try something new and a little bit more mental each time around and the music is just something else. It's the complete anti-F-Zero - it's a future racer with a completely different outlook on the concept and as such is just as essential to own as Nintendo's opus. The extra tracks from 2097 and the original, spruced up and recoloured are the icing on the cake.

Plus as it was coded by SCEE, there are no borders/speed issues either.

[Sidez]

Which reminds me:

-WipEout 2097/XL (Saturn)
The PSone version is nice but analogue control and the Cold Storage soundtrack make the Saturn version the one to get IMO. Shame Fusion was such a piss poor game.

[Tom Salter]

Ridge Racer Hi Spec

Fantastic, 60fps fluid racing that came with RRT4. Timeless this.

[Sidez]

Ridge Racer Hi Spec

Fantastic, 60fps fluid racing that came with RRT4. Timeless this.

This is the only reason why I haven't sold my T4. When it came to mastery of the PSone hardware, Namco were peerless.

[charlesr]

I was a big fan of Ridge Racer 64 (and the arcade original). But FzeroX has to be up there for pure adrenalin pumping speed.

[Sidez]

I was a big fan of Ridge Racer 64 (and the arcade original). But FzeroX has to be up there for pure adrenalin pumping speed.

Yeah but those are 64bit....

[C']

I have to agree with Ridge Racer Revolution as well.

Possibly my favourite of the series (RRV may be better as an overall game in terms of deeper structure) but Namco did so much right with RRR that it encompasses everything that is great about the Ridge games. Very bright, crisp graphics that piss all over the rather muted offerings of R4 and especially Rage Racer. A cool soundtrack (Ridge 2's has always been my favourite, Rare Hero 2 and Grip/Grid are the standouts) and they refined the handling over the first game just enough to peak the reward level of its mastery.

I think the reason I often go back to this game is because it was the last Ridge Racer game to hold onto its arcade heritage. RRV is good (great even) but it still feels very much like a console game. (RRR even has the classic 'woman with very little on' waiting screen when you link up)

[replicant]

Sidez

Interesting you said Ridge Racer Revolution. I have to agree with you there. I really enjoyed Namco's second RR on the PSX. However Im under the impression that its a title that a fair proportion of people critised unfairly. I never actually saw what the problem was with the release, and definately enjoyed it more than RR4.

Wip3out SE - Again Bab's hit the nail on the head with that release. The best WO on the market, and only available on domestic release. Fantastic tracks from all 3 games, the japanese one and ltd tracks coupled with the Sasha organised soundtrack makes it a worthwhile purchase.

[geldra]

Speaking of WO3 SE did you all check out the wire frame/flat texture mode? Its way cool...very tron.

[Streets Of Rage]

my faves have to be Sega Rally cos the handling is just so damn magnificent, Sonic r, not a car racer but a racer nonetheless and a game i enjoyed alot. Also mentions to: Colin Mcrae Really, V-Rally, TOCA/2 and Gran Turismo 2.

[geldra]

Wave Race 64.

[Robin]

64 bit, not 32 bit :P

[geldra]

64 bit, not 32 bit :P

Yeah but i only liked half of the courses .

[charlesr]

I was a big fan of Ridge Racer 64 (and the arcade original). But FzeroX has to be up there for pure adrenalin pumping speed.

Yeah but those are 64bit....

Ooops. Dumas!