I could listen to it all day, every day

Music is a vital piece of a video game and for some, it’s the most important. Long after we have completed our games we will whistle or hum the OST (official soundtrack) to ourselves.

Some games are widely known by the gaming community to have great music.
Final Fantasy VII, The Last Dragoon, Jet Set Radio and The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion are to name but a few.

Some of my favourites are Dragon Quest VIII, Daytona USA, Yakuza 0, Dynasty Warriors 3 (to be fair all of the Dynasty Warriors games have good soundtracks), Red Dead Redemption and Metro 2033.

However, one game has a soundtrack so damn good that it is scraping perfection. Music that is so smooth to the ears that it is essentially bliss. That game is Ridge Racer Type 4.

Before I get into this I want to say that if you haven’t played Ridge Racer Type 4, you are missing out on one of the best racing games ever made. It is an essential PS1 title, an absolute must-have.

As soon as you start up Ridge Racer 4 you get to listen to the silky smooth main theme. It’s got a 90’s dance/ house style which is a type of music I’m not all that into (The Prodigy are an exception) but, it just works here. Here’s the intro:

The music for the menus of the game are incredibly funky, it’s the kind of music you can click your fingers along to and nod your head. I can stay in the menus forever because of the music, it’s cool, funky and relaxing.

For a PS1 game, Ridge Racer Type 4 has quite a big soundtrack especially for a racing game back then. The game features over 20 pieces of music all of which are an absolute delight to listen to.

Here are a few of my favourites.

Urban Fragments which is the music used in the intro is divine.

 

I could listen to Pearl Blue Soul all day, every day.

 

This track is called  ‘Move Me’ and it moves me, just listen to it.

 

Naked Glow is unbelievably funky.

 

Sweet merciful lord is Garage Talk good. Why would you want to leave one of the game’s menus when this is playing?

 

Like Garage Talk, why would you want to leave the menus?

I think I’ve expressed enough love and affection about Ridge Racer Type 4’s soundtrack, which is why I am going to make a bold claim.

Ridge Racer Type 4 has one of the best soundtracks in gaming. Every track is a pleasure to listen to and there isn’t a single bad piece of music in it. It deserves to be up there amongst other games with phenomenal OSTs.

All this Ridge Racer Type 4 talk has got me wanting to play the game again. Ah, why not eh? Come on PS1 load up Ridge Racer Type 4, there’s no place I’d rather be.

 

Hot Take Friday –
These articles are opinionated and it is okay if you disagree. Different opinions are what makes each one of us unique.

Do you agree that Ridge Racer Type 4 has one of the best soundtracks in gaming? Which video games do you think have fantastic music? Let me know in the comments below.