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{{About|the video game series|the first game in the series|Road Rash (1991 video game)|the second game in the series, titled Road Rash for the GBC|Road Rash II|the third game in the series|Road Rash (1994 video game)|the medical condition|road rash}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title = Road Rash
| image = Road Rash Logo.png
| genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]]
| developer = {{hlist|[[Electronic Arts]]|[[Electronic Arts Mobile]]}}
| publisher = {{hlist|Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts Mobile}}
| platforms = 
| first release version = ''[[Road Rash (video game)|Road Rash]]''
| first release date = September 1991
| latest release version = ''Road Rash (Java)''
| latest release date = 2009
}}

'''''Road Rash''''' is a [[motorcycle racing|motorcycle]] [[racing video game]] series by [[Electronic Arts]] in which the player participates in violent, illegal [[street racing|street races]]. The series started on the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]] and was released on various other systems over the years. The game's title is based on the slang term for the [[road rash|severe friction burns]] that can occur in a motorcycle fall where skin comes into contact with the ground at high speed.

Six different games were released from 1991 to 2000, and an alternate version of one game was developed for the [[Game Boy Advance]]. The Sega Genesis trilogy was re-released in ''[[EA Replay]]'' for the [[PlayStation Portable]]. The series sold 3 million units by 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_06/10_rash/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001016165932/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_06/10_rash/index.html|title=EA Ships Road Rash 3D, Atlantic Ships Tunes|website=[[GameSpot]]|archivedate=October 16, 2000|date=June 10, 1998|accessdate=December 13, 2022}}</ref>

==Games==
===''Road Rash'' (1991)===
{{Main|Road Rash (1991 video game)}}
'''''Road Rash''''' debuted on the Sega Genesis in 1991. The game takes place in [[California]] on progressively longer [[single carriageway|two-lane roads]] and two-player mode allows two people to play alternating. There are 14 other opponents in a race. A port of the game was released for the [[Amiga]], and various scaled-down versions were made for [[Master System]], [[Game Gear]], and [[Game Boy]]. The Game Boy version is one of two licensed games that is incompatible with the [[Game Boy Color]] and newer consoles in the [[Game Boy line]].<ref>{{cite web |title=What games written for GB will not work correctly on GBC & why ? - GB DEV FAQs by GeeBee |url=http://www.devrs.com/gb/files/faqs.html#GBCBugs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903111914/http://www.devrs.com/gb/files/faqs.html#GBCBugs |archive-date=2018-09-03 |access-date=2015-10-16 |website=GB DEV FAQs |publisher=GeeBee |language=en-US}}</ref> A [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] version was planned and then canceled.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

===''Road Rash II'' (1992)===
{{Main|Road Rash II}}
'''''Road Rash II''''' was released in 1992 for the [[Sega Genesis]]. The sequel took the engine and sprites from the first game and added more content. The largest addition was proper two-player modes: "Split Screen" versus the other computer opponents, and the duel mode "Mano A Mano". The races take place all across the [[United States]]: [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Tennessee]], [[Arizona]], and [[Vermont]]. The list of bikes has been increased to fifteen (separated into three classes, with the later ones featuring [[Nitrous oxide#Internal combustion engine|nitro]] boosts), and a chain was added to supplement the club. Other details include the navigation of the menu screens being considerably easier; and more manageable passwords, being less than half the size of the first game.

===''Road Rash'' (1994)===
{{main|Road Rash (1994 video game)}}
'''''Road Rash''''' was released in 1994 for CD-based platforms such as [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]], [[Sega CD]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn]], and [[Microsoft Windows]]. It features a number of changes such as the ability to choose characters (with various starting cashpiles and bikes, some with starting weapons) before playing, fleshed-out reputation and gossip systems and [[full-motion video]] sequences to advance a plot. The game features all-California locales: The City, The Peninsula, Pacific Coast Highway, Sierra Nevada, and Napa Valley. The roads themselves feature brief divided road sections.

===''Road Rash 3'' (1995)===
{{Main|Road Rash 3}}
'''''Road Rash 3''''' was released in 1995 for the [[Sega Genesis]]. Races take place across the world, each level featuring five of seven total locales: [[Brazil]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Kenya]], [[Australia]], and [[Japan]]. In addition to the standard fifteen bikes, four part upgrades are available for each. Eight weapons are available, and ''Road Rash 3'' introduces the player's ability to hold on to weapons between races and the ability to accumulate multiple weapons.

===''Road Rash 3D'' (1998)===
{{Main|Road Rash 3D}}
'''''Road Rash 3D''''' was released in 1998 for the PlayStation. Mostly, the game is not based on [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]. The race courses were pieced together from an interconnected series of roads. The game has less emphasis on combat and more on racing.

===''Road Rash 64'' (1999)===
{{Main|Road Rash 64}}
'''''Road Rash 64''''' was released in 1999 for the [[Nintendo 64]]. Electronic Arts did not design or publish it; the intellectual property rights were licensed to [[THQ]], which in turn had its own [[Pacific Coast Power & Light]] (founded by former EA employee Don Traeger) develop the game.

===''Road Rash: Jailbreak'' (2000)===
{{Main|Road Rash: Jailbreak}}
'''''Road Rash: Jailbreak''''' was released in 2000 for the PlayStation, with a handheld port released in 2003 for the [[Game Boy Advance]] with the same title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/552/552010.html|title=Road Rash: Jailbreak (Game Boy Advance)|work=[[IGN]]|access-date=2010-08-08|archive-date=2011-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613195839/http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/552/552010.html|url-status=live}}</ref> New features include an interconnected road system and two-player cooperative play with a sidecar.

===''Road Rash'' (2009)===
'''''Road Rash''''' was released in 2009 for [[J2ME]]. It was sold on EA Mobile site only.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eamobile.com/mobile-games/road-rash |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203051317/http://www.eamobile.com/mobile-games/road-rash |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-12-03 |title=Road Rash (Java); EA Mobile site.}}</ref>

==Spiritual successors==
{{Main|Road Redemption|Road Rage (2017 video game)}}

A [[spiritual successor]], '''''Road Redemption''''' was released in 2017 for Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-10-07-road-redemption-early-access-review |title=Road Redemption Early Access review • Eurogamer.net |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=9 October 2014 |access-date=2020-01-24 |archive-date=2019-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008020001/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-10-07-road-redemption-early-access-review |url-status=live}}</ref> and later Road Redemption Mobile on Android & iOS in 2022. Another spiritual successor, '''''Road Rage''''' was released in 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.<ref name="Announce">{{cite web |last=Leack |first=Jonathan |date=February 26, 2016 |title=Road Rash Spiritual Successor "Road Rage" Is In Development |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/12288-road-rash-spiritual-successor-road-rage-is-in-development |accessdate=November 28, 2017 |work=Game Revolution |publisher=}}</ref>

==Music==
The Sega Genesis trilogy features music by EA composers [[Rob Hubbard]] (1 and II), Michael Bartlow (1), Tony Berkeley (II), and Don Veca (II and 3).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/genesis/driving/roadrash/index.html?tag=tabs;summary |title=Road Rash Technical Details |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=2007-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325045803/http://uk.gamespot.com/genesis/driving/roadrash/index.html?tag=tabs%3Bsummary |archive-date=2009-03-25}}</ref> Later entries were among the first video games to include licensed music tracks from major recording artists in gameplay.<ref name="music">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_May_28/ai_54745614|title=Electronic Arts and BAM Magazine Announce the Road Rash Music Search|date=1999-05-28|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|access-date=2007-10-12|archive-date=2007-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016165609/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_May_28/ai_54745614|url-status=live}}</ref> The rock radio station in EA's 2004 game ''[[The Urbz]]'' is called "Road Rash FM".

==Future==
[[Criterion Games]] considered developing a new ''Road Rash'' game multiple times, potentially a ''Burnout Versus Road Rash'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/criterion-will-do-another-burnout-interested-road-rash/ |title=Criterion will do another Burnout, interested in Road Rash |publisher=GamesRadar |date=2012-10-17 |access-date=2015-09-05 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044516/http://www.gamesradar.com/criterion-will-do-another-burnout-interested-road-rash/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/07/31/criterion-games-dev-talks-cancelled-road-rash-burnout-not-in-development-teases-non-racing-game/ |title=Criterion Games Dev Talks Cancelled Road Rash, Burnout Not in Development, Teases Non-Racing Game |publisher=PlayStation LifeStyle |date=2013-07-31 |access-date=2015-09-05 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074539/http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/07/31/criterion-games-dev-talks-cancelled-road-rash-burnout-not-in-development-teases-non-racing-game/ |url-status=live}}</ref> but nothing came of it; they have expressed a desire to move away from racing games in particular.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/burnout-developer-criterion-moving-away-from-racing-games/1100-6407020/]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030115944/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/burnout-developer-criterion-moving-away-from-racing-games/1100-6407020/|date=October 30, 2013}}</ref> Dan Geisler, main programmer and co-designer of the Sega Genesis trilogy, was working on a new title along with a number of the original ''Road Rash'' staff members (the game was then named ''Hard Rider: Back in the Saddle).'' He first announced it via a [[Reddit]] thread<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/comments/1a5dd3 |title=Why hasn't this game resurfaced : Gaming |access-date=2017-09-10 |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130230957/https://www.reddit.com/comments/1a5dd3 |url-status=live}}</ref> and frequently mentioned progress on his [[Twitter]] account,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/DanGeislerSr |title=Dan Geisler (DanGeislerSr) sur Twitter |access-date=2013-05-07 |archive-date=2013-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108145555/https://twitter.com/DanGeislerSr |url-status=live}}</ref> but was unable to find funding for it and dropped the idea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/DanGeislerSr/status/473132551750815744 |title=Dan Geisler on Twitter: "Couldn't fund ''Hard Rider''. It would have been fun. Kickstarter wasn't viable. Thank you all for the love an encouragement". |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2015-09-05 |archive-date=2016-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109061749/https://twitter.com/DanGeislerSr/status/473132551750815744 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=-group/road-rash-series|name=''Road Rash'' series}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091203051317/http://www.eamobile.com/mobile-games/road-rash Road Rash (Java) page on EA Mobile site]

{{Road Rash}}
{{Electronic Arts}}

[[Category:Road Rash| ]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1991]]