Some bikes in the 32-bit versions are equipped with a series of nitrous oxide charges, which can provide a burst of speed if the player quickly taps the acceleration input button twice. Between races, the player can view bikes for sale and potentially purchase a new bike with the money they have accumulated the bike shop is available from the main menu in the 32-bit versions. When the player wins a race, a cash prize is received and added to the player's balance. The player character begins the game carrying $1,000 on hand. In most versions, the color of the opponent's stamina meter changes as it decreases, while in the Sega CD version, it indicates the racer's level of aggressiveness toward the player. Opponents will likewise be ejected from their bike if their own stamina is depleted the stamina of the nearest racer is visible within the bottom-right corner of the screen. In this event, the racer will automatically run back toward their bike, though the player can alter their course and avoid incoming traffic with the directional buttons, or stand still by holding the brake input button. The player racer can be ejected from their bike if they crash into an obstacle (such as cows, deer, cars and trees) or if they run out of stamina (shown in the bottom-left corner of the screen) due to fights with other racers. Some opponents wield weapons such as clubs and chains, which can be taken and used by the player if the enemy racer is attacked as they are holding the weapon out to strike. The player character will punch at the nearest racer with a default input, while holding a directional button during the input will result in either a backhand or a kick. During a race, the player can brake, accelerate and attack neighboring racers.
The game's races take place in a number of Californian locales, including San Francisco, the Sierra Nevada, Napa Valley and the Pacific Coast Highway. Road Rash puts the player in control of a motorcycle racer who must finish in either third or fourth-place (depending on the version) or higher in a series of five road races to advance throughout the game's five levels. The game was followed by a series of sequels made for various consoles. Reception of other versions ranged from positive to middling, with the later versions being considered dated by the time of their release. The original version for the Sega Genesis was particularly acclaimed for its violent and aggressive gameplay and the convincing sense of speed in its graphics, while the 3DO version was commended for its advanced visuals and grunge-based soundtrack. Road Rash was released to critical and commercial success, and became EA's most profitable title at that time.
The effort to license the music of Soundgarden for the title led to the inclusion of other alt-rock bands such as Monster Magnet and Swervedriver. The 32-bit versions of the game feature 25 minutes of live-action full-motion video footage and a soundtrack primarily consisting of licensed grunge music courtesy of A&M Records. The game includes combat elements that were inspired by the violent behavior of Grand Prix motorcyclists during races, and the resulting uncertainty surrounding the game's genre created conflict between EA's development team and management. After initial development of Mario Andretti Racing for the NES proved impractical, focus shifted to a motorcycle racing game for the more powerful Sega Genesis.
Road Rash was conceived by EA as its first title following the company's decision to begin developing games internally. It is the debut installment in the Road Rash game series. The game is based on a series of road races throughout California that the player must win to advance to higher-difficulty races, while using a combination of fisticuffs and blunt weaponry to hinder the other racers. It was subsequently ported to a variety of contemporary systems by differing companies. Road Rash is a 1991 racing/vehicular combat video game originally developed and published by Electronic Arts (EA) for the Sega Genesis.