Road Rash 3D

"I cannot think of a synopsis for this pathetic game.."

Introduction:

I wish I hadn't of rented Road Rash 3D. It is a below average game that nobody should even bother with. My goal here is to tell you what is why the game is so bad. This is an update of my review, because in the first one I didn't do very much describing due to the fact that the game really made me mad. Is my opinion still the same? Read on and you will find out.

Graphics (2.8/10)

Ugly. That one word describes Road Rash 3D's graphics perfectly. Everything is horrifically blocky, including the bikers and backgrounds. There is very noticeable draw-in, and that is something I usually don't notice too well. I remember when I was younger, I would read video game magazines and read about racing games that had a considerable amount of draw-in, and I had no clue what that meant. Of course, I do know what that means now, and it is not something any game should have in it. Sadly, Road Rash 3D does.

Also, there is some slowdown that can really mess your driving up. The colors are very dull, and just seem to help give the graphics a bad overall grade. These are some of the worst graphics I have seen on the Playstation. They are that bad.

Sound (5.3/10)

The sound is definitely the best part of the game, and even it is just average. The music isn't really something to race to, but it isn't completely horrible either. There is some music by the likes of Kid Rock and Sugar Ray. I like Kid Rock, but his song, ''Somebody's Gotta Feel This'', on here isn't really something that fits the tune of the game. Really, they should have picked one of his harder songs to fit the groove. I don't know which one I would pick, but it wouldn't be the one in the game. Then again, many of his songs wouldn't be able to make the cut, due to inapproriate language. Oh well, less ranting, more reviewing, right?

For the sound effects, they are decent enough, but it is really just basic stuff. The motorcycle noises are okay, but they seem just like the usual stuff found in other racing games. It's not good news for a game when the sound is the only decent part of the game.

Gameplay (3.8/10)

There is the usual stuff here for a Road Rash game: Thrash, Big Game, Time Trials. Thrash is just a regular race, Big Game is the meat and potatoes of the game, and Time Trials is the multiplayer racing. None of the modes are fun, not even the multiplayer stuff. Here is a rundown of the three modes:

Thrash: This is just a regular race where you can pick your own course and your own bike to practice for the big game. I didn't find this mode very useful, but I suppose it could be to some gamers out there.

Big Game: In this mode, you pick your bike and race on selected courses. Along your quest to win, you can upgrade your bikes and race on longer courses. The courses get very boring and have some pretty poor scenery to gaze at as you go along. Everything here just seems rushed and uninspired.

Time Trials: As I said above, time trials is basically just the multiplayer mode for this racing game. You pick the bike that you both will use, and the track then you race. Player one goes first, then player two goes after that to try and beat player one's score. Got that? A split screen mode would have been nice instead, but I remember hearing that the developers said they couldn't fit that into the game. What a bunch of crap. Obviously, the developers have no clue what they were doing becuase they could have very well added in a better multiplayer mode instead of this stupid ''let's take turns'' crap. Ugh.

Actually, the best part of the gameplay is that you can listen to the soundtrack by selecting ''Jukebox''. That's just pathetic. Stay away.

Controls (3.0/10)

Left and right are used to turn, and X is used to accelerate. The circle button is used to hit, and I'm sure there is a brake key in there somewhere. I never use the brake buttons in racing games, though. It's just a habit. I always wind up crashing into the sides of the courses without bothering to even move my thumb to the brake button. Yeah, I am a lazy guy. Anyway, the control here is VERY touchy, as you could go off the road very easily. This is some of the worst control I have found in a racing game.

Replay Value (LOW)

I will more than likely never play Road Rash 3D again, and that is definitely a good thing. The gameplay is boring, and the courses are uninspired. That's enough right there to not make me want to play again. The graphics don't help either.

Fun Factor (LOW)

This game is not fun. Nope, not unless you think of fun as playing an awful game. Usually I have atleast a paragraph to say in these little sections, but for this game, I do not. Sorry about that minor incovenience.

Challenge (HIGH)

I challenge you to actually play through the entire game without either being bored or disgusted. This is really just a pathetic game. If you actually do have what it takes to go through it all, I bet you will get bored with the same stuff over and over again no matter what. I know there are some people out there that like this game, but I am definitely not one of them.

Rent or Buy?

Do neither. It is not worth renting, and it is especially not worth buying, even if it is a ''Greatest Hits'' title now. Once again, I advise you to stay away.

The Good:

- Decent soundtrack
- Err, that's about it!

The Bad:

- Everything else

And the Ugly:

- Definitely the graphics

Overall (2.4/10)

Road Rash 3D is a very disappointing game for me, since I was expecting good things after playing the PC version named just plain ol' ''Road Rash''. Needless to say, this game left a bad taste in my mouth. If you are looking for a good motorcycle racer, check out one of the Moto Racer games. They are much better.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/00, Updated 12/02/00