
The stakes are higher for losing a fight with a police officer than for losing to another player: Losing a fight with an officer or being caught by an officer while off one's motorcycle would cause the player to be "Busted" and the race would end. They fight the player as another opponent, and they also serve as game play enforcers by policing the back of the pack and culling players who fall too far behind or choose to explore the world rather than race in it. The motorcycle police officers have dual antagonistic roles. Fights between riders to knock each other off the bike would often go on at high speeds through traffic, pedestrians and roadside obstacles, with the victor gaining place and the loser sustaining bike damage and losing time. The weapons themselves ranged from clubs, crowbars, nunchaku, and cattle prods. The player would initially start off with just his or her hands and feet, but if the gamer timed a punch right, he or she could grab a weapon from another rider. The player could fight other bikers with a variety of hand weapons. Aside from high speed, big-air, and spectacular crashes, what separated Road Rash from other racing games was This was also one of the earlier games to feature active traffic, which created a more immersive and realistic environment, as the player had to contend with slow moving station wagons and the like while racing against other bikers. Road Rash also introduced an interactive race environment, with street signs, trees, poles, and livestock, which could interact with the player's vehicle. This resulted in the ability to launch one's motorcycle great distances, resulting in often amusing crash animations. In Road Rash, players had to contend with grade changes, and the physics, though rudimentary compared to today's games, reflected the act of going up or down a hill, as well as turning while climbing, etc. Ost traditional older racing games, the player's vehicle remained on the same horizontal plane, negotiating turns essentially by going right or left. Road Rash boasted a smoothly-rendered vertical element, which was uncommon on consoles at the time. The game is over if the player can't pay for the repairs when their motorcycle is wrecked, or can't pay the fine for being arrested. This money allows the player to buy faster bikes which are needed to stay competitive. Placing in each race gives a certain amount of money which increases considerably as levels progress. As levels progress, the opponents ride faster, fight harder and the tracks are longer and more dangerous. Presented in a third-person view similar to Hang-On, the player competes in illegal road races and must finish in the top 3 places in every race in order to proceed to the next level.
