Road Rash (1991 video game)

Road Rash
Developer(s)	Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Designer(s)	Randy Breen Dan Geisler
Programmer(s)	Dan Geisler Walter Stein Carl Mey Samuel Black
Composer(s)	Michael Bartlow Rob Hubbard
Series	Road Rash
Platform(s)	Master System, Sega Genesis, Amiga, Sega CD, 3DO, Sega Game Gear, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy, Game Boy Color
Release	1989 Master System EU: 1989 NA: 1990 Sega Genesis EU: 1991 NA: November 19, 1992 JP: November 20, 1992 Amiga Sega CD 3DO Sega Game Gear PlayStation NA: December 29, 1995 JP: March 22, 1996 EU: March 1996 Sega Saturn EU: January 4, 1996 JP: July 26, 1996 NA: 1996 Microsoft Windows Game Boy Game Boy Color
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Road Rash is a racing video game developed and published by Electronic Arts.

Gameplay

Screenshot of the original Road Rash.

In an attempt to improve on the basic Hang-On concept, where the player's vehicle remains on the same horizontal plane and turns are essentially a matter of moving left or right, Road Rash requires that players contend with various grade changes. The physics reflect the act of going up or down a hill, as well as turning while climbing; this results in the ability to launch one's motorcycle great distances, resulting in crashes (and their animations). Aside from this, Road Rash has a standard system of obstacles including street signs, trees, poles, and livestock; and taking from OutRun, active traffic while racing against other bikers.

What Road Rash really brings to the table is "brawling"; the player can fight other bikers with a variety of hand weapons or simple punches and kicks. The player initially starts off with just those basics, but can grab a weapon from another rider by timing a punch correctly. The list of weapons has grown with the games, starting from the clubs in the first Road Rash, and eventually including things like crowbars, nunchaku, and cattle prods. Whatever the weapon, successful attacks damage an opponent's stamina, and depleting this stamina will cause a biker to wipeout which can also damage the bike; this functions much like hitting a car or other major obstacle, and it all applies to you as much as to other racers (though in most of the games, you have more stamina than opponents).

As mentioned before, the last and most major obstacle are cops. The motorcycle police officers fight the player as another opponent and serve as gameplay enforcers by culling players who fall too far behind or choose to explore the world rather than race in it. Losing a fight with an officer or being caught by one while off one's motorcycle causes the player to be Busted, ending the race.

Tracks

The tracks depict California State Routes on highway shields as the player 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 (US 199)
• Palm Desert (CA 74)
• Grass Valley (CA 49)

This initial game has only eight bikes to acquire, and only the club as an alternate weapon. Progress requires 4th or better.

Soundtrack

The 3DO and PC game's soundtracks contained 14 music tracks from A&M Records artists Soundgarden, Paw, Hammerbox, Therapy?, Monster Magnet, and Swervedriver. Months before Road Rash was even released, it received 3DO's 1994 "Soundtrack of the Year" award.

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
Famitsu	27 / 40 (3DO)
MegaTech	92%

MegaTech magazine said "Lots of races, lots of bikes, and plenty of thrills 'n' spills make this the best racer on the Megadrive!" Mega placed the game at #8 on their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time. Game Informer ranked it as the 88th best game ever made in their 100th issue in 2001. The staff praised its more violent take on motorcycle video games.

GamePro gave the 3DO version a perfect score. Citing improvements such as the five new tracks, six lane roads, branching routes, digitized backgrounds, humorous full motion video sequences, and new rock soundtrack. They concluded that "This souped-up Road Rash will knock the socks off experienced rashers and new racers alike." Their one criticism was the lack of a multiplayer option. The two sports reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the 3DO version scores of 83/100 and 84/100, declaring it a vast improvement over the Genesis Road Rash games due to the advanced graphics, high playability, and "the coolest music in gaming". However, one of them also criticized that the gameplay eventually becomes repetitive. GamePro gave the Sega CD version a mostly positive review, remarking that though it is a major letdown compared to the 3DO version, it is impressive compared to other Genesis/Sega CD racers.

The PC version received a very favorable review in Mean Machines magazine. It received a final score of 91/100 and was praised for its music, graphics and gameplay. The Commodore Amiga release of Road Rash received moderately high ratings, including 84% from Amiga Format and 81% from CU Amiga. The release received s lower score from Amiga Power, who rated the game a 70/100. 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. The PC version was also a top-seller in its first year of release.