The fourth installment of the Ridge Racer series, developed exclusively for the Sony Playstation, boasts new visuals powered by goraud-shaded polygons, enhancing each car and track's appearance while maintaining the arcade gameplay that has become synonymous with the series. The focus of the game lies in the Real Racing Roots '99 , Ridge City's three heat, seven race championship, culminating in a speedway during New Year's Eve. Players embark on this journey by selecting one of four teams, each with its own unique story and motivations: Micro Mouse Mappy , Pac Racing Team , Racing Team Solvalou , and Dig Racing Team .
Upon choosing a team, players can select one of four car makers: Lizard , Assoluto , Age Solo , and Terrazi . The latter two offer "Grip" cars that require more precise control during turns, but are easier to handle. Cars can be unlocked by completing races, with final placement determining their performance.
The game features various modes, including time attack and a split-screen versus mode. Players must navigate the challenges of each heat to progress through the championship, ultimately aiming to reach the Shooting Hoops speedway with the fastest car. With over 320 cars waiting to be unlocked, players will need to balance strategy and skill to emerge victorious.
R4 Ridge Racer Type 4 also includes an extra disk featuring the original Ridge Racer in higher resolution. The game was initially released on March 22, 2005, for the PSP console.