Skitchin'
| Skitchin' | |
|---|---|
 European cover of Skitchin | |
| Developer(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Publisher(s) | Electronics Arts |
| Designer(s) | David Warfield |
| Artist(s) | Jack Snowden |
| Composer(s) | Jeff van Dyck |
| Platform(s) | Sega Genesis |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Skitchin' is a video game for the Sega Genesis, developed and published by Electronic Arts in 1993. The game puts the player in control of an inline skater who has to ride his inline skates while holding onto cars, bikes, and trucks (an act called skitching). Players have this character defending and attacking computer-controlled opponents while racing to the finish. Winning races earns the player's character money. The game has a similar design structure to other video games such as Road Rash. Following its release, it received generally negative reception.
Gameplay
Skitchin' is a racing game in which the player controls an inline skater who must race against other skaters through various locations such as Denver and Vancouver. Players accomplish this by skitching, i.e. hanging off the backs of moving vehicles, in order to increase their speed and pass other riders. By picking up weapons from the ground, the player can attack other players either on the road or while skitching on the same vehicle. Players progress through each race by placing in the top five, with each stage adding new obstacles such as trash cans, differing vehicle behavior, and police cars. Cash earned from winning races, performing tricks, defeating enemies, and successfully skitching vehicles can be used to upgrade and repair the player's inline skates and protective gear, which wears as the player takes damage. The game ends if the player runs out of health, gets caught by the police, or cannot afford to replace worn out skates.
Release
The game was promoted with a magazine advertisement which used the headline "Skatin', Hitchin', Bitchin', Skitchin'". Electronic Arts associate publicist Fiona Murphy recounted, "The American Slang Dictionary defines the word bitchin' as 'good, excellent, superior.' Our use of the word was with this meaning in mind and was not intended as profanity. Skitchin' is an action-packed, hard-core street game, and we felt the word bitchin' in the headline ... reflected the attitude of the game and also conveniently rhymed with 'Skitchin."[1]
Reception
Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game a 5.8 out of 10, commenting that "The graphics are nice and the game has tons of options (like the nice two-player mode), but play it once and you get the idea."[2]
References
- ↑ "Buyers Beware". GamePro (60). IDG. July 1994. p. 156.
- ↑ "Review Crew: Skitchin'". Electronic Gaming Monthly (56). EGM Media, LLC. March 1994. p. 36.