Road Rash
System: Genesis
Release Date: September 1991
Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Racing
Either you meet the pavement or they do in Road Rash! Just racing motorcycles isn’t enough anymore. Now it needs to be done at ridiculous speeds and with violence! Show you’ve got the balance and quick reflexes necessary to not become street meat. If you do, you’ll walk away with the winner’s cash. Can you show you’re the best?
There are five courses to choose from. The goal is to finish in the top 4 on each race and move up to the next level. If you don’t finish in the top 4, you’ll have to race that track again until you do. Tracks begin at around five miles long on level 1 and increase in length each time you rank up. These early races take around three minutes to complete and the later races take longer. Luckily, you’re given a password to pickup where you left off. Placing high in races earns you money. If you can earn enough, better motorcycles become available to you. These vary in speed, handling, and durability. Upgrading will give you the upper hand against the competition.
When on the course, you can accelerate with the B Button, attack adjacent bikers with the C Button, and supposedly brake with the A Button, but why would anyone choose to do that? You can load up a backhand by holding up and the C Button, and a kick by holding down and the C Button. The bikers can attack you, too, but you should be more worried about obstacles on the road. People are commuting, cows like to cross the road, and rocks and trees will send you flying. If you fall off your bike, you have to run back to it and get on. If you’re tired of riding your bike, you can run the track if you want, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Luckily, your bike teleports ahead with you, so you can get on when you get tired. It’s also important to avoid the cops. They don’t like these Road Rash races and are looking to stop you and fine you for your actions. Busted…
Graphics: 3.0
The graphics are impressive, but there is a jerkiness in the framerate that’s tough to get past.
Sound: 3.0
The songs are catchy enough, but not my absolute favorite.
Gameplay: 3.0
Stay on the course and try to punch people off their bikes.
Difficulty: 2.5
You can’t really see obstacles coming your way because of how hills work, which is cheap.
Fun Factor: 3.0
Knocking people to their doom is pretty entertaining, but don’t expect anything deep.
Overall Rating: 2.9
Road Rash earns a B. This is a totally solid game. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but there will be chances for that in the future.