Road Redemption

Road Redemption
Developer(s)
  • Pixel Dash Studios
  • EQ Games
Publisher(s)
  • Sunken Treasure Games
  • Darkseas Games
Engine Unity
Platform(s)

Release
  • WW: TBA 2017
Genre(s) Vehicular combat, racing
Mode(s) Single-player

Road Redemption is an upcoming vehicular combat racing video game being developed by Pixel Dash Studios and EQ Games as a spiritual successor to the Road Rash series of vehicular combat racing video games. An in-progress version is available through Steam Early Access, with final releases planned for Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Wii U, and Xbox One.

Gameplay

The game plays a spiritual successor to the Road Rash series of vehicular combat racing video games.[1][2] The game aims to replicate the arcade-like simplicity and silliness of the Road Rash games, while introducing more modern graphics and gameplay mechanics.[3] In addition to the melee weapons featured in Road Rash, Road Redemption introduces firearms in the players options for weapons as well.[4] The game will feature split screen multiplayer modes,[5] including the computer-based ones, which is more of a rarity for the platform.[6] The proposed Wii U version will also feature the ability for multiplayer sessions to take place with one player on the television and the other using just the Wii U GamePad screen.[7]

Development

In 2009, Ian Fisch, a long time fan of the Road Rash series wrote a blog post on why the game needed a revival. He had intended for the blog post to be a call for developers Electronic Arts to revisit the series, but following the commercial failures of racing/combat hybrids such as Split/Second and Blur, he believed there would be no appetite for such game from an established publisher, so began working on his own take on the game.[8]

The game was first announced April 2013, alongside a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The campaign raised over $173,000, successfully exceeding its $160,000 goal.[9] While the game was funded for development, it missed the 198,000 stretch goal for a virtual reality Oculus Rift version.[10] Paul Fisch, a developer on the game elaborated on reasons why their Kickstarter campaign did not "take off" in a piece for The Penny Arcade Report. In it, he blamed the timing of the campaign launch and general crowdfunding fatigue.[11]

The game was initially intended for an August 2014 release,[10] which was pushed back to November 2014 at the release of the alpha version in April 2014.[2] While an early beta version was released through Steam Early Access in September 2014,[12] the game missed its 2014 release date, and a lack of further updates in 2015 lead to fears of the game being cancelled.[7] An update in April 2016 clarified that development was still proceeding, with a Q3 2016 release date planned for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U versions are planned for sometime afterwards.[7] Initial 2016 updates did not mention the Wii U as a platform, again causing speculation towards cancellation of that particular version, but DarkSeas Games clarified that the Wii U version was still planned, but was relegated to a release window after the PS4 and Xbox One versions, citing extra work that would have to be done to get the game running on the less-powerful Wii U.[9]

After the game's release, DarkSeas Game's also intends on making the game open source, allowing for people to create mods for the game.[4] DarkSeas Game's also teamed up with Yacht Club Games to bring their Shovel Knight character to the game as a playable character.[13]

Reception

Pre-release

In Eurogamer's Steam Early Access review of the game, Dan Whitehead praised the game despite its quirks and glitches, stating "There are a lot of problems, in other words, and the development team has a lot of balancing and polishing to do if Road Redemption is to become a genuinely satisfying and well-rounded successor to its inspiration. Yet for all of the scruffiness, rough edges and half-baked ideas, the game works brilliantly where it matters."[1] Polygon referred to the same early build as "a crazier, deeper Road Rash" that was "as fast, crazed and violent as its obvious inspiration."[14] The game's $40 price point for an alpha release caught criticism from some websites.[2][15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Road Redemption Early Access review". Eurogamer.net. 9 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Savage, Phil. "Road Redemption now available in alpha, providing you spend $40". pcgamer.
  3. ↑ Maiberg, Emanuel. "Latest Road Redemption video shows promising progress". pcgamer.
  4. 1 2 Savage, Phil. "Road Redemption takes a swipe at Road Rash with its combat-heavy Kickstarter". pcgamer.
  5. ↑ Chalk, Andy. "Road Redemption adds split-screen multiplayer, gets an E3 gameplay trailer". pcgamer.
  6. ↑ "Hands on with Road Redemption, a motorcycle combat racer coming to Xbox One and Windows". Windows Central.
  7. 1 2 3 "Road Redemption slated for PC this summer". Eurogamer.net. 1 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Martin Robinson (2014-05-16). "How Road Redemption is reviving a lost genre". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  9. 1 2 "Road Redemption Developer Says It's Still "Actively Pursuing Wii U Development"". Nintendo Life.
  10. 1 2 Prescott, Shaun. "Road Rash-inspired Road Redemption secures Kickstarter funding". pcgamer.
  11. ↑ Paul Fisch; DarkSeas Games (2013-05-09). "Road Rashed: 5 reasons why the Road Redemption Kickstarter failed to take off". The Penny Arcade Report. Archived from the original on 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  12. ↑ Chalk, Andy. "Road Redemption roars out onto Steam Early Access". pcgamer.
  13. ↑ Prescott, Shaun. "Road Redemption gets playable Shovel Knight character". pcgamer.
  14. ↑ DanielleRiendeau. "Road Redemption is like a crazier, deeper Road Rash". Polygon.
  15. ↑ "Don’t Be Rash: Road Redemption Alpha Out Now". Rock Paper Shotgun.
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