Road Redemption
- October 4, 2017
- Pixel Dash Studios
- 8h median play time
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Get on Steam"Road Redemption is a thrilling action racing game where you lead your motorcycle gang on a dangerous journey across the country, completing challenges and upgrading your character, bike, and weapons. With a brutal combat system and a focus on high-speed driving, each death offers the opportunity to upgrade, leading to a sense of progression even in failure. The multiplayer mode allows for cooperative or competitive play with friends."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
PlayStation
Tablet
Xbox
Reviews
- gameplay1,296 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Road Redemption" is a mix of fast-paced motorcycle combat and racing, reminiscent of the classic "Road Rash" series, but with modern updates and rogue-lite mechanics. While many players find the core mechanics fun and addictive, there are criticisms regarding repetitiveness, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in the campaign. Overall, the game offers an exhilarating experience with chaotic action, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more structured or polished gameplay experience.
“Insane speed, hilarious dialogue and crashes (FlatOut meets Burnout), interesting subplot, amazing metal soundtrack, cool progression/risk vs reward gameplay.”
“The core gameplay is a slick, well-balanced action experience, that finds a great balance between challenge and simplicity.”
“The gameplay is a lot of fun and definitely has a lot of 'Road Rash' flavor and being a big fan of that game in my childhood I'm excited to see that winning formula return in Road Redemption.”
“There is very little explanation of the game's mechanics.”
“Gameplay is horrible, graphics are dated at best (but my GPU is still sent flying) and the controls are clunky.”
“The gameplay itself is very repetitive and gets boring very easily.”
- graphics876 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are below average, often likening them to older console standards such as PS2 or Xbox 360. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel and decent visual effects, others criticize the low-poly models and lack of detail, suggesting that the graphics could benefit from significant improvements. Overall, the visuals serve their purpose but do not stand out in comparison to contemporary titles, leaving room for enhancement in future updates.
“With its fast-paced action, stunning visuals, and captivating maps, this game offers an exhilarating ride for players craving high-octane excitement.”
“The graphics are very well done and convey a sense of anarchy and destruction.”
“Fantastic gameplay, great graphics and a really good soundtrack.”
“The graphics are below average with very low poly models and low-res textures.”
“For a 2017 game, the graphics are very sub-par, especially in the level designs.”
“The graphics are so bad it really lets this game down.”
- story854 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "Road Redemption" is largely considered minimal and underdeveloped, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Players engage in a series of missions with basic objectives, such as racing or eliminating enemies, but many feel the narrative lacks depth and emotional engagement, often describing it as a thin excuse for the chaotic action. While some appreciate the corny, 80s action movie vibe, the overall consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, leaving the narrative feeling like an afterthought.
“Delicious high-speed violence, crazy stunt riding, physics-defying crashes, and a thoroughly simple story for a rogue-lite-like adventure in a post-apocalyptic Australian backdrop, a la Mad Max, with quintessentially Aussie characterizations and a dialogue that got me laughing in-game.”
“The story is about beating rival motorbike gangs and killing a mysterious killer who kills bikers on the road.”
“Set in post-apocalyptic Australia, the game is obviously a massive love letter to Mad Max. The story isn't anything deep or thought-provoking, merely a window dressing to give you an excuse to shoot people on motorbikes, but that's all that is really needed.”
“The game also has a half-baked story about chasing some assassin across the country for a prize of 15 million bucks.”
“It's thin and feels like an afterthought, included just to give a semblance of structure to what is otherwise a chaotic set of missions.”
“The story is a little bare bones, being conveyed largely through in-game dialogue (which thankfully doesn't get repetitive), and it'd be nice to have a little more information about the characters you play as and what motivates them.”
- music736 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic heavy metal and rock soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay and chaotic atmosphere. However, some players find the music repetitive or generic, suggesting that it lacks the iconic feel of classic titles like Road Rash. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience for many, others recommend muting it in favor of personal playlists for a more enjoyable experience.
“The soundtrack for the game absolutely slaps.”
“The music is great and really gets you in the environment for slashing, bashing and kicking.”
“The music is awesome, the riding is awesome, the combat is awesome.”
“The music is horrible in comparison to jail break (my biggest hope for the game was that they might've used some of the same bands that made the soundtrack to jail break so great) but sadly all you get is lame 90's style arcade music.”
“The overwhelmingly bad soundtrack makes me never want to play this again.”
“The soundtrack is pretty terrible in my opinion.”
- humor280 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Road Redemption" is widely praised for its chaotic and absurdist nature, with players enjoying the hilarious dialogue, over-the-top crashes, and slapstick moments that arise during gameplay. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to generate laughter through its physics, weaponry, and multiplayer antics, making it a fun experience, especially in co-op mode. While some players feel the humor may not reach the heights of classic titles like "Road Rash," the overall consensus is that the game delivers a consistently entertaining and funny experience.
“Had hours of fun laughing as we launched ourselves across the map on the black bike.”
“A very addictive randomly generated roguelite arcade combat racing game with persistent unlocks and some truly hilarious level possibilities (hallucinogenic zones are probably when I first fell in love with this game: cars randomly raining from the sky always brings a smile to my face) that is easy to recommend.”
“This game is fucking amazing, I never laughed so hard at some of the funny stuff that goes on in it, man do I remember the old days of Road Rash, this is my new favorite, I can't wait for more updates, the rainbow ending made me laugh my ass off hard.”
- replayability250 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally regarded as high, bolstered by features such as character and bike customization, rogue-like mechanics, and random level generation. Players appreciate the variety of challenges and unlockable content, which encourages repeated playthroughs, especially in multiplayer settings. However, some critics note that the repetitive nature of levels and certain gameplay mechanics can diminish long-term engagement for some players.
“Road Redemption is, by design and nature, replayable indeed, with the challenges randomizing before every run, and if you really want to go mad, the new game + mode offers utterly randomized everything as opposed to linear progression, which can make for quite the rollercoaster ride in terms of difficulty; one early challenge might send you against endgame enemies, only for the next to hurl you back into the early game's enemies.”
“The developers introduced an ingenious method of replayability with the variety of characters that you can choose from, all with their own strengths and weaknesses.”
“Randomly generated missions, enemies, and levels give this insane replay value, and it is done right.”
“It has a good idea but the levels are all the same and not a game that has replayable value.”
“The game is too repetitive to have as much replay value as it should have.”
“The motorcycles, courses, and riders sorely lack any variety, which will kill the replay value.”
- stability200 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous users reporting various glitches and bugs that can affect gameplay, particularly in split-screen mode. While many players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over persistent problems, including crashes and unresponsive mechanics. Overall, while the game runs well on some systems, it remains in a buggy state that detracts from the experience, especially for those expecting a polished release.
“For anyone wondering, the game runs great and looks good too.”
“In its current state, the game runs great, decent visuals, the combat is good, that sweet sound of landing a hit and dropping the other biker brings great joy every time.”
“Despite early access, it runs great, plays great, and is super fun.”
“The game was amazing while it worked, but after I reached the two-hour mark (where I can no longer return it) I was suddenly struck with glitches that made the game completely unplayable - the pause menu was permanently disabled, and the FPS, which used to run at 60, now caps at 30 at the start of the match before gradually descending down to as low as 10 FPS (probably lower, but by then the game was completely unplayable).”
“Cannot recommend the game in this horrifically buggy state.”
“Buggy as hell, constant crashes, no save locations.”
- optimization194 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, particularly on older hardware. While some users note improvements following updates, others still experience severe lag and unplayable conditions, especially during intense gameplay moments. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, it is clear that further optimization is needed to enhance performance across a wider range of systems.
“Road Rash optimized for the 21st century.”
“The game has come a long way, most notably to me in its features, performance, and bug fixes.”
“I think what I'm more impressed with is how much the developer has optimized this game, even for older computers.”
“I've been playing on the Steam Deck and so far had a bad experience once where the game started doing some extreme stuttering and became unplayable; we're talking like 2 fps and unusable controls.”
“The game is desperately poorly optimized, running on a laptop with a GTX 750m, Core i7-4700, and 16GB RAM, feels like watching PowerPoint slides.”
“This game could have been really fun, but it's delivered with terrible performance.”
- grinding152 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding, with many players noting that the progression system feels tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the potential for permanent upgrades and replayability, the overwhelming consensus is that the grind required to unlock skills and complete the game can be frustrating and time-consuming. Players recommend it primarily for those who enjoy rogue-lite mechanics and don't mind a significant amount of grinding.
“You have to grind to actually complete the game though, but it's not tedious.”
“You aren't grinding to get better bikes, just power-ups.”
“I can't believe I've played this game as long as I have with the immensely frustrating repetition and grinding.”
“Bland tracks, gimmicky mission design, and a grind-heavy roguelite progression system make the experience grow tedious quickly.”
“The game is incredibly grindy and you don't feel like you are progressing much.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the fast-paced soundtrack and the sense of gang rivalry, while others criticize the visuals and overall presentation as lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to the original Road Rash. Many players feel that the game fails to create an immersive racing experience, with some expressing disappointment over design choices that detract from the atmosphere, such as respawning mechanics and dull loading screens. Overall, while there are moments of enjoyable atmosphere, many reviewers find it falls short of expectations.
“It's certainly no release candidate at this date, but make no mistake - the driving, the combat and the sheer atmosphere of merciless gang rivalry is already nailed down.”
“Gameplay is both smooth and elegant while maintaining an awesome atmosphere.”
“One of the best moto-games ever :) funny and atmospheric.”
“The game has nothing approaching the atmosphere and vibe of the original Road Rash PC game from the 90s.”
“I guess if you want Dark Souls on motorcycles with zero atmosphere and dodgy controls, this is the game for you.”
“Loading does take some time (~5-10 seconds for me) and looking at a dull grey background just ruins the atmosphere for me.”
- monetization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over the presence of ads in a title they have already paid for, which many perceive as a cash grab exploiting nostalgia. While there are no microtransactions, the inclusion of advertisements on the main menu has left users feeling that the developers are prioritizing profit over player experience. Additionally, there are concerns about misleading information regarding multiplayer features, further detracting from the game's value.
“No microtransactions!!!!”
“No microtransactions!!!!”
“What's not great is ads in the game I've paid for.”
“A poor excuse for a reboot of Road Rash - feels like a cash grab exploiting my childhood nostalgia.”
“A broken game released by developers who, despite taking full money for the game, have the gall to show ads for other games on the main menu.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it nostalgic and fun, evoking feelings of childhood joy and excitement, others criticize the lack of depth in the plot, which diminishes emotional investment. The game's community is praised for its wholesome nature, although the presence of darker themes, such as violence, contrasts with this sentiment. Overall, it offers a blend of lightheartedness and nostalgia, appealing to a specific audience.
“The developers have genuinely created a wholesome community around their game, and they genuinely value their fan base.”
“Complete nostalgia, made me feel like a 10-year-old version of me, when I used to play this game in summer vacations wearing nothing but shorts and eating chips.”
“It made me laugh, it made me scream at the screen, and it made me feel like a total badass.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and connection to the characters. Players feel disconnected, struggling to understand their own identity and the motivations of other characters, leading to a diminished emotional investment in the story.
“Also, there seems to be no character development at all. I don't know who I am, I don't really know any of the other characters in the game or why I should care about them.”
“Also, there seems to be no character development at all. I don't know who I am, I don't really know any of the other characters in the game or why I should care about them.”
