Skitchin’

Skitchin'

Overview & History

Released by Electronic Arts in 1994 exclusively for the Sega Genesis, Skitchin' arrived at the height of the 90s extreme sports craze and served as the spiritual successor to Road Rash. Rather than motorcycles, players take control of rollerblading daredevils in a dystopian near-future setting where economic collapse has turned highway transit into a brutal bloodsport. The storyline follows a renegade skater competing in the underground "Skitchin' Circuit" across North American cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. The game is famously celebrated for its aggressive heavy metal and grunge soundtrack, alongside its unique premise that combined high-speed inline skating with vehicular combat.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around "skitchin'"—holding onto the bumpers of speeding cars, trucks, and police cruisers to build extreme velocity without wearing out the skater's stamina. Players can detach from vehicles at will to launch off ramps, weave through heavy traffic, and collect scattered cash. Combat is central to survival; skaters can punch, kick, or use a bizarre assortment of melee weapons picked up from fallen opponents, including chains, pipes, switchblades, nunchucks, and even dead fish. Upgrading gear between races using prize money is essential to keep pace with increasingly aggressive rival racers and hostile drivers who will brake-check or swerve to knock players into obstacles.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause