rev up with ridge racer 64 now on nintendo switch online

Cheerio, web travellers! The ghosts of gaming past continue to tease us, with Ridge Racer 64 now catapulting (somewhat ironically) into the speedy lanes of new-age technology. For those well-versed in joypad-ese, you'll recall this wheel-spinning, rubber-burning thriller from Nintendo's N64 days. Well, it's back! But now, it's available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

Attempting to wedge this polygon-blighted beauty into the sleek slots of modern gaming platforms seems akin to trying to fit a square tyre into a round pit stop. Yet, the boffins at Nintendo have somehow made it work. It's akin to digital necromancy, a fossil fuelled adrenaline rush reminiscent of the pre-glitch era.

However, it comes with a catch. Yes, my dear friends, a mouse in the maze of digital nostalgia. Only subscribers to Nintendo's rather optimistically named 'Expansion Pack' can access it. Those not intrigued enough to shell out for this digital fumble bag of classics may be left on the spectator’s stand. A bit of paywall potholing there, Nintendo, yes?

Let's be clear, in this era of 4K realism and virtual reality immersion, Ridge Racer 64 is less a ‘blast from the past’ and more of a ‘mild gust from an era we vaguely recall’. But isn't that part of its grungy, low-res charm? A pixelated love-letter to the days when racing games lacked the sheen of today but made up for it with arcade-style simplicity.

To sum it up, Nintendo is ensuring the wheels of progress turn... backwards. The retro gaming bus is all fuelled up, but the fare might just cost you your trendy online subscription. All aboard, then, albeit with a grain of salt and a hefty pinch of humour. Read more here.