Road Rash

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Road Rash
Developer(s)	Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Sega Master System, Game Boy, Game Gear, 3DO, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)	from 1991
Genre(s)	Arcade Racing
Mode(s)	Single player, Two Player Multiplayer
Media	Cartridge, Optical CD
Input methods	Game controller, Keyboard

Road Rash is the name of a motorcycle-racing video game series by Electronic Arts, in which the player participates in violent illegal street races. The game was originally released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, but was ported to several other systems. Six versions of the game were released from 1991 to 1999, and a 2004 licensed port for the Game Boy Advance was released. Road Rash and two of its sequels later appeared on the EA Replay collection for the PSP.

The game's title is based on the slang term for the severe friction burns that can occur in a motorcycling fall where skin comes into contact with the ground at high speed.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Game play 3 Differences 4 Sound 5 Releases 5.1 Road Rash 5.2 Road Rash II 5.3 Road Rash III: Tour de Force 5.4 Road Rash 5.5 Road Rash 3D 5.6 Road Rash 64 5.7 Road Rash: Jail Break 6 Playable characters 7 Reception 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Overview

Presented in a third-person view similar to Hang-On, the player competes in road races, and must finish in the top 3 places in every race in order to proceed to the next level. As levels progress, the opponents ride faster, fight harder and the tracks are longer and more dangerous. Placing in each race gives a certain amount of money which increases considerably as levels progress. This money allows the player to buy faster bikes which are needed to stay competitive. The game is over if the player can't pay for the repairs when their motorcycle is wrecked, or can't pay the fine for being arrested.

[edit] Game play

Road Rash boasted a smoothly-rendered vertical element, which was uncommon on consoles at the time. In most traditional older racing games, the player's vehicle remained on the same horizontal plane, negotiating turns essentially by going right or left (see Pole Position). In Road Rash, players had to contend with grade changes, and the physics, though rudimentary compared to today's games, reflected the act of going up or down a hill, as well as turning while climbing, etc. This resulted in the ability to launch one's motorcycle great distances, resulting in often amusing crash animations. Road Rash also introduced an interactive race environment, with street signs, trees and poles, as well as animals (livestock for example) which could interact with the player's vehicle.^[1] This was also one of the earlier games to feature active traffic, which created a more immersive and realistic environment, as the player had to contend with slow moving station wagons and the like while racing against other bikers. Aside from high speed, big-air, and spectacular crashes, what separated Road Rash from other racing games was its combat element. The player could fight other bikers with a variety of hand weapons. The player would initially start off with just his hands and feet, but if the gamer timed a punch right, they could grab a weapon from another rider. The weapons themselves ranged from clubs, crowbars,nunchucks, cattle prods and even police batons. Fights between riders to knock each other off the bike would often go on at high speeds through traffic, pedestrians and roadside obstacles, with the victor gaining place and the loser sustaining bike damage and losing time.

The motorcycle police officers have dual antagonistic roles. They fight the player as another opponent, and they also serve as game play enforcers by policing the back of the pack and culling players who fall too far behind or choose to explore the world rather than race in it. The stakes are higher for losing a fight with a police officer than for losing to another player: Losing a fight with an officer would cause the player to be fined and "busted" and the race would end. Players could also be "busted" by getting caught by an officer while off one's motorcycle.

Players could choose between three categories of motorcycles in each price level: Sport/GT bikes, Race replicas and Cruisers. The Sport/GT bikes were designed after European Grand Touring bikes—they handled well, were of moderate weight and had moderate power. Race Replicas were the Japanese style super bikes—very quick, very light. The cruisers are American style—a little heavy, don't turn too well, but lots of straight line power. The 32-bit versions introduced a fourth type called a Rat bike which was a stripped down Frankenstein-style bike which was nimble and had a lot of durability. Select bikes at the higher levels had N₂O boosts.

In addition, later editions of Road Rash became some of the first video games to include licensed music tracks from major recording artists in gameplay.^[2] Soundgarden was one such artist included. In addition, a billboard in many of the maps has an EA logo.

[edit] Differences

In the initial versions each race locale consisted of a single road. As the player progressed through the levels the finish line would be placed farther down the road. When the technology moved to a single interlocked road network the race routes were pieced together from branching road segments. The four corners of the world had distinctly different geographic features. Once past the first level the races would be between or through different locales.

[edit] Sound

The original Mega Drive/Genesis version featured a Rob Hubbard soundtrack,^[3] however later versions released on CD formats featured music tracks from bands such as Soundgarden, Swervedriver, and Therapy?.^[4] Months before Road Rash was even released for the 3DO it received 3DO's 1994 "Soundtrack of the Year" award. The last version featured garage and unsigned bands who got a chance to be in the game by sending in their tapes.^[2]

The 3DO version soundtrack^[5] contained 14 music tracks from A&M Records artists. Complete list below.

• Soundgarden: Rusty Cage, Superunknown, Kickstand, Outshined
• Paw: Pansy, Jessie, The Bridge
• Hammerbox: Trip, Simple Passing
• Therapy?: Teethgrinder, Auto Surgery
• Monster Magnet: Dinosaur Vacume
• Swervedriver: Duel, Last Train to Satansville

[edit] Releases

This article needs reorganization to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. There is good information here, but it is poorly organized; editors are encouraged to be bold and make changes to the overall structure to improve this article. (March 2008)

In November 2006, Electronic Arts released EA Replay on the PlayStation Portable. This contains ports of Road Rash I, II and III, with Road Rash II featuring wireless multiplayer.^[6]

[edit] Road Rash

Road Rash debuted on the 16-bit Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. All races take place in California locales on progressively longer 2 lane roads. While the game allowed for two players to use the game at one time, it was a take-turns system that only allowed one person to play at a time, and not even the same game.

Of note are the tracks. Most of them accurately depict a California State Route on highway shields as one travels through the level. The levels are, from start and pressing right on the selection screen:

• Sierra Nevada (CA 89)
• Pacific Coast (CA 1)
• Redwood Forest (no highway shields)
• Palm Desert (CA 74)
• Grass Valley (CA 49)

There are 8 bikes to choose from, and two weapons: fists and clubs.

There are many different versions of this game:

• V.1
  • Mega Drive/Genesis, 1991 original
  • Atari ST, 1992 (Peakstar Software)
  • Commodore Amiga, 1992 (Peakstar Software)
  • Sega Master System, 1994 (ported by Probe, published by US Gold)
• V.2
  • Game Boy, 1994 (The Code Monkeys, Ocean of America)
  • Game Gear, 1994 (US Gold Ltd.)
  • Internet- AOL Games Channel, 2001
• V.4
  • 3DO, PC, original 1994
  • Sega Mega-CD, 1994
  • PlayStation, 1996
  • Sega Saturn, 1996
  • Microsoft Windows PC, 1996 (Papyrus Design Group)
  • Game Boy Color, 2000 (3d6 Games)

[edit] Road Rash II

A sequel to the first game came out the next year in 1992, also on the Sega Genesis. Road Rash II was heavily based on the same engine and sprites as the first Road Rash game. The races took place in the U.S. states of Alaska, Hawaii, Tennessee, Arizona, and Vermont.

Several game modes were introduced. Alongside the two modes from the first Road Rash were a true two-player game, called "Split Screen", where the 14th and 15th players are replaced by human players, and a duel mode, called "Mano a Mano", where, before the race, the two human players can select any bike, weapon, and length of track they wish before racing each other.

Versions:

• V.2
  • Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, 1992 original

[edit] Road Rash III: Tour de Force

The final installment of Road Rash on the Sega Mega Drive, Road Rash III: Tour de Force came out in 1995. All races took place in 5 of 7 countries, with the track selection varying per level: Brazil, United Kingdom (though its description pays homage to the Isle of Man), Germany, Italy, Kenya, Australia, and Japan.

Fifteen bikes are available in different classes, and four upgrades are available for each. Eight weapons are available, and the game allows the player to hold on to the weapons between races as long as the game is not reset.

Notably, this game changed its aesthetic by using digitized sprites as opposed to the "cartoony" sprites of the first two installments.

Versions:

• V.3
  • Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, 1995 original

[edit] Road Rash

There are five levels altogether, and five courses, all California locales: The City, The Peninsula, Pacific Coast Highway, Sierra Nevada, and Napa Valley. The roads themselves are multi-lane with brief divided road sections.

When all courses are completed without getting "Game Over" or "Busted", in 1st, 2nd or 3rd out of 14th place, the level will increase. Differences affected on tracks are the length and the amount of traffic on the road, with the additions of heavier fines from the police if the player is caught, and a larger reward for completing the track.

[edit] Road Rash 3D

When Road Rash debuted on the 32-bit home game consoles they were initially ported from the 3DO version of the game. All of these games were called Road Rash despite being 4th in the series. Derivative works were reengineered up for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 64 platforms or reengineered down to Sega Mega-CD and the handheld consoles.

All races took place on routes laid out through a single interconnected road system.

Versions:

• V.5
  • PlayStation, 1998 original, PC, ?

[edit] Road Rash 64

The Nintendo 64 version (Road Rash 64) is noteworthy, because Electronic Arts did not design or publish it. Instead, the IP was licensed to THQ who in turn had their own studio Pacific Coast Power & Light, develop the game. [13] This studio had actually been founded by former EA employee Don Traeger. Road Rash 64 was also designed similarly to F-Zero X in that the game used very low polygon models, low resolution textures, and few special effects so that the game could instead feature several dozen motorcycles, traffic models, and obstacles while being able to keep a high frame rate. The game was more focused on the combat aspects the earlier 16-bit games featured, and was ahead of its time in terms of customizable settings in a console game. N64 owners with a Ram Expansion Pak were able to choose from Wide Screen, Letterbox, and High Resolution settings in addition to the default graphics setting. The game also managed to feature five of the tracks from Road Rash 3D through audio compression software.

Versions:

• V.5
  • Nintendo 64, 1999 Pacific Coast Power & Light (THQ)

[edit] Road Rash: Jail Break

• • An interconnected road system and 2 player cooperative play with a sidecar.

Road Rash: Jail Break for the Game Boy Advance scored mixed reviews with critics, gaining a score of 67% on Metacritic.^[7]

Versions:

• V.6
  • PlayStation, 1999 original
  • Game Boy Advance, 2004 (Destination Software, Inc)

[edit] Playable characters

Axle "A model bad boy, cruel and ruthless. Don't try to get on Axle's good side - he doesn't have one." He starts off with a chain, $200, and a Corsair Swallow.

Bose Jefferson "Don't be fooled by Bose's casual demeanor - his punch feels like a ten-car pile up on your head." He starts off with $500 and a Kamikaze ZXY 250.

Cydney Bass "A spoiled rich girl living on the edge. Treat Cyd right or she'll throw a tantrum in your face." She starts off with $1000 and a Kamikaze ZXY 250.

Milwaukee Jon "An Ex-con with a death wish. Jon's dare devilish style strikes fear in the hears of seasoned riders." He starts off with a club, $400 and a Corsair Swallow.

Pearl McKurdy "A competitive and reckless retro-punk. Pearl lives for anarchy on the open road." She starts off with a chain, $750 and a Perro Pico.

Rhonda the Rash "A psychotic with rabies. This ex-New Yorker is as hard as asphalt and twice as rough." She starts off with $800 and a Corsair Swallow.

Slim Jim "Would've been the class clown if he hadn't dropped out. Voted 'Most Likely To Die Young' by classmates." He starts off with a club, $600 and a Perro Pico.

Teflon Mike "Dropped on his head at an early age, Mike is a gonzo wild man: fearless, un-predictable, brain damaged." He starts off with $500 and a Corsair Swallow.

[edit] Reception

Road Rash received a very favourable review in Mean Machines magazine. It received a final score of 91% and was praised for its music, graphics and gameplay.^[8] The Commodore Amiga release of Road Rash received moderately high ratings, including 84% from Amiga Format^[9] and 81% from CU Amiga.^[10] The release received worse reviews from Amiga Power, who rated the game 70%.^[11] It won several awards from Electronic Gaming Monthly in their 1994 video game awards, including Best Driving Game, Best Music in a CD-Based Game, and Best 3DO Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.^[12]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Road Rash series at MobyGames
• WTF Happened to Road Rash? Article
• New Road Rash Rumour
• Gamespot Review of Road Rash 64

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