Road Rash 3D | |
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Developer(s) | Electronic Arts |
Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
Series | Road Rash |
Platform(s) | PlayStation |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Racing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Review scores | |
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Publication | Score |
Edge | 6/10 |
Game Revolution | D |
GameSpot | 7.6/10 |
IGN | 5/10 |
Road Rash 3D is a racing video game developed and published by Electronic Arts exclusively for the PlayStation. The game was generally poorly received, with critics citing lack of key features of past games in the series, mainly multiplayer and a lessened emphasis on combat, as reasons for negative reviews.
The game plays similarly to previous games developed in the Road Rash series, which involves the player racing their motorcycle against other motorcyclists. Gameplay favors an arcade-like style, with little emphasis on realism. While racing, the player has the option of punching, or using weapons to attack other opponents, to slow down their progress. The ultimate goal is to place first in the race in order to earn money to upgrade the player's motorcycle. Conversely, the worst scenario is to finish last, which doesn't earn money, or be stopped by police officers, where the player actually loses money. Despite sharing many characteristics with past games in the series, Road Rash 3D puts a stronger emphasis on the racing aspect of the game, and less on combat.
The individual courses for the game are pieced together from a larger system of interconnected grids of roads. Courses may overlap common segments of other tracks, but often have different start or end points, or have the player turning down alternate routes. While the player can opt to take the wrong route, taking them very far typically results in hitting "invisible walls" that restrict further movement in the given direction.
The game featured licensed music from bands such as Sugar Ray, Kid Rock, CIV, The Mermen, Full on the Mouth, and The Tea Party. Sugar Ray contributed three songs, "Speed Home California", "Tap, Twist, Snap" and "Mean Machine".
Road Rash 3D received mostly negative reviews by critics. The most common complaint was that the game failed to live up to the prior games in the series on the Sega Genesis and 3DO, especially that it lacked a two-player multiplayer mode.Edge highlighted the game's network of interconnecting roads and impressive 3D engine, stating that Road Rash 3D features "some of the best track design ever seen in a video game." However, the magazine criticized the execution of combat moves for being unresponsive and impractical, saying that they require precise timing and a significant degree of luck.