Road Rash 2: Party time for meanies on crotch rockets
Written: Jul 17 '02 (Updated Jul 17 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun & addictive, even in solo mode.
Cons: Can be somewhat difficult to complete.
The Bottom Line: You get to race against the cops in level 6. Let the bashing begin.
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| Shampoo-Girl's Full Review: Road Rash II for Sega Genesis |
Motorcycle games were never really a big thing on the 16-bit. First off, we had a rather choppy title called Super Hang On but it wasn't until the Road Rash series came along that people started paying some real attention to such games. The reason to this was simple enough. Road Rash was way different from other motorcycle games before it. Instead of being another pointless motorcycle game, it had something most racer type games didn't. Road Rash was really a cross between a beat-em up and a racer, a concept which was rather new & unique at the time. The ability to take pot shots at your fellow bikers was a feature that many considered more fun than to simply attempt to outrun them as in most other racer games.
Road Rash II improves on where the first game left off, featuring smoother animation, slicker graphics and of course, a brand new set of tracks to race through to your heart's content. The game is made up of 5 levels, each containing a number of courses in which you must at least score a third place finish in order to advance. You begin the game with a somewhat weakly powered bike but you'll soon be able to buy faster & more powerful bikes after winning a couple of races. The concept here is a lot like a simpler version of the one found in games like Gran Turismo where you are to slowly work your way up the ladder by winning races & avoiding expensive repairs.
The first level should be a piece of cake, even for beginners. The tracks here are typically about 5 to 6 miles long and are relatively safer compared to the ones you get later on. As you progress further, the tracks get progressively longer & more difficult to complete.You are also introduced to a new set of riders after each level completed. Unlike most other racers where your competitors are somewhat uniform, every rider you see in Road Rash II are different. They each have their own strengths, riding styles & personalities. Some of them appear to be somewhat nice while others can be pretty darn mean. Generally, the nicer once will not bug you unless you try hitting them first. Then of course, you get these other guys who are really out to make your life miserable by attempting to knock you off your bike using any means necessary. Thankfully though, your biker ain't no fool either. You can either make him a seem like a really nice guy or turn him into baddest person on the road.
Now we get to the real fun part. You are competing in an illegal race, which means the cops aren't exactly going to be nice when they catch up with you. You can either attempt to outrun them at a risk of running into things at higher speeds or bash them into submission ( or rather oblivion ) using whatever you've got. If you find the races too difficult to qualify, then why not have a little fun on the side by going beserk, then bashing everyone on the road? There is also a 2 player split screen mode where you get to race against a buddy but I wouldn't recommend it though. Your bike is a whole lot harder to control with the screen being half its original size.
Control-wise, Road Rash II is relatively easy to master. There are 3 buttons from which you could accelerate, slow down or attempt to bash the rider next you. Nothing really complex there. On the graphical side, I admit being pretty impressed when I first saw how good the game looked. Although some objects still appear as if they were made out of cardboard, you'll hardly notice with everything zipping by so fast while you're on your bike. Surprisingly though, the graphics in Road Rash II appear to be better than both the first & third installments. The in-game music is mostly a collection of light rock tracks that should be pretty easy on the ears. You can also turn it off & listen to the hum of your motor instead after if you do not like the music.
Road Rash II appears to be the best game in the series. While I do not consider myself a fan of motorcycle games, I would however make this a rare exception. The game may be a little on the difficult side but it's just so much fun, partially because you get to bash people ( including the cops ) and get away with it. I would highly recommend this title to anyone with a Genesis system & $10 in their pockets. Overall Grade: B+
Recommended:
Yes
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Shampoo-Girl
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