Road Rash

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega-CD game, see Road Rash (Mega-CD). For the Sega Saturn game, see Road Rash (Saturn).

n/a

  • Sega Mega Drive
    NTSC-U/PAL
  • Sega Mega Drive
    NTSC-J
  • Master System
  • Game Gear

RoadRash MDTitleScreen.png

Road Rash MDTitleScreen.png

RoadRash SMS Title.png

RoadRash GG Title.png

Road Rash
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (US/EU)
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts Victor (JP)
Sega Master System
Sega Game Gear
U.S. Gold
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts/Rob Hubbard
Genre: Action[1], Racing[2][3]

















Number of players:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Master System
1-2
Sega Game Gear
1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥7,800 (8,034)7,800e[4] EM20003
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$49.9949.99[7] 702001
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		E176SMX
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£39.9939.99[9][10] E176SMX
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
EU 		29012-50
Sega Master System
EU
(Kixx) 		29012-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Master System
PT
Sega Master System
PT
(Purple) 		4,990$4,990
Todas as Idades
Sega Master System
UK 		29012-50
Sega Master System
AU 		FROA05SEC
Sega Master System
BR 		028410
Tectoy: Todas as Idades
Sega Game Gear
US 		$39.9539.95[13] T-79108
Sega Game Gear
EU 		79108-50
Sega Game Gear
EU
(Kixx) 		79108-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Game Gear
UK 		79108-50
Non-Sega versions

Road Rash (ロードラッシュ) is the first game in the Road Rash series of motorcycle racing games developed by Electronic Arts. Originally released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1991, it was subsequently ported to other consoles, including the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear.

Gameplay

In Road Rash, the player controls a motorcycle racer and competes in illegal street races in California, where competitors are given free will to deliberately injure competitors to get to first place. The player can choose from five courses and must finish in fourth place or higher among fourteen other racers. The bike steers with Left and Right. It accelerates with B and brakes with A. The racer can attack neighboring opponents with C. Some opponents wield clubs, which can be taken and used by the racer if the opponent is attacked as they are holding the club out to strike. The racer can backhand opponents with Up+C or kick them with Down+C.

The racer begins the game with $1,000 and earns cash prizes for each successful race. After a race, the player is shown a results screen from which the player can select another course to play with  START  or access a shop with C. The shop allows the player to use prize winnings to purchase several bikes of differing weights, speeds and steering capabilities. The player receives a password at the end of a successful race for continuing. The player advances to the next level after winning a race (by finishing in fourth place or better) on all five of the game's courses. Higher levels have longer versions of the same courses and faster, more aggressive opponents. The player wins the game by winning a race on each track in all five levels.

Race courses are littered with everything from hills to traffic to roadside obstacles that can hurt a competitor or the player, and since the races run in real time, crashing is costly. The racer is ejected from the bike after a crash or if the racer runs out of stamina (shown in the bottom-left corner of the screen) from fights with opponents. In this event, the racer automatically runs back toward the bike, though the player can alter their course and avoid incoming traffic with Left and Right or stand still by holding A. Stamina recovers over time. Opponents are likewise ejected from their bikes if their own stamina is depleted (shown in the bottom-right corner of the screen).

The bike has its own "damage meter" between the racer's and opponents' stamina meters, which decreases every time the racer suffers a crash. The bike is wrecked if the meter fully depletes, which ends the player's participation in the current race and deducts the cost of a repair bill from the racer's balance. Motor officers make sporadic appearances throughout the game's tracks, which can also end the player's participation if they apprehend the racer following a crash, also deducting the cost of a fine from their balance. If the racer lacks the funds to cover either a repair bill or a fine, the game ends.

The game has two-player mode where the players take turns but no simultaneous two-player mode.

Bikes

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Shuriken 400.png

Shuriken 400
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Shuriken 400.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Panda 600.png

Panda 600
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Panda 600.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Banzai 750.png

Banzai 750
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Banzai 750.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Kamikaze 750.png

Kamikaze 750
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Kamikaze 750.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Shuriken 1000.png

Shuriken 1000
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Shuriken 1000.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Ferruci 850.png

Ferruci 850
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Ferruci 850.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Panda 750.png

Panda 750
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Panda 750.png

Road Rash MD, Bikes, Diablo 1000.png

Diablo 1000
Road Rash MD, Bikes, Diablo 1000.png

Courses

The game has five levels, each containing longer and more dangerous versions of the same courses.

Road Rash MD, Tracks, Sierra Nevada.png

Sierra Nevada

Road Rash MD, Tracks, Pacific Coast.png

Pacific Coast

Road Rash MD, Tracks, Redwood Forest.png

Redwood Forest

Road Rash MD, Tracks, Palm Desert.png

Palm Desert

Road Rash MD, Tracks, Grass Valley.png

Grass Valley

8-bit version

The Master System and Game Gear versions of the game are very similar to the Mega Drive version, with the same rules, bikes, and courses. The bike is steered with Left and Right and accelerates with 1. There is no dedicated brake button, but the bike decelerates quickly if the player presses Down after letting off the accelerator. The racer punches with 2 and kicks with Up+2. The player visits the bike shop after every race (rather than having to press a particular button to enter it, as in the Mega Drive version).

The Master System version retains the alternating two-player mode, but the Game Gear version is solely single-player.

Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Sierra Nevada.png

Sierra Nevada
Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Sierra Nevada.png

Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Pacific Coast.png

Pacific Coast
Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Pacific Coast.png

Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Redwood Forest.png

Redwood Forest
Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Redwood Forest.png

Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Palm Desert.png

Palm Desert
Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Palm Desert.png

Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Grass Valley.png

Grass Valley
Road Rash SMS, Tracks, Grass Valley.png

History

Legacy

The game inspired a series and was followed by further installments for various platforms, including Road Rash II and Road Rash 3: Tour De Force for the Mega Drive.

All three of the Mega Drive Road Rash games were re-released for the PlayStation Portable as part of the EA Replay compilation in 2006.

Versions

The Master System version of Road Rash retains the vast majority of content over its Mega Drive counterpart, though most of the graphics were re-drawn for the smaller resolution and fewer colours given by the hardware. On the Master System, the top speed is lowered, and much of the road-side scenery has been removed, and there appears to be fewer racers on the track at any given time. While the track layouts are broadly the same, hills are less pronounced on the Master System, and take longer to complete due to the aforementioned speed issues.

All digitised sound has been removed, as has the rev counter in the HUD. The Game Gear port is much the same as the Master System conversion, but has to reduce the size of its HUD further in order to fit all important details onto the screen. This also means less of the road is visible to the player.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Source:
In-game credits
Road Rash MD credits.pdf
[14]
  • Producer: Randy Breen
  • Programming: Dan Geisler, Walter Stein, Carl Mey
  • Art: Arthur Koch, Jeff Fennel, Cynthia Hamilton, Connie Braat, Paul Vernon, Sheryl Knowles, Peggy Brennen
  • Technical Director: Carl Mey
  • Sounds and Music: Mike Bartlow, Rob Hubbard
  • Assistant Producer: Michael Lubuguin
  • Product Management: Lesley Mansford
  • Package Design: Arias & Saraille
  • Package Photography: Robert Fujioka
  • Documentation: Andrea Smith
  • Documentation Layout: Jennie Maruyama
  • Programming Tools: Dominique Philipine, Sefen Hsu
  • Testing: Michael Lubuguin, Mike Wallis, Steve Matulac, Marjorie Martin
  • Quality Assurance: Steve Barry
Source:
US manual
Road Rash MD US Manual.pdf
[15]

Master System and Game Gear versions

  • A Conversion By: Gary Priest
  • Programming and Graphic Conversion: Gary Priest
  • Music and SFX: Krisalis
  • Production: Greg Michael, Tony Porter
  • Published under license by: U.S.Gold Ltd.
  • Licensed by: Sega Enterprises Ltd.
© 1991, 1993 Electronic Arts Inc.
Source:
In-game credits
Road Rash GG credits.png
[16]


Magazine articles

Main article: Road Rash/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Road Rash/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[17]
ACE (UK)
86
[18]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
73
[19]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[20]
Console XS (UK) PAL
90
[21]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
91
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[23]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)
80
[24]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
90
[25]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[26]
Game Power (IT)
84
[27]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[7]
Games-X (UK)
90
[28]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
90
[29]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
80
[30]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
91
[31]
Joypad (FR) PAL
84
[32]
Joystick (FR)
70
[33]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
78
[34]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[35]
Mega (UK)
85
[36]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
75
[37]
MegaTech (UK)
92
[38]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
91
[39]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
92
[40]
Player One (FR)
95
[41]
Play Time (DE)
85
[42]
Power Play (DE)
69
[43]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[10]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[44]
Sega Pro (UK)
91
[45]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[46]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
76
[47]
Tilt (FR)
85
[48]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
84
[49]
User (GR) PAL
84
[50]
Video Games (DE)
71
[51]
Sega Mega Drive
 83
Based on
38 reviews

Road Rash

Mega Drive, JP
Roadrash md jp cover.jpg
Cover
RoadRash MD JP CartTop.jpg
Roadrash md jp cart.jpg
Cart
RoadRash MD JP pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, US
RoadRash MD US Box.jpg
Cover
RoadRash MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Road Rash MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Rev A Cart)

Road Rash MD US RevA Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
RoadRash MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
RoadRash MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Road Rash MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, AU (NTSC)
RoadRash MD AU ntsc cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Roadrash md br cover.jpg
Cover
RoadRash MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, ZA

RoadRash MD US Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
83
[52]
Gamers (DE)
73
[53]
Megablast (DE) PAL
73
[54]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
75
[55]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
88
[56]
Player One (FR)
70
[57]
Play Time (DE)
78
[58]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
84
[59]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
84
[60]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[61]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[62]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
90
[63]
Todo Sega (ES)
69
[64]
Video Games (DE) PAL
78
[65]
Sega Master System
 80
Based on
14 reviews

Road Rash

Master System, EU
RoadRash SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
RoadRash SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU (Kixx re-release)
RoadRash SMS EU Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
RoadRash SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU
RoadRash SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
RoadRash SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, PT

Master System, PT (Super Preço)
RoadRash SMS PT sp cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, PT (Purple)
RoadRash SMS PT Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR
RoadRash SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Roadrash sms br cart.jpg
Cart
RoadRash SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[66]
Consoles + (FR)
83
[52]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
78
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[12]
Gamers (DE)
73
[67]
Mega Force (FR)
89
[68]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[55]
Player One (FR)
80
[69]
Play Time (DE)
81
[58]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[61]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
89
[70]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
90
[71]
Video Games (DE) PAL
77
[65]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[72]
Sega Game Gear
 83
Based on
14 reviews

Road Rash

Game Gear, US
RoadRash GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngRoadRash GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
RoadRash GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Roadrash gg us manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
RoadRash GG EU Box Back.jpgRoad Rash GG EU BoxSpine.jpgRoadRash GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
RoadRash GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Road Rash GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, EU (Kixx re-release)
RoadRash GG EU kixx back.jpgRoad Rash GG EU KIXX BoxSpine.jpgRoadRash GG EU Box Front Kixx.jpg
Cover
RoadRash GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Road Rash GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Road Rash/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ File:RoadRash GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. ↑ File:Roadrash md jp cover.jpg
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  4. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1992" (JP; 1992-11-07), page 15
  5. ↑ GamePro, "September 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 64
  6. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/CPV6hrGp_d4/m/9EpVhNiDfEcJ
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 GamePro, "January 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 58
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sega Power, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-01), page 16
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Computer & Video Games, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-15), page 30
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 24
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Computer & Video Games, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-15), page 116
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 140
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 3 March 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 44
  14. ↑ File:Road Rash MD credits.pdf
  15. ↑ File:Road Rash MD US Manual.pdf, page 14
  16. ↑ File:Road Rash GG credits.png
  17. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 190
  18. ↑ ACE, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 91
  19. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 140
  20. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1992" (JP; 1992-11-07), page 31
  21. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  22. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 171
  23. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 353
  24. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 149
  25. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 84
  26. ↑ Famitsu, "1992-11-27" (JP; 1992-11-13), page 41
  27. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 52
  28. ↑ Games-X, "26th September-2nd October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-26), page 37
  29. ↑ Game Zone, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 46
  30. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1993" (JP; 1992-12-04), page 83
  31. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 40
  32. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 38
  33. ↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 146
  34. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  35. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-xx), page 59
  36. ↑ Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 65
  37. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 72
  38. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 80
  39. ↑ Mean Machines, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-29), page 84
  40. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  41. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 52
  42. ↑ Play Time, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-08), page 93
  43. ↑ Power Play, "12/91" (DE; 1991-11-13), page 171
  44. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  45. ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 63
  46. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  47. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  48. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 63
  49. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 144
  50. ↑ User, "Máios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 49
  51. ↑ Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 33
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 140
  53. ↑ Gamers, "März/April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-04), page 64
  54. ↑ Megablast, "2/94" (DE; 1994-03-30), page 38
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 116
  56. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 64
  57. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 108
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Play Time, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-04), page 134
  59. ↑ Sega Magazine, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 88
  60. ↑ Sega Magazine, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 96
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Sega Power, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-03), page 46
  62. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 62
  63. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "April 29th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-16), page 10
  64. ↑ Todo Sega, "Abril 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 66
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 111
  66. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-04), page 113
  67. ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 46
  68. ↑ Mega Force, "Février 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 120
  69. ↑ Player One, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 102
  70. ↑ Sega Zone, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 64
  71. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "April 29th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-16), page 10
  72. ↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 86


Road Rash

RoadRash MDTitleScreen.png

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Road Rash games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
 Road Rash (1991) | Road Rash II (1992) | Road Rash 3: Tour De Force (1995)
Sega Master System
 Road Rash (1994)
Sega Game Gear
 Road Rash (1994)
Sega Mega-CD
 Road Rash (1995)
Sega Saturn
 Road Rash (1996)
Related games
Sega Mega Drive
 Skitchin' (1994) | Face Plant (unreleased)
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