Road Redemption

Road Redemption
Developer(s)
  • Pixel Dash Studios
  • EQ Games
Publisher(s)
  • Pixel Dash Studios
  • EQ Games
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X
  • October 4, 2017
  • PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
  • 2018
Genre(s) Vehicular combat, racing
Mode(s) Single-player

Road Redemption is a 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 release planned for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux on October 4, 2017. Console versions of Road Redemption are planned for 2018.

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] In May 2018, DarkSeas Game announced they had shifted development to a Nintendo Switch release.[13]

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.[14]

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."[15] The game's $40 price point for an alpha release caught criticism from some websites.[2][16]

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. ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/two-wheel_insanity_simulator_road_redemption_is_switch_bound
  14. ↑ Prescott, Shaun. "Road Redemption gets playable Shovel Knight character". pcgamer.
  15. ↑ DanielleRiendeau. "Road Redemption is like a crazier, deeper Road Rash". Polygon.
  16. ↑ "Don't Be Rash: Road Redemption Alpha Out Now". Rock Paper Shotgun.
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