Hello, this is RetroAhoy - and this is Game Over.
In this episode: Road Rash. Visceral motorbike racer, and arguably the most successful game
series ever named after a colloquial term for an abrasive injury.
Both published and developed by Electronic Arts, Road Rash made its first appearance
on the 16-bit Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis) in 1991.
Electronic Arts were founded in 1982 as a games publisher for home computer systems,
and found their first success with titles such as Pinball Construction Set in 1983.
Their first game to be developed in-house was the threateningly titled 'Skate or Die!'
in 1987. Featuring a suitably radical array of skate
disciplines, and take-turn multiplayer with up to 8 players - it was a reasonable first
entry to EA's development catalogue. The into-the-screen racer format seen in Road
Rash was pioneered by the grandfather of rear-view racing games: Namco's Pole Position, in 1982.
This pseudo-3D format allowed for a convincing rendition of a racecourse receding into the
distance, without the need for the processing power typically needed to render a 3D scene.
Sega's Hang On in 1985 was similar, only this time featuring motorbikes in place of F1 cars
- and with immersive arcade controls and Sega's super-scaler technology was pioneering in
its own right. The late 1980s saw the rise of the rear-view
racer on the home consoles, and games such as Mach Rider on the NES in 1985 a near antecedent
of Road Rash, with into-the-screen racing and motorcycle combat.
Road Rash took on a more realistic setting, featuring modern superbikes racing routes
across a variety of California-based locations - including Sierra Nevada, the Pacific Coast,
Redwood Forest, Palm Desert, and Grass Valley, each with a distinct graphical style.
The races were straightforward enough - a pack of 15 high-powered bikes, including the
player - and several miles of California highway. Get to the finish line in a top 4 position
and you'd qualify - and the higher your placement, the greater your cash reward.
Unlike a conventional racing game, the rules of engagement are a little more - open - in
Road Rash. Ramming, attacking and otherwise impeding
the progress of your opponent is not only permitted, but at times required to secure
your victory. Your foe, of course, has the same idea - and
some have even prepared for the fight, packing weapons such as clubs and chains to make their
blows more devastating. However, with a deftly timed swipe, you can
relieve your opponent of their burden - and even add insult to injury by using it against
them. These high speed fisticuffs are as risky as
they sound, of course - and at any time you're only one high speed collision away from a
quarter-mile slide over rough tarmac. Falling off your bike costs valuable time,
and damages your bike as well - and so once separated getting back in the saddle quickly
is your top priority, as winning the race on foot is unlikely.
Of course, these no-holds barred illegal street races attract some attention from law enforcement
- and police motorbikes do indeed make an appearance, their intent being to stop your
race in its tracks and to impose a hefty fine. Bike wrecks are costly, too - take too many
knocks and you'll be forced to drop out of the race, with a sizeable repair bill on your
hands. Ultimately, your cash is your main concern
- should your balance hit zero it's game over. Earn enough from racing, and you'll be able
to trade in your old bike for something with a little more performance.
There are 8 bikes to choose from, each with different power curves and handling traits
- but in general, the more expensive the ride, the faster you'll be able to go.
For the higher level races you'll need a better bike to stand a chance - but faster travel
leaves less margin for error in the tighter turns.
As you progress, higher level races feature more aggressive, differently garbed opponents,
more obstacles, and longer races - testing both your endurance and ability to aggressively
fend off your opponent.
Road Rash spawned a number of sequels, expanding on the original game's premise.
In 1992, Road Rash II saw more diverse locales, featuring races all over the United States,
rather than just California. It benefited from a touch more polish, better
menu navigation, more varied gameplay and a two-player mode.
1995 saw another sequel in Road Rash 3, this time featuring locations from all over the
globe - and more realistic digitised sprites in place of the hand-drawn style of the original.
Gameplay was largely the same as its predecessors, with a familiar format.
The dawn of the 32-bit era saw a transition for many franchises to the third dimension,
and Road Rash was no exception. Panasonic's ill-fated foray into the console
market, the 3DO, had its very own version of Road Rash that took the series into the
next generation. With FMV cutscenes, full 3D environments and
a licensed soundtrack, it truly was state of the art.
This version was later ported to the PlayStation and PC, and an all-new version for the Nintendo
64 - creatively titled Road Rash 64 - was developed by THQ.
The PlayStation had a follow-up in Road Rash: Jailbreak in 1999, with an altogether less-realistic
style, favouring caricatures of biker gangs and improbable physics.
Jailbreak marked the last Road Rash title, receiving only mixed reviews.
A reboot was planned in recent years, with a new Road Rash title intended for release
on Xbox Live Arcade - although it seems this project was canceled at an early stage, with
the only evidence of the project's existence being some early concept footage.
Road Rash is the quintessential motorcycle combat game, and no doubt later games have
taken influence from its style. LucasArt's Full Throttle, in 1995, had a combat
section similar in style - although with a full frontal-view of the action instead.
Expansion to GTAIV, The Lost and Damned, similarly featured motorcycle racing and combat, although
the game generally subscribed more to the drive-by school of violence rather than Road
Rash's pugilistic style. Electronic Arts have, of course, gone onto
great things - now generally known by the abbreviated 'EA' moniker.
They still oversee in-house development, with EA studios, such as EA Canada - their largest
and oldest studio, in operation since 1983 and responsible for the FIFA and NHL series,
amongst many others. EA also own a number of external studios,
including DICE, BioWare, Visceral Games, and Criterion games - who were recently responsible
for the arcade racer, Burnout Paradise - which introduced motorbikes to the Burnout series
for the first time. Not quite Road Rash, but with a similarly
reckless approach to road safety.
Road Rash is a definitive game on the Sega 16-bit platform, and one that spawned a number
of successful sequels. Its blend of high-RPM racing and brutal violence
made for a satisfying experience, and while the series petered out slightly with the arrival
of 3D games, the original games remain entertaining today.
This has been Road Rash, and this is Game Over.
Thanks for watching - and be sure to join me next time, for the finest eggy adventure
of the 8-bit era: with Dizzy - The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure.