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Road Rash: mechanics inventory for a faithful remake

Baseline version: Road Rash (3DO, 1994), as ported to Windows 95 (1996). Chinese players know this port as 暴力摩托 (the Chinese Wikipedia title) and remember it from school computer labs and internet cafés. Every entry puts the PC 1996 behaviour first. Where another version does something different, the difference is listed under Other versions only and the version is named.

Version abbreviations:

• PC: Windows 95 port, 1996.
• 3DO: the original 1994 release of the same game.
• SCD: Sega CD, 1995.
• SAT: Saturn, 1996.
• PS: PlayStation, 1995.

3DO, SCD, SAT and PS are sibling ports of the same game. Their manuals are used where the PC manual is silent, and the entry says so.

• RR1: Mega Drive/Genesis, 1991.
• RR2: Road Rash II, Mega Drive/Genesis, 1992.
• RR3: Road Rash 3, Mega Drive/Genesis, 1995.
• GG: Game Gear or Master System editions of RR1.

Sources are cited by tag. Each tag is a link that resolves to the URL listed in section 13. Material quoted "in inverted commas" is verbatim.

Confidence markers used in this file:

• (manual): the fact comes from an official EA manual.
• (FAQ): the fact comes from a player-written FAQ.
• (unverified): the fact comes from a single search snippet or a single player's memory.

0. The game in one paragraph (PC)

You are one of 15 riders in an illegal road race on a two-lane public road in Northern California. You race against traffic, pedestrians and police. Each level has five tracks. You qualify on a track by finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Once you have qualified on all five, you move up a level. There are five levels, and each is longer, faster and nastier than the one before.

While you ride you punch, backhand and kick the riders beside you, and you can steal their chains or clubs. You win cash for finishing, and you spend it at Olley's Skoot-A-Rama on faster bikes. You have two meters:

• Stamina: yours drains as you take hits. When it runs out you are knocked off.
• Bike damage: drains as you crash. When it runs out the bike is wrecked, and you pay for repairs.

If you stop near a cop you are Busted and fined. If you cannot pay a fine or a repair bill, the game is over.

Between races, full-motion video (FMV) clips and a point-and-click "Street" hub give the game its attitude: grunge rock, sarcastic riders, and gossip about who hates whom. (PCM, SATM, ZHWP)

1. Game modes and structure

1.1 Big Game (career mode)

• PC: You pick an alter ego, who comes with starting cash, a starting bike and sometimes a weapon. Then you work your way through Der Panzer Klub's five levels.
  • Your progress is saved to a named save file through the Restroom's Load, Save and Save As options.
  • Olley's bike shop is open only in Big Game.
  • Winning Level 5 "earns the Cup".
• 3DO/SCD/SAT: The same. SCD and SAT save up to seven games, in slots shared by both players. (SCDM, SATM)
• Other versions only:
  • RR1, RR2 and RR3 have no named saves. They use a password that encodes your bike, level, qualifications and cash (RR3 adds upgrades). Weapons and player names are not saved in RR3.
  • RR1 shows the password on the results screen. If you take a password after the fifth race, you have to run one more race to advance.
  • In RR2 and RR3, "Copy Passwords" lets the weaker of two players take over the stronger player's progress.
• Sources: PCM, SCDM, SATM, RR1M, RR2M, RR3M

1.2 Thrash (arcade mode)

• PC: You pick any track, and set a level from 1 to 5 in Restroom, then Player Level (this option appears only in Thrash). There is no shop and no money. You are handed a preset bike for the level (fade84, Italian PC):
  • L1: Corsair Swallow.
  • L2: Banzai Sport 450.
  • L3: Kamikaze ZYX 750.
  • L4: Corsair Raven N.
  • L5: Stiletto Assassino N.
• Getting wrecked or Busted in Thrash revokes your qualifications on the current level (SAT manual, whose text is near-identical to the PC manual). In Thrash you start 15th rather than 14th (SAT).
• Other versions only:
  • 3DO manual: "You can advance through five levels and bring your bike with you, but your progress cannot be saved."
  • SCD manual: "Olley only deals with Big Game rashers… in Thrash mode, we'll give you faster bikes."
• Sources: PCM, SATM, 3DOM, SCDM, FADE

1.3 Mano a Mano (multiplayer)

See section 10.

1.4 Level progression and qualification

• PC: There are 5 levels, each with 5 tracks.
  • Finishing "in one of the top three" qualifies you on that track, and the Bulletin Board postcard for that track then shows a chequered flag.
  • Qualifying on all 5 tracks moves you to the next level, where you have zero qualifications.
  • If you do not place, you may race the same track again.
  • Each level brings longer courses (section 7), more traffic and cops, tougher opponents and bigger purses.
  • The SAT/PC text says: "By the third level, there's no way you'll qualify with the bike you started out with."
  • zh.wikipedia: "在各赛道中取得前三名来晋级下一级。……玩家晋级后，对手的车速和打斗能力会提升，赛道也变得更长更危险。"
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: you qualify with 4th or better ("To move up a level, you must place fourth or better on each of the five tracks").
  • RR2: 3rd or better on all five tracks. Level 1 is nicknamed "Squid Tank", and beating Level 5 makes you "Rashmaster".
  • RR3: there are seven countries, but each level offers five tracks, and you must finish in the top three on all five (manual). Wikipedia says "win 5 of 7"; the manual wording is five tracks per level.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, 3DOM, RR1M, RR2M, RR3M, ZHWP, WP-RR1

1.5 The Street hub (between races)

• PC/3DO: A point-and-click screen with four places to go:
  • Der Panzer Klub: the race sign-up. A Bulletin Board shows a postcard for each track, with its description and its course length at the current level. A chequered flag marks tracks you have already qualified on.
  • Olley's Skoot-A-Rama: the bike shop.
  • Schmooze: talk to riders. Spacebar or a click moves to the next rasher.
  • Restroom: the options screen.
• Other versions only: RR1, RR2 and RR3 use a plain menu with Start Race, Bike Shop, Select Track and Game Options. RR3's main menu shows a globe with your cash, your level and the next race's location.
• Sources: PCM, 3DOM, RR2M, RR3M

1.6 Restroom (options menu)

• PC: The Restroom holds:
  • Load, Save and Save As.
  • Game Mode.
  • Graphics Options: separate resolutions for the race and for the biker screens, and FMV set to Large, Small or Off.
  • Player Level (Thrash only), Player Name and Select Character.
  • Jukebox: "14 tunes by six A&M recording artists" plus two music videos.
  • Sound Mix, Configure Input, Done, and Go Home (quit).
• The SCD sound mix runs from 0 to 15.
• Sources: PCM, SCDM

2. Controls and riding physics

2.1 Default PC keyboard map (manual)

• Configure Input remaps everything.
• Other versions only:
  • 3DO: D-pad steers, A brakes, B accelerates, and tapping B twice quickly fires nitro.
    • C punches or uses the weapon. Up+C backhands and Down+C kicks. C grabs "when opponent is holding it out".
    • Left Shift leans left and Right Shift leans right. Pressing both shift buttons cycles the instrument panel and Mini-Dash. Stop (X) calls up the dashboard.
  • SCD: A+B+C+START quits, which counts as a forced wreck. C while paused changes the song.
  • SAT: L and R lean; "for power slides, D-Pad in conjunction with L and R".
  • RR1: A brakes, B accelerates, C attacks. Kick is hold Down+C then release C; backhand is hold Up+C then release.
  • RR2: The same as RR1, but holding C keeps a kick or backhand cocked. Up+C swings the chain continually.
  • RR3: Up+C is an "alternate attack" (it readies the weapon), and Up+START cycles your weapon inventory.
• Sources: PCM, 3DOM, SCDM, SATM, RR1M, RR2M, RR3M, FINNER

2.2 Steering, lean and power slide

• PC: There are three ways to turn (fade84):
  • Steer with the arrows.
  • Lean with Home or PgUp. Leaning turns more slowly but loses less speed.
  • Steer and lean together. This gives a very fast turn but risks a crash.
• The SAT manual (whose control text matches the PC manual) calls steer+lean a power slide.
• There is no manual gear change. The rev counter is cosmetic feedback only.
• Other versions only: RR1, RR2 and RR3 have no separate lean input. The D-pad is steer and lean at once.
• Sources: FADE, SATM, PCM

2.3 Speed, bike weight and rider weight

• PC/3DO: Races run at "100+ MPH", and the fastest bikes reach about 180 mph (SAT). Each bike has a price, horsepower, weight and top speed (section 5.2).
• Rider build matters. The 3DO manual says: "the lighter a rider is, the quicker he rides. The heavier… the harder he hits." The SCD manual says: "bigger rashers pack more power… smaller rashers top out the speedometer more quickly."
• Drafting: a faster rider who hits you from behind can push your speed up by as much as about 7 mph (Arguro, FAQ).
• Sources: 3DOM, SCDM, SATM, ARGURO

2.4 Nitrous

• PC: Only the "N" Super Bikes have nitrous. "Nitro bikes line up at the grid with ten nitrous-oxide charges." Press N for a burst.
  • For example, the Corsair Raven N does 141 mph, or 146 mph with nitro, and fade84 reports the Diablo Vipera N doing 300+ km/h with nitro.
  • The Banzai Super Sport is in the Super class but has no nitro (fade84).
• Other versions only:
  • RR2: 8 nitros per race (FAQ). A Nitro LED row shows one red light per burst.
  • RR3: the count varies by bike: Corsair 600N 4, Kamizaki 750N 6, Stiletto 900N 6, Diablo 1000N 8. You press B twice and hold.
  • RR1: has no nitro.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, FADE, ARGURO, RR2M, FINNER, RR3FAQ, RR3M

2.5 Road surface and jumps

• PC:
  • Oil, mud and ice patches make you skid.
  • Hills throw you into the air. On The City at over 130 mph "you lose sight of the ground".
  • Pedestrians and traffic cones act as jump ramps. Obstacles are fixed per track: a given object always launches you, or always crashes you.
  • Leaving the asphalt slows you. In the Sierra, it risks a tree crash.
  • Falling into the ocean on the Pacific Highway or the Peninsula seaside branch wrecks you instantly, and the race ends.
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: sand and gravel make you skid, and wind (Pacific Coast "Santa Ana winds", Palm Desert "heavy winds") pushes the bike. GG: grass and sand lower your top speed.
  • RR2 sorts obstacles into three kinds: sliding (oil, dirt), small jumps (rocks, flowers, bushes, snowmen and tents in Alaska), and everything else, which knocks you off.
• Sources: FADE, ARGURO, SATM, RR1M, FINNER, GGFAQ

3. Combat

3.1 Targeting

• All versions: Attacks go automatically to the side of the nearest opponent. The HUD's "Closest Opponent" box shows that opponent's name and stamina, so it doubles as your target indicator.
• RR1: attacks auto-aim at "the closest jerk". RR3: C "attacks toward the closest opponent".
• Sources: PCM, RR1M, RR3FAQ

3.2 Punch

• PC: Ins, or joystick Button 1. This is the basic hit and it drains the target's stamina. The SAT/PC text says: "It takes several blows to send an opposing rasher to the pavement."
• Riders differ in hitting power. Bose Jefferson "只要2拳即可伤大半血" (Chinese tip, unverified).
• RR3 FAQ: an unarmed rider goes down after about 3 punches.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, ZOL, RR3FAQ

3.3 Backhand

• PC: Spacebar. It hits the rider behind or beside you, and it works while you hold a weapon (3DO manual: "backhand with weapon").
• Other versions only: RR1 and RR2 use hold Up+C and release. In RR2, Up+C with a chain swings it continually.
• Sources: PCM, 3DOM, RR1M, RR2M

3.4 Kick

• PC: Enter, or joystick Button 2. The kick shoves the target's bike sideways. The SAT/PC text says: "one well-timed kick can knock 'em into the oncoming traffic." fade84: kick opponents into the sidewalk and roadside objects.
• Other versions only: In RR2 "kick does no damage but pushes the bike" (FAQ). GG: button 2 pushes the other rider.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, FADE, FINNER, GGFAQ

3.5 Weapons (PC)

• PC: There are two melee weapons. The manual says: "Some rashers begin each race with a weapon (either a chain or a bat)."
  • Club: also called a bat or billy club. Every cop carries one.
  • Chain: longer reach (per the RR2 FAQ; the PC manual gives no range figures).
  • Crowbar (disputed): Arguro lists Teflon Mike starting with one. No other PC source mentions a crowbar, so it may be a confusion with RR3.
  • You hold one weapon at a time and attack with the punch key.
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: club only.
  • RR2: club and chain.
  • RR3: club, chain, crowbar (long reach), nunchaku, mace spray, cattle prod ("50,000 volts") and oil can.
    • "The mace, oil can, and cattle-prod carry ten charges each" (manual; the Apathy000 FAQ says 8, and the manual wins). Empty charge weapons are discarded; unfinished ones carry over to the next race.
    • You can carry several weapons and cycle them with Up+START. The weapon name replaces the nearest opponent's name while you cycle. To steal another weapon, you must first cycle to "PUNCH".
  • RR1's design rule: "no projectiles" (Wikipedia).
• Sources: PCM, ARGURO, JATIN, RR2M, FINNER, RR3M, RR3FAQ, WP-RR1, WP-RR3

3.6 Weapon snatching (disarm)

• PC: Press Ins (the punch key) at the moment an opponent holds out or winds up their weapon, and you take it from them.
  • The PC/SAT tip: "The easiest way to get a weapon is to rip off a cop's billy club. As the fuzz attempts to pull you over, you'll have plenty of chances for the grab."
  • fade84: "punching them while they attack" steals the weapon.
  • Chinese tip: "若反应很快，在对手举手的一瞬间按轻击或重击可以100%抢过来。抢的对象一般是警察。" (unverified).
• Timing detail, from the Genesis versions and applicable by analogy:
  • RR2 FAQ: there is a "small pause as they bring their arm back. You have to punch them at this exact moment". Your rider raises the weapon and yells.
  • RR1 manual: "reach out like you're going to punch 'em when they go to swing the club. That usually spooks 'em long enough for you to grab it."
  • RR1 FAQ: a "Yeah" plays on success. Someone else can steal it back, and a stolen club does not carry over to the next race.
  • RR2: the power punch (Up+C) cannot take weapons.
• In PC Big Game, whether a stolen weapon carries between races is not documented.
• Sources: PCM, POSTER, SATM, FADE, ZOL, FINNER, RR1M, RR1FAQ

3.7 Knockdowns and running over riders

• PC: When a rider's stamina reaches zero, they "hit the pavement". Once down, the rider runs back to their bike, as you do (section 4.2).
• You can run over riders lying on the road (fade84).
• Other versions only: In RR3, if an enemy's swing misses you and hits another biker, that biker is knocked off (FAQ).
• Sources: PCM, FADE, RR3FAQ

4. Stamina, damage, crashing, wrecking

4.1 Stamina meter

• PC: The manual says it is "reduced each time an opponent lays a blow on you. If it hits zero, you hit the pavement."
  • It "slowly recharges if you can avoid additional abuse" (SAT).
  • 3DO: "When your health meter is low, it's best to back off until your energy is restored."
  • Chinese tip: "体力值位于姓名右上方，不够时可先停下来，按D跳下车再上去，把体力补满" (unverified).
• Other versions only: In RR1 and RR2 the meter shades from green to red.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, 3DOM, ZOL, RR1M, RR2M

4.2 Crashing and running back

• PC: Hitting a car, a solid obstacle or a tree, or being knocked down, throws the rider off the bike, and the bike lies where it fell.
  • The rider then runs back to the bike automatically, and you steer the run.
  • 'D' dismounts deliberately.
  • Every crash drains the bike damage gauge.
• Other versions only:
  • SCD/RR1/RR2/RR3: after a fall, the D-pad steers the run and holding A stops you.
  • RR1: "You'll be OK when you crash — your bike won't." The bike stays a few seconds away however far you run. You can also run across the finish line on foot.
• Sources: PCM, SCDM, RR1M, RR1FAQ, RR3M

4.3 Bike damage gauge and Wrecked

• PC: The manual says: "When it's gone, so's your bike!" and the SCD manual adds that it "can not be replenished during a race."
  • When the gauge is empty you are Wrecked and out of the race.
  • Big Game: the repair bill is shown, and you pay it or the game is over.
  • Thrash: your qualifications on the current level are revoked.
  • zh.wikipedia: "如果摩托车耐久度归零，玩家就将被强制退出本场比赛。"
• Repairs cost more for expensive bikes, and more at each level (RR2 FAQ; PC figures not found).
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: the Ferruci 850 is "not terribly reliable. One big crash… could put you out".
  • RR3: the Protection upgrade makes the fairing stronger.
• Sources: PCM, SCDM, SATM, ZHWP, FINNER, RR1M, RR3M

4.4 Going broke

• PC/3DO/SAT: "If you don't have enough cash to pay a fine or a repair bill you lose and have to start over."
  • zh.wikipedia: "若玩家无钱支付修理费或罚金时，游戏即告结束。"
  • Arguro's tip: wait before buying a bike, in case you are arrested and need the cash.
• Other versions only:
  • RR2: "If you run out of money your bike is repossessed, and you are given a Shuriken 400 and $1000 in consolation. You return to the first Level." Wikipedia instead calls this a game over; the manual wins.
  • RR3: you are offered a Repo Man job (for the shop owner, who gives you a crowbar) or a Snitch job (for the cops, who give you a club). Each job is a race in which you must knock down a target rider, identified by different-coloured leathers. Succeed and the bill is waived. Fail, or refuse, and you "return to Level 1 with $1000 and a stripped-down Perro 125".
• Sources: 3DOM, SATM, ZHWP, ARGURO, RR2M, RR3M, WP-RR3

5. Money, shop, bikes

5.1 Prize money

• PC: Every finisher is paid ("Prize money is awarded to every rasher who crosses the finish line", SCD). Prize figures (Arguro):

• The results screen shows finishing time, prize, standings and cash on hand. "Some [rashers] grid up with a bundle of cash" (the characters' starting money).
• Other versions only: RR2 prizes for 1st/2nd/3rd, from the FAQ:

• Sources: SCDM, ARGURO, 3DOM, FINNER, RR1M

5.2 Olley's Skoot-A-Rama (the bike shop)

• PC:
  • Only in Big Game. You pick a class, then a bike, then see a 3D-rendered close-up, then the purchase screen.
  • You trade in your current bike, and its value is added to your cash.
  • The manual describes the classes:
    • Rat Bikes: "lucky to qualify beyond Level 2".
    • Sport Bikes: "Brake into turns more often… oncoming cars".
    • Super Bikes: set to compete for the Road Rash cup.
  • There are no upgrades.
• The PC/3DO roster has 15 bikes (Arguro; "15 killer cycles, including Nitro-equipped Super-bikes", SCD):

• Other versions only:
  • RR3 uses the same 15 bikes, renamed and repriced (Perro 125 $2,990 up to Diablo 1000N $40,000, plus a code-only Wild Thing 2000 at $50,000).
    • RR3 adds upgrades in four areas: Performance (about 6–9 mph), Protection, Tires and Suspension. Each can be bought "only once in each area" per bike, and upgrades are lost when you buy a new bike.
  • RR2 has 15 bikes in three classes (Ultra Lights, Nitros, Super Bikes), from the Shuriken 400 UL at $3,500 up to the Diablo 1000 N at $38,000, plus the code-only Wild Thing (200 mph, unlimited nitro). Trade-in is worth half the purchase price.
  • RR1 has 8 bikes: Shuriken 400 $4,000, Panda 600 $5,000, Banzai 750 $7,000, Kamikaze 750 $8,000, Shuriken 1000 $12,000, Ferruci 850 $14,000, Panda 750 $20,000 and Diablo 1000 $25,000. The shop's CREDIT shows your old bike's worth plus your cash.
  • GG has 7 bikes, from the Panda 600 at $5,000 up to the Diablo 1000 at $25,000.
• Sources: PCM, ARGURO, FADE, SCDM, RR3M, RR3FAQ, RR2M, FINNER, RR1M, GGFAQ, R3DO

5.3 Fines

• PC: Getting Busted costs a fine. The Big Game rule is pay or the game is over (section 4.4). Fines grow with each level.
  • The chejiahao account: "如果你刚好被击倒就会立刻被捕，损失很多金钱。"
• Exact amounts are not found.
• Other versions only: RR1 says you are "severely fined (or thrown in jail if you're a repeat offender)".
• Sources: SATM, CJH, RR1M, FINNER

6. Police

6.1 Busted

• PC: "Any time you stop near a cop you're gonna get busted — whether you crash or the cop pulls you over" (SAT/PC). The SCD version reads: "Lay your bike down anywhere near a motorcycle cop and you'll get Busted."
  • Busted ends your race.
  • Big Game: you pay the fine or the game is over.
  • Thrash: your qualifications on the level are revoked.
  • zh.wikipedia: "玩家被警察打下车或抓到后，就会被逮捕并失去比赛资格。"
• Sources: SATM, SCDM, ZHWP

6.2 Motorcycle cops

• PC:
  • Cops ride motorcycles, carry billy clubs, and try to club you off the bike or pull you over.
  • They appear at fixed mile markers on each track. For example, The City Level 1 has cops at about 0.7, 2.7 and 4.5 miles (Arguro).
  • The Peninsula has "more cops than doctors and lawyers combined". The Pacific Highway has "little Fuzz", but on Level 2 a cop tries to push you off the unfenced cliff.
  • Cops are slow at low levels (fade84).
  • You can steal their club, which is the easiest weapon to get.
  • chejiahao: "两个警察会骑着警车用棍子攻击你".
  • Randy Breen (the producer) played the cops in the 3DO FMV.
• AI riders are never Busted (fade84, PC).
• The 3DO is reportedly harder to get arrested in than the PC (Arguro).
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: cops cannot be knocked off. There are five named officers: O'Leary (dopey, bumps you off if you are too slow), Rourke (uptight), Flynn (quick, harasses), O'Shea (an ex-Rasher and an excellent rider) and O'Connor (toughest). A cop also appears if you stay stopped or off the bike for more than about a minute.
  • RR2: cops can be damaged and fight back. The Fuzz are Marshall, Kelly, Ortega, Rourke and O'Connor.
  • RR3: cops can be bashed off their bikes. Squad cars pull in front of you. A police helicopter drops straight down "to slam you with its landing rails"; Natasha's tip: "The helicopter descends straight down. Once it begins, cut in the other direction." Rovers also appear.
• Sources: PCM, SATM, ARGURO, FADE, CJH, WP-3DO, RR1M, RR1FAQ, RR2M, WP-RR2, RR3M, RR3FAQ

6.3 Roadblocks

• PC: From Level 4, the Peninsula has police roadblocks, with cops posted just before them. You get through by riding exactly on the yellow centre line, or by jumping the sand mounds (fade84).
• Sources: FADE

6.4 PC cheat codes involving police (unverified)

• Type XYZZY during a race, and your name turns yellow. Then type any of:
  • "K'THUNK!": gives you a club (木棒).
  • "THWACK!": gives you a chain (铁链).
  • "SPOON!": a speed boost. Baike claims that typing it repeatedly takes you past 420.
  • "YES,OCCIFER": kills the police.
  • "BRIBE": fewer cops.
  • "PLUGH": turns the cheats off.
• Renaming Data\Cars removes the traffic.
• Sources: CHEAT, BAIKE (search snippets only)

7. Tracks (PC/3DO: five Northern California roads)

7.1 Track list and character (manual text and in-game taglines)

• Difficulty, easiest to hardest (Arguro): Sierra, Napa, Peninsula, City, Pacific.
• Sources: PCM, JATIN, ARGURO, FADE

7.2 Course length by level (PC, miles; in-game Bulletin Board, per Jatin)

• Higher levels extend the same road: "Level 5 = earlier levels plus extra miles" (Arguro).
• Forks: every track has branches, and the shorter branch is the harder one (fade84).
• Later levels add cross traffic from side roads, and construction sites and unpaved roads appear (manual).
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: Sierra Nevada, Pacific Coast, Redwood Forest, Palm Desert and Grass Valley. Hazards include cows, deer, barricades, EA billboards, SR signs, cacti and cow skulls. The layout is the same at every level, and only the obstacles change. Level 1 distances are 5.2–5.7 mi and Level 5 distances 14.9–15.5 mi.
  • RR2: Molokai Express (Hawaii), Hoodoo's Revenge (Arizona), Smokin' Mountain (Tennessee), Gold Rush (Alaska) and Maple Run (Vermont). Roughly 6 mi at Level 1 and 15 mi at Level 5.
  • RR3: Australia, Kenya, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Germany and the UK. Wild animals roam in Kenya.
  • (Wikipedia's RR1 article lists Napa Valley. That is an error: Napa Valley is a 3DO track.)
• Sources: JATIN, ARGURO, FADE, PCM, RR1M, RR1FAQ, RR2M, FINNER, RR3M, WP-RR1

7.3 Traffic, pedestrians and roadside cast

• PC:
  • Oncoming and same-direction cars. Drivers change lanes: "Car drivers have personalities too" (RR3 manual; the PC does the same, per fade84).
  • Cross traffic at intersections. chejiahao: "时常会有轿车从十字路口冷不丁地窜出来引起连环车祸".
  • Pedestrians can be run down (real3do). Pedestrians and cones act as ramps.
  • The 3DO cast list includes flag girls, an old lady, joggers, skateboarders, Caltrans workers and a bicyclist.
  • The starting flagger can be run over. chejiahao: "我曾经就对起点那个举旗子的人怨念极深，每次发车都会把他撞倒。"
  • Vehicles spawn at a set distance ahead of you (RR3 FAQ; assumed the same on PC).
  • Multiplayer can turn cars on or off.
• Sources: 3DOM, R3DO, CJH, FADE, PCM, RR3M

8. Opponents

8.1 Field and grid

• PC: There are 15 riders: "you and 14 other rashers line up". You start "at the back of the pack":
  • Big Game: 14th (SAT).
  • Thrash: 15th (SAT).
  • SCD: always 15th.
• Other versions only: In RR3 you start 14th. Positions 1–7 are spread out ahead of an 8-bike grid (FAQ).
• Sources: PCM, SATM, SCDM, RR3FAQ

8.2 Playable alter egos (PC Big Game; also the rival roster)

Jatin's figures are listed first. Where Arguro differs, the difference is given in brackets.

• Each rider has a one-line blurb. Bose: "his punch feels like a ten car pileup on your head."
• Chinese players' names for some of them: 迈克 (Mike) and 杰斐逊 (Jefferson). 塞利娜 and 庄臣 are also named in the same tip, and cannot be mapped with confidence.
• The rival roster beyond these eight has not been confirmed for the PC (see section 12).
• Sources: JATIN, ARGURO, ZOL, PCM

8.3 Relationships, grudges and Schmooze

• PC: Riders have friends and enemies. Schmoozing gives tips and gossip.
  • Attacking a rider turns friends into enemies. The manual: "Don't expect to schmooze a course tip out of a rasher you just spent 5.3 miles hammering… Do expect that rasher to take a cheap shot."
  • Opponents also attack you on their own. gamersky: "你的对手也会在追击的时候主动攻击你".
• The relationship matrix below is partial (Arguro):
  • Axle: friends Pearl; enemies Bose and Mike; neutral Cydney, Rhonda, Jim and Jon.
  • Bose: friends Jon; enemies Mike and Axle.
  • Pearl: friends Jon, Bose and Axle; enemies Mike and Cydney.
  • Slim Jim: friends Cydney and Bose; enemies Rhonda, Jon and Mike.
• Attitude display (SCD manual, and very likely the same on PC): the colour of the opponent's stamina meter shows their mood:
  • green: "won't rumble unless you strike first";
  • yellow: neutral, and will fight for a qualifying position;
  • red: "coming after you".
• Other versions only:
  • RR1: Natasha takes revenge if you attack her and helps if you are cool. Biff is a hard hitter, Slater is unpredictable, Ikira is nice and only in it for the money, Sergio will make you pay if you dent his bike, and Helldog comes after you no matter what. Viper, Sergio and Natasha appear in every race, and hitting Natasha changes what she says.
  • RR2: Kakana helps you. The riders are Slater, M. Lawson, Biff, Ikira, Public Enemy No. 1, War Hammer, Chino, the Jorg and Sven Godfretdsen twins, Roz I Ryde and Natasha. Viper and P.E. No.1 carry chains.
  • RR3: there are 20 named riders, each with a fixed starting weapon per level, plus verbatim pre- and post-race lines (compliments, insults, per-country police lines, wrecked lines, help tips).
• Sources: PCM, ARGURO, SCDM, GSKY, RR1M, RR1FAQ, RR2M, FINNER, RR3FAQ, TVT

8.4 AI behaviour and rubber-banding

• PC (fade84): The AI has apparently unlimited nitro. It is never arrested and never dies in the sea.
  • Rubber-banding: when you lead, the AI "stays about 300 m behind no matter what".
  • Riders start fights over position, and they take cheap shots if they hold a grudge.
• Other versions only: In RR2 the AI is never Busted and catches up within 1–2 miles.
• Sources: FADE, PCM, FINNER

9. Race HUD and presentation

9.1 Instrument panel (PC)

• PC: The panel shows:
  • Damage Gauge and Stamina Meter.
  • Current Position.
  • Distance to closest opponent.
  • Rev counter, speedometer and odometer.
  • Closest Opponent, with name and stamina.
• There is no race timer and no progress bar. You judge the finish by setting the odometer against the course length on the Bulletin Board ("memorise the course length").
• F10 toggles the dashboard.
• Other versions only:
  • 3DO: a Mini-Dash option.
  • SCD: adds Elapsed Time and a rear-view mirror.
  • RR1: mirrors. Your position ("out of 15 riders") briefly replaces your name when you pass someone.
  • RR2: elapsed time, a Nitro LED row, and a Competition Meter in split screen.
  • RR3: the current weapon name replaces the opponent's name while you cycle weapons.
• Sources: PCM, 3DOM, SCDM, RR1M, RR2M, RR3M

9.2 Race flow and end states

• PC/3DO: A pre-race FMV intro plays. SCD: skipping three intros in a row turns them off.
• A flag girl starts the race.
• There are four ways a race can end (3DO manual):
  • You place 1st–3rd and qualify.
  • You place 4th or lower and are paid but do not qualify.
  • You are Wrecked and pay repairs.
  • You are Busted and pay a fine.
• Each ending gets its own comedic post-race FMV. The 3DO has about 25 minutes of FMV in total (Wikipedia and real3do).
• Other versions only: RR2 has per-level cutscenes for qualifying, failing, being busted, being wrecked and reaching a new level.
• Sources: 3DOM, SCDM, WP-3DO, R3DO, FINNER

9.3 Music

• PC: The Jukebox has 14 licensed A&M songs:
  • Hammerbox: "Trip" and "Simple Passing".
  • Monster Magnet: "Dinosaur Vacuum".
  • Paw: "The Bridge", "Jessie" and "Pansy".
  • Soundgarden: "Rusty Cage", "Outshined", "Kickstand" and "Superunknown".
  • Swervedriver: "Last Train to Satansville" and "Duel".
  • Therapy?: "Teethgrinder" and "Auto Surgery".
• The Jukebox also has two music videos, and attract videos play after 30 seconds idle.
• During races the PC plays MIDI-style synthesised music, not the licensed tracks. GameSpot called it "the world's cheesiest General MIDI". zh.wikipedia: "3DO、Windows、PlayStation和世嘉土星移植版竞速时皆使用普通合成音乐，仅在菜单和启动界面使用艺术家原声。"
• Other versions only: Only the SCD plays the licensed songs during races.
• Sources: PCM, ARGURO, WP-3DO, ZHWP, SCDM

9.4 Graphics options (PC)

• Race resolution and biker-screen resolution are set separately, and FMV can be Large, Small or Off. Numpad +/− changes the detail level during a race.
• Sources: PCM

10. Multiplayer

10.1 Mano a Mano (PC)

• PC: Up to 8 players over a network (TCP/IP or IPX), or 2 over a 28.8K modem or a null-modem cable.
• Setup order:
  1. The host picks the level.
  2. The host sets cars to ENABLE or DISABLE.
  3. The host picks the connection: Modem, TCP/IP or IPX.
  4. The host picks HUMANS ONLY or LIMITED AI BIKERS.
  5. Each player selects a character.
  6. The Bulletin Board comes up, and the track is chosen by majority vote.
• In the race:
  • An upper-left indicator shows the human players' positions. PgUp and PgDn scroll it and Home centres it. In low resolution, '/' switches between the indicator and chat.
  • The mileage shown is actual distance travelled, not a mile marker.
  • Chat shows status events: busted, wrecked, quit.
  • Canned messages are on F1–F8 and free chat on F9.
• Other versions only:
  • 3DO/SCD/SAT: 2 players alternate ("take turns") on one controller.
  • RR1: alternating only.
  • RR2: the first split screen. Player A is on the top half and Player B on the bottom. RR2's Mano a Mano is a two-rider duel with no money: each player picks a weapon, and it ends when one is wrecked, busted or finishes. In split screen, once qualifying runs cover all five tracks, both players advance.
  • RR3: Solo, Take Turns, Split Screen, and Mano a Mano on a split screen with "no additional opponents and no rules".
• Sources: PCM, 3DOM, SATM, RR1M, RR2M, RR3M, WP-3DO, WP-RR2

11. Later games (brief)

• Road Rash 64 (N64, 1999, THQ/Pacific Coast Power & Light): four-player split screen and a larger weapon set. It drops the FMV.
• Road Rash: Jailbreak (PS1, 2000; GBA, 2003): adds sidecars (one player drives and the other fights), a police-side story mode, and a new graphical style.
• Neither is relevant to the PC 1996 baseline. Neither was researched beyond this.

12. Conflicts and unresolved gaps

Conflicts between sources

1. Qualifying place.
   • RR1 is 4th or better (manual).
   • RR2, RR3, 3DO, PC and SAT are 3rd or better.
   • Baidu Baike and some summaries say top 3 for the original game, which is wrong for RR1.
2. Starting position.
   • SCD: always 15th.
   • SAT: 14th in Big Game and 15th in Thrash.
   • PC manual: only "back of the pack".
3. Nitro count. PC/SAT: 10. RR2: 8. RR3: 4, 6 or 8 depending on the bike.
4. RR3 charge-weapon uses. The manual and Wikipedia say 10; the Apathy000 FAQ says 8. The manual wins.
5. RR3 qualification. Wikipedia says "win 5 of 7 tracks". The manual says five tracks per level, top three on all five.
6. PC starting weapons.
   • The manual says only "chain or bat".
   • Jatin gives Axle a chain.
   • Arguro also gives Pearl a chain and Teflon Mike a crowbar, which is not a weapon type the PC manual mentions.
7. PC rider heights and weights. Jatin and Arguro differ for Bose, Jon, Rhonda and Mike (section 8.2).
8. Broke in RR2. The manual says your bike is repossessed and you restart at L1 with $1000. Wikipedia says game over.
9. Thrash bike.
   • 3DO manual: "bring your bike with you".
   • SAT and fade84: a preset bike per level.
   • real3do: no upgrades.
   • The PC probably follows SAT and fade84 (preset bikes).
10. RR1 track list. Wikipedia includes Napa Valley, which is a 3DO/PC track.
11. The Banzai Super Sport is in the PC Super class but has no nitro. This is an FAQ observation, not confirmed by the manual.
12. Attribution of Chinese tips. The zol.com.cn page the stamina-refill and weapon-snatch tips seem to come from is GBK-garbled and titled for Jacked, so their source is uncertain.

Gaps (not found)

• Exact fine and repair amounts for any version, and how they scale with bike price and level.
• PC prize money for Levels 4 and 5, and the full payout table for 4th to 15th.
• The full PC schmooze dialogue and the full PC relationship matrix. Only 4 of the 8 riders' matrices are known.
• The PC AI rival roster beyond the eight alter egos. The fan wiki (Fandom) and TV Tropes were blocked (HTTP 402/403) and are known only from search snippets.
• Whether a stolen weapon carries between PC Big Game races.
• Exact stamina and damage values per hit or crash, and the per-bike handling numbers. No numbers are published anywhere; they would have to be measured in-game or taken from the game data.
• Whether the Closest Opponent meter colour-codes attitude on the PC as it does on the SCD.
• Baidu Baike could not be read directly. Its pages returned HTTP 403, so it is known only from search snippets.
• Several GameFAQs guides could not be fetched. Genesis RR1 20640 and RR3 29823 hit a Cloudflare challenge, and RR1 65324 returned 403.
• The PC cheat codes are known only from a snippet. They have not been verified against the executable.

13. Sources