After a 25-year-long hiatus, Nintendo has brought back Ridge Racer 64, as part of their Nintendo Switch Online lineup for January, making the game available for subscribers of their paid subscription service's Expansion Pack.
Developed by Namco and published by Nintendo in February of 2000 for the Nintendo 64, Ridge Racer 64 gave players a high-octane experience, featuring unique vehicles — some of which can be unlocked — a handful of tracks to test their skills on, and a multiplayer mode that allowed up to 4 players to race each other.
Unlike other titles currently available on the Nintendo Switch Online's Nintendo 64 library — such as Mario Kart 64, Wave Race 64, and Mario Tennis, for example — Ridge Racer 64 does not feature an online multiplayer mode; couch co-op is still an option for those who choose to play locally with their friends, however.
The block busting racing franchise hits Nintendo 64, with lightning-speed visuals and a breathtaking four-player mode. RR64 sends more than 20 different cars racing over eight wide-open tracks, including all the tracks from the original Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution, plus three N64 exclusives. The brand-new four-player mode looks especially gorgeous, with a high frame rate, no loss of detail and zero fog.
This month has also seen the release of three SNES titles for all subscribers of Nintendo's online paid service.
Just last week, Nintendo added SNK's acclaimed fiting game Fatal Fury 2, Indieszero's Sutte Hakun — a 1997 action puzzle game that had never been released outside of Japan — and Culture Brain's 1991 action role-playing game Super Ninja Boy.
The Nintendo Switch Online's NES and GameBoy library's were also given some attention last month.
In celebration of Tetris' 40th anniversary, Nintendo and series creator Alexey Pajitnov announced that Tetris for the NES, which has been made available for the first time since its original release in 1989, and Tetris DX for the GameBoy Color were being added to the lineup.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Tetris®, legendary game designer and programmer Alexey Pajitnov is here to share a very special message about his beloved puzzle game! The Nintendo Entertainment System version of Tetris®, originally released in North America in 1989, plus Tetris® DX, originally released for the Game Boy Color system in 1998, are both available now for #NintendoSwitchOnline members!
With Ridge Racer 64 drifting its way onto Nintendo Switch Online today, the Nintendo 64 library now features a total of 34 titles for Expansion Pack subscribers to enjoy at their leisure.