Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Skitchin’ puts you in the wheels of an inline skate enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for a quick thrill—and a quick payday. From the moment you hit the pavement, you’ll be weaving through traffic, grabbing tows from unsuspecting cars and buses to pick up extra speed. Each level challenges you to maintain your momentum, fend off rival skitchers, and master the art of strategic drafting behind vehicles. The core mechanics of grabbing and holding onto vehicle bumpers feel surprisingly smooth, striking a satisfying balance between risk and reward.

Combat is integral to Skitchin’, and it borrows heavily from the Road Rash formula. You start each race armed with basic weapons—crowbars, chains, even spiked clubs—ready to bash opponents who get too close. The controls are intuitive: a button for swings, one for blocks, and another for quick boosts, so brawls break out naturally as you pedal furiously. Opponents range from timid beginners to ruthless street racers, and you’ll need quick reflexes and smart weapon upgrades to survive the more cutthroat circuits.

Between races, the game thrusts you into a light RPG-style upgrade system. Money earned goes toward new skates with better handling or speed, more durable protective gear, and stronger weapons. Choosing how to allocate your cash is a game in itself: Do you invest in boots that grant tighter cornering or focus on a heavier club that can knock riders off balance? This progression loop gives Skitchin’ lasting appeal, rewarding steady play and careful money management.

Graphics

Visually, Skitchin’ rides the same pixel-powered wave as its Road Rash inspiration. The environments are varied—urban boulevards, suburban streets, and even boards that take you into industrial zones—and each locale has distinct landmarks that break up the monotony. The sprite work captures a mid-’90s arcade vibe with bright colors and bold outlines, though some texture detail can feel blocky by modern standards.

Character animations are surprisingly fluid for a SNES/Mega Drive-era title. Skaters lean convincingly into turns, wobble when hit, and perform wipeouts with a satisfying cartwheel that sends their skates spinning off-screen. The vehicles you latch onto scroll smoothly beneath you, and the occasional sprite flicker only adds to the feeling of breakneck speed. The simple but expressive enemy designs make it easy to distinguish between a novice skitcher and a homicidal street racer.

Special effects are kept to a minimum but used effectively: sparks fly when metal meets metal, and motion blur streaks emphasize your forward momentum during speed boosts. While you won’t find high-definition textures or dynamic lighting, the retro aesthetic and crisp animations hold up well and deliver a sense of energy that matches the game’s high-octane premise.

Story

Skitchin’ doesn’t burden you with an elaborate narrative; instead, it offers a loose framework: you’re an underground skater traveling city to city, competing against rivals for cash and reputation. This bare-bones setup works in the game’s favor, keeping the action front and center and letting your imagination fill in the backstory. Are you a former pro turned rogue? A thrill-seeker trying to make ends meet? That’s for you to decide.

Each new locale introduces its own set of antagonists and atmosphere. You might face a gang of rollerblade bikers under the streetlights of a neon-lit metropolis, then find yourself up against a posse of over-the-hill stunt skaters in a sleepy beach town. While text blurbs between stages hint at rivalries and rumors—“Watch out for Razor in Chicago!”—the story never feels bloated. Instead, it fuels your drive to progress and see what scuffles await around the next corner.

The game’s minimal storytelling also allows interest to remain firmly on gameplay progression. By weaving upgrades and escalating difficulty into the stage transitions, Skitchin’ crafts a sense of journey without heavy exposition. You’ll feel a genuine rush as you move from rookie status to feared street legend purely through your own in-game accomplishments.

Overall Experience

Skitchin’ is a product of its era—raw, challenging, and undeniably fun. If you’re a fan of high-speed racing with a generous helping of hand-to-hand combat, this title delivers thrills at every skate stop. The arcade-style structure makes it perfect for quick pick-up-and-play sessions, while the upgrade system gives you long-term goals that keep you invested.

Prospective buyers who grew up during the ’90s rollerblading craze will find a heavy dose of nostalgia here. But even modern players unfamiliar with the period aesthetic can appreciate the tight controls, strategic depth, and inventive fusion of racing and brawling. Sure, the graphics and sound design reveal their age, but the core gameplay loop remains satisfyingly addictive.

For those seeking a new indie rollerblading title, look elsewhere—Skitchin’ is best enjoyed as a retro throwback. Yet if you’re drawn to classic action-racing hybrids or you’re simply curious about a title that dared to take Road Rash’s formula off the asphalt and onto inline skates, Skitchin’ offers a memorable ride through traffic, weapons, and underground competitions. Strap on your skates and hang on tight: it’s going to be a wild ride.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10