Genesis

Rock 'n Roll Racing

This game was made by Interplay and Blizzard, two game companies that would become giants in the industry. Anyone who's played RC Pro Am on the NES will feel right at home with R&R Racing. The 45-degree, pseudo-3D view of the track gives you a good angle, letting you see just enough of the road ahead. Cars are equipped with front and rear weapons. The elevated tracks are available on six "planets", which offer unspectacular but colorful scenery. The gameplay is surprisingly deep. You can buy different types of cars, upgrade them, and equip them with all sorts of gadgets. A password lets you save your spot. The two-player split-screen is also a lot of fun, and let's not forget about the music! The Sega Genesis isn't known for its great audio, but you'll hear stellar versions of "Paranoid", "Bad To The Bone", "Born To Be Wild", and "Radar Love", among others. Be sure to turn off the annoying announcer, who often interrupts the music.

With it's wild fantasy elements this game is to legitimate racing what the Mutant League games are to football and hockey. And with it's adjustable difficulty setting and cartoony creations, it should appeal to a wide range of fun-lovin' gamers lookin' for a brash, entertaining time.

Let's face it, when hard rock and metal were still great, this soundtrack could make up for almost any shortcomings the premise and gameplay had; it could really improve the game. But if you take away the trend and take it at face value, then you have to admit that it isn't much more than a pretty mediocre game. Hardcore rock fans (there still are some of them out there, and I count myself among them) might gain more pleasure from playing and may add one additional point to the score. Overall, here is a prime example of something that hasn't aged well. This games sound has gone off and now tastes pretty bland.