Roadkill (video game)

Roadkill is a 1994 futuristic combat racing game developed by Vision Software for the Amiga platform.

The game is set in a world where races are broadcast as violent spectator entertainment to mass audiences. Players begin by selecting from a roster of vehicles, each differing in performance, durability, and other characteristics — a choice the reviewer emphasizes as requiring careful consideration. Before each race, a qualifying round determines the player's starting position on the grid. During races, objectives are threefold: destroying as many opponents as possible (the primary source of in-race earnings), finishing the race alive, and placing as high as possible for additional prize money and track record bonuses. Weapons and power-ups, including homing missiles, can be found scattered across the track or are awarded by race officials.^[1]

British magazine CU Amiga reviewed the game twice, once for regular Amiga and once for Amiga CD32, with the reviewers scoring it at 85%. Likewise, Amiga Power and Amiga Format also reviewed the game twice. The game was also reviewed for Amiga Computing.^[2]

Sebastian Babczyński who reviewed it for the Polish magazine Świat Gier Komputerowych was largely enthusiastic, but raised two significant criticisms: the in-game money and reward system felt purposeless, and the lack of a multiplayer mode — considered a notable drawback for an Amiga title — brought the gameplay score down from a potential 9 to a 7. In a postscript, the reviewer noted a last-minute decision to raise the final score to 8.^[1]

The game also received numerous other reviews in contemporary game video press (in titles such as German magazines like Amiga Joker (twice) and Play Time.^[3]