Genre: Racing
Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Electronic Arts

A combination of brawler and racing game, with some RPG elements and loads of attitude, the Road Rash series was a staple of the Sega Genesis library. Like a dream, EA created a Road Rash that takes advantage of everything the 3DO has to offer, beginning with graphics; framerates of over 30 fps, fully polygonal landscapes that whiz by several times faster than in the Genesis versions, and crystal clear FMV sequences make for Road Rash the way it was meant to be.

While it lacks the Dolby Surround pizazz of The Need For Speed, Road Rash has some decent in game sound effects, including chain and club punch noises, tire squeels, and some awesome in-game MIDI songs that mimic the hardcore style featured in the Genesis titles. In the menus, the player is treated to an outstanding selection of alternative rock music, a soundtrack where each and every song fits the game's character and presence absolutely perfectly. As a trivia note, I think this was the first video game, ever, to feature a licensed sound track.

Like the Genesis games, there are five courses and five difficulty levels. When you place in the top three in all five courses, you move to the next level. Courses can be played over and over to accumulate money, which is used to buy increasingly powerful bikes. The game is "on rails", like the others, so the player is able to concentrate on fighting more than just staying on the road. You can also receive game tips, insults, and other tidbits by schmoozing with the other racers between races. The feel of speed and the excellent course layouts make for a game that is impossible to stop playing.

Road Rash plus the 3DO, a match made in heaven. The only real flaw to this game is that it ends; Road Rash is one of the most addicting video games I have ever played, and this version is, to this day, the ultimate Road Rash experience in the whole series. It is one of the very greatest games on the 3DO, and its unique blend of style, hardcore gameplay, combat, racing, role-playing, and raw speed make for an unforgettable experience.