Road Rash 3: Tour De Force (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Monkey Do Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 1995

Road Rash 3: Tour De Force is a vehicular combat racing game that's exclusive to Sega's 16-bit console.

+ Lengthy solo mode with plenty of options / upgrades to sink your teeth into, and there's a handy password feature.

+ Racing is as chaotic as ever, and the fast-paced action makes you constantly feel on the very edge of control.

+ Adding European countries is inspired, as some force you to retrain your brain by driving on the opposite side of the road.

+ Heavy metal intro track sets the mood with crazy double-kick drums, and there's some hilarious post-race cut-scenes.

- Gameplay offers nothing different to advance the series and the new courses only serve as bland racing backdrops.

- Low frame-rate makes it almost impossible to accurately dodge incoming traffic with any degree of consistency.

- New digitised character sprites create an unappealing, angular look that feels detached from the road / scenery.

Road Rash (Sega CD review)

Developer: Monkey Do Productions, New Level Software
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 1995

Road Rash is a vehicular combat racing game that was originally released on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis in 1991.

+ Brisk gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat and on tenterhooks as to what's lurking around the next corner.

+ Eases beginners into the short and simple tracks, while upping the ante for veterans with longer tracks and tighter chicanes.

+ Licensed music is a huge improvement and unlike the 3DO / PS1 / Saturn releases you can listen to the tracks while racing.

+ Can save your progress to the built-in memory, and the FMV cut-scenes enhance the game's tongue-in-cheek personality.

- Actual racing is no different to the 16-bit original, which is odd considering the hardware has sprite-scaling capabilities.

- Controls are hyper sensitive and it takes a while to adjust to simply tapping the d-pad in order to avoid over-steering.

- Frame-rate is extremely low and trying to carefully and precisely evade a collision is always a nerve-racking affair.