Motorcycle gangs, not too long ago, were racing through America's cities and across its deserts, running over every innocent person or unlucky animal that crossed their path, all while beating up any police officers bold enough to chase after the asphalt outlaws.

Video games could be that taboo -- and somehow still draw a "Teen" rating -- in the 1990s. Funded by mega-publisher, Electronic Arts, 18 versions of Road Rash were released across 13 gaming platforms from 1991 to 2003. Once the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube came out, though, Electronic Arts decided it was time to scrap every upcoming Road Rash project (including one for PlayStation 2 and one for GameCube), and instead, put all of the company's racing investments into NASCAR games, Criterion's up-and-coming Burnout series, and the popular, kid-friendly Need For Speed brand.

Road Redemption, the first game from New Orleans developer, Darkseas Games, aims to fill that vacated space in the abandoned combat racing field, where 15 years ago, Road Rash ruled.
 

If you own a Windows PC, you can play an alpha version of Road Redemption right now, but before you click "Order Now," know that this early-June build is closer to an initial prototype than a final, polished demo, as it's still missing most of the features that are being promised for the title's September STEAM release. Interested players will also want to have an Xbox 360 pad plugged into their PC, though the game does support cumbersome keyboard and mouse controls.

Currently, up to four people can race (via split-screen) in eight missions of increasing difficulty, set along one desert and one snow environment. Traffic patterns range from an easy-going, one-way flow to the metal-bending, glass-breaking carnage of cars being whipped around the road by a virtual tornado like they were weightless Hot Wheels toys.

Melee weapons include a metal bat, spiked plank, sledgehammer, shovel, lead pipe, billy club and katana. The bloody hand-to-hand combat even features a parry button to block opponents' swings, which (if timed properly) creates an opportunity for a counterattack. Unfortunately, there is no way to jam pointy weapons into enemies' tire spokes ala Road Rash 64. Explosive, fuse-timed weapons like C-4 and pipe bombs are presently the only items that let players perform one-hit kills.

Your rider's inventory can hold up to three weapons at once, plus players can use the directional pad to switch items on-the-fly. Even without a weapon, you can still kick rival bikers off the road or into oncoming traffic by pressing the B button. The game is designed to encourage as much combat as possible, since enemy knockdowns will yield cash bonuses and extra weapons, in addition to partially refilling your red health bar and blue nitro meter.
 

Right now, the racing aspect of Road Redemption is more about avoiding wrecks and simply staying upright on your bike, as opposed to seeking out secret off-road shortcuts, or expertly taking each turn at its apex. This isn't MotoGP 14 -- nor should it be. But the current crash physics do seem to be a little too forgiving, as it takes a massive head-on collision to knock your rider off his bike; slams and scrapes into the rears and sides of vehicles will only slow you down slightly, even when both drivers are motoring over a hundred miles per hour.
 

Releasing on STEAM Early Access at “the beginning of September,” Road Redemption plans to offer a lengthy Career Mode that can be played with up to four people, either over the Internet or in local split-screen. Quick-hitting multiplayer modes like Last Man Standing, Race, and Team Race will also work locally or online for up to four human players. AI bots can even be thrown into the mix to multiply the on-screen madness.

Inspired by the mainstream success of independent titles like Spelunky, The Binding of Isaac and Rogue Legacy, Road Redemption's single-player campaign will give gamers one life to complete a sequence of missions taking place inside randomly generated environments (cities, canyons, forests, etc.). Missions will include tasks like “assisting one gang in taking out another; attracting as much police presence as possible; or taking down an 18-wheeler that's being escorted by a cadre of enemies,” according to Darkseas Games.

Like in Rogue Legacy, your character in Road Redemption will be able to permanently raise his attributes and gain new gear by spending experience points that are earned during each playthrough. An in-game shop will also appear between levels, where players can buy single-use items to temporarily make themselves stronger. Both types of buffs can only be bought with the fake currencies that you earn from playing the game (there is no pay-to-win microtransaction system), though the store-bought items' benefits will expire once your rider dies.

Along with the weapons in the alpha version, the final game aims to include grappling hooks, jet packs and a variety of guns. Road Redmption's arsenal, which will feature shotguns, magnum pistols, submachine guns and grenade launchers, is using shooting controls “similar to Red Dead Redemption,” where players were able to fire at enemies while riding atop a horse. Guns and explosives will be able to destroy cars, which should help gamers blow apart any potential hazards or road blocks. Riders can reduce the damage they take from gunfire by wearing Kevlar armor.
 

Should You Buy Road Redemption Right Now?

At the moment, Road Redemption does not contain enough content to merit a $25 purchase. However, your $25 will also give you access to all future PC revisions -- including the upcoming STEAM release. So the project could soon become a worthwhile investment for fans of the combat racing genre, despite the fact that its developers can't offer much more than a hopeful promise as of today. The team is already taking design and gameplay feedback on Road Redemption's online forum, so at the very least, this alpha will give early adopters a chance to influence the direction of Darkseas Games' final product.