RoadKill (video game)

RoadKill

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	2003
Founder	Terminal Reality
Products	RoadKill
Parent	Midway

RoadKill is an open world vehicular combat game created by Terminal Reality and released by Midway in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Promoted as "the only mission-based combat driving game set in a post-apocalyptic world," it blends open-world exploration with mission-centric gameplay and vehicular combat.

Gameplay

The gameplay of RoadKill draws strong parallels to Twisted Metal, incorporating mission-driven advancement alongside open-world features reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Players operate heavily armed makeshift vehicles, undertaking missions and freely roaming to boost their criminal reputation by attacking enemy gangs, destroying cars, and creating mayhem.

Starting with a single vehicle, players unlock additional rides by completing missions or discovering "blueprints" scattered throughout the city. These vehicles include heavily customized classic muscle cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans outfitted with mounted machine guns. Players can also obtain or purchase extra weaponry such as rocket launchers, guided missiles, and explosives, all with limited ammunition. Certain assignments require players to manage turret guns while driving.

The primary goal is to elevate the player's criminal status through gang confrontations, vehicle destruction, and participation in street racing. The game world consists of three distinct cities, each featuring a unique boss encounter that unlocks access to the next region. Progress depends on completing storyline missions and tasks assigned by gang leaders, which also grant new customizations, weapons, and vehicles.

Vehicle upgrades enhance performance metrics like speed, armor, and ammo capacity. These improvements can be bought at garages using in-game currency. Vehicles fall into categories: standard or gang-affiliated. Operating gang vehicles provokes attacks from rival gangs, while driving law enforcement vehicles results in hostility from all gangs, increasing overall challenge.

A "Riot" system intensifies pursuit by police-like gangs called Sentinels based on the player's criminal actions. When reaching the highest Riot level, players enter a "Survival" mode where they must evade Sentinels until escaping or collecting a peace sign item.

Plot

Following the outbreak of a lethal disease known as "The Rot," which causes societal collapse, violent gangs battle relentlessly across Hell County in the United States. The county is divided into three zones: Lava Falls, Blister Canyon, and Paradise City.

Mason Strong, a lone survivor turned drifter, allies with the Sentinels under their leader Axl, eventually becoming second-in-command. The Sentinels take control of Paradise City as Axl pursues domination over rival gangs and subjugation of survivors. However, Axl’s greed drives him to attempt Mason’s assassination. Surviving this betrayal, Mason seeks vengeance by joining the Daredevils—a punk gang with a clown motif led by Uncle Woody. After being falsely accused of treason, Mason kills Woody and flees.

Subsequently, Mason aligns with the flamboyant Section Eights led by ex-military General Warwick and his deputy Gunny to combat the Talons gang. After eliminating Talon leaders Drake and Gordon Grim, Mason joins the South League—a football-themed black gang based in Paradise City. He battles their enemies, the Dreg Lords, rescues South League leader Knox from the Sentinels’ captivity, and leads an assault against the Dreg Lords.

With the Dreg Lords weakened, the South League turns its focus on the Sentinels. Mason delivers explosives and sabotages Axl’s propaganda broadcasts using bomb-laden remote-controlled cars. As Axl’s influence diminishes, Mason confronts him in a climactic showdown at city hall featuring a customized monster truck. Mason destroys Axl’s vehicle; although Axl survives initially, he is ultimately killed after being run over by a bus. With Paradise City under South League control, Mason receives a distress signal from other survivors and drives off to provide aid.

Reception

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, the game garnered reviews that were generally described as "mixed or average" on all available platforms.