Ridge Racer - I don't get it.

[Fursphere]

What is the attraction to Ridge Racer (MAME version I guess).  What am I not getting about this game.

Sure, its fun - but its only one track, one car, and a pretty short "play per quarter" experience (although I don't what what arcade driving game that isn't a quarter eater...).   

I remember play the crap out of the Playstation version of Ridge Racer when I was a teenager - but it had lots of cars to unlock, and the course to drive backwards (I think).   The arcade version has none of this that I'm aware of - or am I totally missing something?

[BadMouth]

I dunno, but I've spent entire evenings playing that same track trying to get first place.
I can guarantee that my driving cab has logged more hours of Ridge Racer 2 and Rave Racer (in Viva Nonno emulator) than any other arcade game.

The control: The easy arcade drifting just strikes a nerve with me and feels just perfect.

The Track: I like that the track doesn't seem hard, but requires near perfection to come in first on the intermediate and expert levels.

The Music: The music gets me hyped like no other game.

Something about having one track and having to be perfect on it is more appealing to me than having a bunch of tracks that I forget about after I "beat them".  This game makes me frustrated, but lets me get close enough to succeeding that I always have to go again.

[isamu]

I dunno, but I've spent entire evenings playing that same track trying to get first place.
I can guarantee that my driving cab has logged more hours of Ridge Racer 2 and Rave Racer (in Viva Nonno emulator) than any other arcade game.

The control: The easy arcade drifting just strikes a nerve with me and feels just perfect.

The Track: I like that the track doesn't seem hard, but requires near perfection to come in first on the intermediate and expert levels.

The Music: The music gets me hyped like no other game.

Something about having one track and having to be perfect on it is more appealing to me than having a bunch of tracks that I forget about after I "beat them".  This game makes me frustrated, but lets me get close enough to succeeding that I always have to go again.

I am literally struggling to find anything meaningful to add to this post. Badmouth hit the nail on the head 200%!!! That one track will have you playing for hours once you get in the zone. Every attempt becomes more addicting and you get the urge to become better and shave off more time.

The only thing I would say is I don't like the drifting quite as much as Rave Racer's drifting, which is nothing short of sublime, and is second only to Ridge Racer V.

[vandale]

Least played game in my cab, would be better if linked I think

[opt2not]

It's namco's answer to Drift-style racing, for the Daytona crowd that want a change of scenery.