Review by CuriosityKilledShawn

Road Avenger was one of the games Sega used to promote the Sega CD system on its launch. You can see why when looking at clips from the game. The graphics are wonderful and to the naive it would seem looks like a living anime cartoon that you can control. But looks can be deceiving.

The story had you play as an ex-cop who is out to avenge the death of his new wife, who was driven off the road by a gang of Mad Max style bandits. The game is a first person driving game but not in the usual style of Out Run or Formula One or such. In fact, all you were required to do was to push the control pad in the right direction.

As the car you drove would pass through varied territories like urban down town, the forest, desert canyons etc a direction (either up, left, right or brake) would appear on the screen. If you push that direction the car would continue on its rampage, otherwise you would crash with a generic death animation.

It was fun if you got the game right and the car would tear through buildings and stuff, while scared pedestrians would look on in amazement. The music was also cool and I wish Sega released a soundtrack CD as some of the level tunes and the main theme song were great.

Sadly, Road Avenger was about no more than pushing buttons. It was the most linear game I have ever played. Even if you chose what direction the car took it would have been slightly re-playable. But it wasn't.

Graphics A Sound A Gameplay D Lasting Appeal D