
Using the jump rockets is pretty easy to overdo, so lightly tap on it as needed.

That forced me to switch to my middle finger to accelerate, just to use a move that only seems to work on early area enemies. One mechanic that seemed poorly optimized was grabbing enemy racers, as it requires you to hit the ‘R bumper,’ when you need to hold the ‘R trigger’ to keep accelerating. Putting on a boost of turbo is as simple as hitting the gas button twice, and using the jet boosters to bunny hop is easy as well. Using the ‘D-pad’ to swap between weapons can be tricky at times, but it’s still functional. Being able to turn tightly without having to brake, just making a slight dip in your speed, lets you race both more optimally and recklessly. The controls and racing mechanics feel very smooth. Instead of having to find a secret route, in Road Redemption you just buy the warp pipe. A few enemies brandish guns themselves, and place timed bombs on the track, but they’re not overly abundant. It gives more options to deal with all your opponents, who can overwhelm you simply because you’re outnumbered. Another feature that I enjoyed compared to older Road Rash games was the inclusion of firearms and explosives. After you either fail or beat the campaign, you’ll be able to spend your XP on permanent upgrades, like increased defense or money gains.

While playing RR’s Campaign Modes, of which there are a + and ++ version, you’ll earn money to spend on upgrades that only applies to each run, such as health or turbo restores.

Why does all the cool stuff happen after I leave?

However, it worked just fine when I played it on my own, so it seems as if it breaks down in coop play. Having originally tried this with 2 other people, I was dismayed because the enemies kept pulling ahead instead of lining up beside us so we could fight. Give everybody weapons such as wrenches, swords, and shovels, and you’ve got all the ingredients necessary for a destructive teen’s wet dream version of Mario Kart. The way this is made possible, is that the enemy AI rubber bands around your racer, keeping you mired in a motorcycle mosh pit. Sure, it’s important to win races, but I always played these games for the carnage. RR is a motorcycle racing game, with a strong emphasis on combat and mayhem.
