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Reiko Nagase

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Reiko Nagase
Ridge Racer character
Reiko Nagase in promotional material for R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
First appearanceRave Racer (1995)
Designed byKei Yoshimizu

Reiko Nagase (永瀬麗子, Nagase Reiko) is a character in Bandai Namco's Ridge Racer series. Originally created by artist Kei Yoshimizu for the 1995 video game Rave Racer, she was given a name and expanded role in the game's sequel due to how well she contrasted against the series' racing element, becoming a mascot for the company. While she has appeared in almost ever game since, her exclusion from Ridge Racer V drew significant backlash, resulting in her return in the following titles.

Reiko was well received since her debut, praised for both her character and the physical attractiveness of her character design. She has also been seen as an important part of Sony Entertainment's PlayStation brand, featured in a tech demo as part of the PlayStation 2's reveal. However, some have also criticized her usage in games, seeing it as sexualization of women in game or relegating female characters to the background compared to their counterparts.

Conception and design

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The character was designed for the Bandai Namco racing video game series Ridge Racer by artist Kei Yoshimizu.[1] Introduced as an unnamed character in Rave Racer,[2] she was initially intended to act as solely as a "number girl". However, the development team noticed how pretty she was and felt she made a good contrast to the game's tough racing element, and as a result made her a mascot for the series.[1] Now named Reiko Nagase and given an expanded role in the game's sequel, Rage Racer,[2] her role expanded further in follow-up title R4: Ridge Racer Type 4.[1]

Reiko appears as a slender asian woman with long legs and brunette hair in a pixie cut hairstyle. She stands 165 cm (5 ft 5 in), and has measurements of 85-58-86 cm (33-23-34 in).[3] When creating her appearance Yoshimizu was unable to find a face model to use for Reiko. He chose instead to use his own face, shaving and plucking his eyebrows before scanning his face into the rendering software for the character model.[4] While she has several outfits, she is often depicted in a while tube dress with matching shoes and elbow length gloves. The dress itself features a thin red arrow pattern towards the bottom of the skirt.[3]

Apparances

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Reiko Nagase was first introduced in the opening cutscene as an unnamed character for the 1995 racing game Rave Racer, the third title in Ridge Racer series. She would return in subsequent titles, where was given a name and expanded role up as the series' race queen character until Ridge Racer V,[2] where she was replaced with another character named Ai Fukami. This change proved controversial, and after fan outcry including a petition Reiko returned for subsequent entries in the series.[5]

In non-racing titles, she is prominently featured in a Ridge Racer-themed pachislot,[6] along with a PlayStation 2 port of the machine.[7] Outside of the Ridge Racer series, Reiko has appeared in several other games, including Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis,[8] both the Super World Stadium series and Professional Baseball Famisuta 2011,[9] Namco Wonder Classic,[10] Pac-Man Fever,[10] and Taiko no Tatsujin: V Version.[11]

Promotion and merchandise

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Reiko's image has been used to significant promote the Ridge Racer series through media such as television commercials,[12] computer wallpapers,[13] and pinup calendars.[14] Promotional models dressed as the character have also been featured at gaming industry events such as E3 and Nintendo World.[15][16] Several figures of Reiko have also been produced, such as a gashapon figure as part of the "Namco Gals Collection" toyline.[17][18] In other media, her image has been used to promote soundtracks for the Ridge Racer games, including Ridge Racers Direct Audio and Ridge Racer 20th Anniversary Remix.[19][20]

She has also appeared in promotions related to Sony Entertainment's PlayStation brand. In 1999, she was featured in Namco's E3 PlayStation 2 pre-launch real-time tech demo "Ridge Racer Girl" as part of the console's debut to the general public, with the demo receiving significant praise.[21][22][23] In other game promotions, a character using Reiko's likeness appears in Sony's Astro Bot,[24] while a poster of her appears as an in-game decoration for their game Mainichi Issho.[25]

Critical reception

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Reiko's replacement for Ridge Racer V, Ai Fukami, was heavily criticized and seen as more sexualized by comparison.[26]

Reiko has been well received since her debut, with the staff of Next Generation magazine stating that "few things" represented Namco's success as a company than the character.[27] Australian Station's staff meanwhile described her as a symbol tied to the original PlayStation, citing her popularity and "wholesome sexiness" while voice particular praise for her Type 4 appearance.[28] Chinese website Sina.com.cn describer her as a "virtual idol",[3] calling her presence rare in the racing car genre both due to her design and role as a driver in the series, and how players had grown attached to her character.[29] GamesRadar+'s Justin Towell meanwhile suggested that much of the character's popularity arose from her physical characterization instead of aiming for photorealism, noting that despite console hardware issues in rendering 3D models "She is sensational."[30]

Hero omission from Ridge Racer V caused an outcry from series fans. While the staff of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine mocked the reaction by suggesting players had "somehow forgotten the girls they see in video games aren't actually real people",[31] they also celebrated her return to the series with the PSP Ridge Racer title, calling her "the best race queen" unlike "those skanks who replaced her."[32] The staff of Australian Station meanwhile considered her replacement in Ridge Racer V as a change that singelhandedly represented the increase in sexualization gaming had steadily seen. Describing Reiko as an "innocent, wholesome looking girl-next-door" compare to the "more wordly" Ai they felt was designed to emphasize sex appeal, the staff further emphasized how little Ai was used in the title and questioned why the change was even done in the first place.[26][33]

James Mielke of 1UP.com expressed surprise at how popular the character had remained through the years, noting her as one of gaming's first three dimensional female video game characters, predating Lara Croft. Examining the reasons, he suggested that a lot of the appeal may be due to her design such as her long legs or cheerful demeanor presented in the games. Elaborating on the latter, he felt this provided the Ridge Racer series with something other racing game franchises lacked, providing character to the titles with "a touch of personality and charm", and that her return to the series after Ridge Racer V helped it the series feel whole again for many fans.[34] The latter sentiment was shared by the staff of PSM, stating that despite only being seen in part in the games her "presence and style" was always there, and alongside Ai helped define the series with "their unmatched style and grace."[35]

The staff of Inside meanwhile praised how Reiko acted as a "hidden heroine" in Type 4, sending the player messages of encouragement during the game's story mode if proper conditions were met. They found this to be a rare moment provided by racing games, adding an element of human drama to the title and allowing her to shine.[36] Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta Associate Professor Luthfie Arguby Purnomo also discussed this aspect of her role, citing her as an example of how a mascot in a game can impact the micronarratives in games for characters. Describing her as having a cheeful personality and established as a "cyberbabe", he felt her presence was seen as vital to the games as it helped provide a "reward" in the form of fan service that encouraged engagement from players who would hope doing so would lead to interactions with her.[37]

However, Bath Spa University Professor of Ditigal Media James Newman in his book Videogames was critical of Reiko's usage in the games. Calling her "the epitome outmoded and outdated stereotyping" due to her use strictly in promotional material and limited involvement in the games, he cited her as an example of how female characters are often relegated to the background compared to their male or even non-human counterparts, in this case the cars in the Ridge Racer series.[38] He referenced her again in the book Teaching Videogames, suggesting that readers avoid using a character in such a manner as it could be considered offputting to female viewers, and posed the question to consider issues that may arise from such representation of women in media.[39] Barbara Connell in the book Exploring the Media also criticized Reiko's usage, describing her as "heavily sexualized" and an example of how female characters are often used as props or bystanders in games.[40]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ridge Racer Type 4". Bravo ScreenFun (in German). No. 5. May 1999. p. 27. ISSN 0406-9595.
  2. ^ a b c "The Drift King". The PlayStation Book Second Edition. Future Publishing. 2017. p. 154.
  3. ^ a b c 永濑丽子清纯变火辣 赛车女神强势回归 [Nagase Riko becomes pure and hot, the racing goddess returns strongly]. Sina.com.cn (in Chinese). January 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "Cartridge Racer". Incite Video Gaming. No. 3. February 2000. p. 69. ISSN 1526-2685.
  5. ^ "Ridge Racer 7". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. No. 1. Winter 2006. p. 41. ISSN 1752-2102.
  6. ^ 『山佐DigiワールドコラボレーションSP パチスロ リッジレーサー』人気機種のシミュレーターが登場 [A simulator for the popular model of Yamasa Digi World Collaboration SP Pachislot Ridge Racer has been released.]. Famitsu (in Japanese). May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  7. ^ バンダイナムコゲームス、最新パチスロ機をPS2で再現、PS2「山佐Digiワールド コラボレーションSP パチスロ リッジレーサー」 [Bandai Namco Games recreates the latest pachislot machine on PS2, PS2 "Yamasa Digi World Collaboration SP Pachislot Ridge Racer"]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  8. ^ 第１回「スマッシュコート２の愉快な仲間たち」 [First episode: "The Fun Friends of Smash Court 2"]. Bandai Namco. January 27, 2004. Archived from the original on January 27, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  9. ^ 編集部 (March 31, 2011). 3DS「プロ野球 ファミスタ2011」，4Gamer限定壁紙第3弾は"如月千早"。ヒミツのパスワードと，強力なスター選手情報も追加公開 [The third wallpaper for the 3DS "Professional Baseball Famista 2011" is Kisaragi Chihaya. Secret passwords and strong star player information are also released]. 4Gamer.net. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (September 4, 2002). "Pac-Man Fever Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ridge Racer's Mascot, Reiko Nagase, Speeds Into Taiko: Drum Master V Version". Siliconera. June 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "R4: Ridge Racer Type 4". Loading (in Spanish). No. 1. August 1999. p. 73.
  13. ^ "■ R4-RIDGE RACER TYPE4". February 9, 2005. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  14. ^ "Namco Gets Your Hearts Racing". Official Australian PlayStation Magazine. No. 32. March 2000. p. 11. ISSN 1834-3805.
  15. ^ Rose, Alan (April 20, 2006). "Ridge Racer 7 for PS3 announced". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  16. ^ 【Nintendo World 2011】『リッジレーサー3D』とリアル永瀬麗子 [[Nintendo World 2011] "Ridge Racer 3D" and Real Nagase Reiko]. Inside. January 9, 2011. Archived from the original on November 15, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  17. ^ "Namco.Ch". Bandai Namco. December 15, 2006. Archived from the original on December 15, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  18. ^ ユージンSRフィギュアコレクション・2001初夏 [Eugene SR Figure Collection, Early Summer 2001]. Monthly Arcadia (in Japanese). No. 14. July 2001. p. 187.
  19. ^ 特別インタビュー「リッジレーサーズ ダイレクト・オーディオ」 [Special interview: "Ridge Racers Direct Audio"]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  20. ^ 20周年記念「リッジレーサー 20th アニバーサリーリミックス」が5月23日に発売 [The 20th anniversary "Ridge Racer 20th Anniversary Remix" will be released on May 23rd]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  21. ^ Nelson, Randy (March 2, 1999). "PS2: Demos to Die For". IGN. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  22. ^ Scammell, David (February 20, 2013). "A look back at some of PlayStation's historical reveal events". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  23. ^ "Cutting Edge". Edge. No. 70. April 1999. pp. 8, 11. ISSN 1350-1593.
  24. ^ Tailby, Stephen (December 13, 2024). "Astro Bot: All Special Bots". PushSquare. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  25. ^ SCEJ、PS3「まいにちいっしょ」に永瀬麗子が登場!? 「リッジレーサー7」とのコラボレーションを実施 [SCEJ makes Nagase Reiko appear on PS3's "Every-Chiissho"!? Collaboration with "Ridge Racer 7"] (in Japanese). Game Watch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "The PlayStation's Biggest Sex Scandals". Australian Station. No. 13. June 2000. p. 88. ISSN 1442-0740.
  27. ^ "Contents". Next Generation. No. 47. November 1998. p. 2. ISSN 1078-9693.
  28. ^ "Ridge Racer Evolution". New Zealand Station. No. 11. April 2000. p. 33. ISSN 1442-0740.
  29. ^ 英姿飒爽娇容美 最魅惑的游戏赛车女郎 [The most charming game racing girl]. Sina.com.cn (in Chinese). October 13, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  30. ^ Towell, Justin (November 6, 2014). "The triumphs and horrifying failures of realistic faces in video games". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  31. ^ "Behind the Game: Ridge Racer". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 92. May 2005. p. 138. ISSN 1094-6683.
  32. ^ "PSP Mania". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 89. February 2005. p. 52. ISSN 1094-6683.
  33. ^ "Ridge Racer V". Australian Station. No. 13. June 2000. p. 53. ISSN 1442-0740.
  34. ^ "All About Reiko". 1UP.com. September 14, 2006. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  35. ^ "Girls of Summer". PSM. No. 35. July 2000. p. 62. ISSN 1940-0721.
  36. ^ 応援FAXで妄想がはかどる!? 『R4』永瀬麗子の隠しヒロインムーブにテンションが爆上がり [Faxing your fantasies will improve your imagination!? I'm excited by Nagase Reiko's hidden heroine move in "R4"]. Inside (in Japanese). January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  37. ^ Purnomo, Luthfie Arguby (2023). "On Cam! Micronarrative-Based Typology of Cameos in Films and Video Games". Humanities Diliman. 20 (2): 34.
  38. ^ Newman, James (November 2012). Videogames: Second Edition. Routledge. p. 50. ISBN 9780415669160.
  39. ^ Newman, James; Oram, Barney (February 2006). Teaching Videogames. British Film Institute. pp. 65, 67. ISBN 9781844570782.
  40. ^ Connell, Barbara (2010). Exploring the Media: Text, Industry, Audience. Auteur Publishing. p. 167. ISBN 9781906733476.
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