u/Todelmer

Here's another great illustration that absolutely deserves more attention.

It's found on the back of the cover booklet for the Namco Game Sound Express VOL.11 CD.

Seeing the iconic track from this isometric perspective really makes you appreciate the sheer brilliance in its design. It seems so minimal at first glance, but you can see just how carefully considered all the twist and turns are, with the striking vistas after every bend allowing players to quickly familiarize themselves and instinctively anticipate each upcoming hurdle.

Here's a link to the album for anyone interested in the rest of the packaging, as well as high quality FLAC and MP3 downloads of the best damn racing soundtrack of all time.

This gorgeous illustration so perfectly captures that relentlessly positive and sunny vibe of the original, and I have spent ages searching for a quality copy. Alas, this is the largest I've been able to find. I'd do almost anything to get a large print of it to frame, as it elicits such a specific nostalgia that I just can't get enough of. I've even resorted to trying AI upscaling and, unsurprisingly, the results are always abysmal, as it always completely smooths out all the charming airbrushed textures and has no idea what to do with the text on the side of the cars.

Would very much appreciate any information about where exactly it was originally printed. And if it's a lost cause, would love to see any other Ridge Racer key art that you know of that could satiate my appetite for this uniquely 90s aesthetic.