The game's software loads into RAM, letting the player use any music CD to play custom levels the game can generate a unique level from any track on the CD. Masaya Matsuura, the producer of PaRappa the Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy, returned to lead Vib-Ribbon. After design issues surfaced with the car and the ad plan was dropped, development continued as a stand-alone game. The game was initially commissioned as an advertisement for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class car.
Although the original PlayStation version was never released in North America, the game was re-released on PlayStation Network in North America in 2014. It was released for the PlayStation in Japan on December 9, 1999, and in Europe on September 1, 2000. Vib-Ribbon is a 1999 rhythm video game developed by NanaOn-Sha and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
