FIFA 18 and Call of Duty may be getting all the headlines right now, but there’s another, lesser-known game that’s fighting for your attention.
Quite literally.
Road Redemption, developed by Pixel Dash Studios, is the spiritual successor to the 90s classic Road Rash.
IS YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM RUINED? THEN DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER IS JUST THE CURE!
And just like the old games, this motorbike brawler is ultra violent and brutally satisfying.
Here’s why it’s worth checking out.
It’s Mad Max on steroids
Pixel Dash’s game may not boast cutting-edge visuals, but it claws back some serious points in the gameplay department.
The recipe is incredibly simple – sticking to what made SEGA’s Road Rash games so iconic.
They simply plonk you on a high-powered bike, give you a machete or iron bar, then task you with taking out as many goons as possible.
There’s a huge amount of firepower available – from wrenches to explosives and harpoons.
Machine pistols, Terminator 2-style shotguns and handguns can all be picked up as you make your way through each level.
The shotgun is easily the best of the bunch, allowing for some spectacular takedowns.
There’s so much to do
The game has already sold more than 100,000 copies – and it’s still just on PC. A lot of that is down to the longevity.
Tracks and pick-ups are mostly randomly generated – allowing for a unique challenge every time you play.
You’ll race along deserts, snow-topped mountains and across skyscrapers so there’s plenty of variation.
Add to the mix a four-player split-screen mode – and a decent online multiplayer offering, and it’s a compelling package.
For solo gamers, there’s an arcade mode, with new levels unlocking if you score enough points. A campaign adds a few structured, albeit samey, missions, too.
You’ll also unlock new bikes – each coming with its own set of melee weapons.
Be warned, once you die on the game, it’s back to square one.
To stave off frustration, you’ll be able to spend points on upgrading your gear – making it easier to get past sticking points.
It costs a fraction of the price of AAA titles
Yep, Road Redemption can be picked up for around £13 on Steam right now.
Xbox and PlayStation owners will need to wait until next year to get their hands on it, though.
There’s nothing else quite like it
Unlike the Carmageddon remake, which was hopeless, crude and massively dated, Road Redemption gets the basics spot on – tight, vehicular combat with a rewarding skills tree.
In a world where Need for Speed, Project Cars and Gran Turismo all scuffle to provide the most realistic racing game possible, Road Redemption is a breath of fresh air.
Pixel Dash hasn’t censored anything (there are decapitations aplenty) as they’re not bound to a huge publisher.
The result is a pure, gleefully-unpolished, ultra-violent racer that – on gameplay alone – stands up to the best of them.
Now, go hit the road.
