Format: Cartridge
Genre: Racing
Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Those that found the low resolution engine of the first Road Rash a bit eye-crossing in nature will be pleased with the crisper presentation of the sequel. Even though the biker sprites are lifted more or less wholesale from its predecessor, Road Rash 2's scenery is definitely an upgrade in both detail and artistry, as the "Vermont" stage-- foremost-- illustrates. The upgraded presentation continues throughout the more intuitive menu system, and the expressive post-race animated sequences.

Rob Hubbard returns and delivers a score similar in style to that of his work in the first title, but with a bit of experimentation thrown in as well; the Hawaii track opens with almost a full minute of straight percussion work, while the the Tennessee song features aural colloqualisms you'd expect from that geographic region. Sound effects are mostly lifted from the first title, and serve their purpose just as well here.

Most of the criticism from the first title-- odd collision detection, unpredictable combat, and uneven difficulty scaling-- have in large part been addressed; the game feels a bit less "out of control" on the later stages, largely due to tighter bike physics. The addition of multiple bike classes in the shop spices things up with a added variety as well, and perhaps the most significant addition-- split-screen support-- makes a big difference too.

Road Rash II is the perfect sequel to the original; cleaned up visuals, split-screen support, and a more precise gameplay engine make an already wonderful formula even more approachable, while the game manages to leave alone what worked from first game-- most notably its indelible sense of style. Not only that, but ludonarratively amusing things seem to happen with much greater frequency than in the first title-- chalk that up to superior stage designs.