Skitchin' is best described as "Road Rash on roller blades". It uses an interface and structure that is very similar to Road Rash (as you can see in the screenshot) and was also developed/published by EA. As the name implies, Skitchin' is based on the act of "skitching", where you grab onto a car while riding a skateboard, roller blades, bike, etc., although Skitchin' only uses roller blades. The act is very dangerous of course - to the point that the game has a big "Warning" to not attempt at home right when you boot it up. EA's lawyers must have warned them that they might face lawsuits for introducing a dangerous new hobby to our nation's youth...
Skitchin' is a series of Road Rash style races, where you skate into the distance along several miles of road with scenery and obstacles along the way. Beyond standard racing, Skitchin' incorporates some extra strategy because you need to grab onto cars and slingshot yourself forward for maximum momentum, and then, find a new car to skitch when your momentum starts slowing down. Without skitching, you'll always finish last. With it, you might go from 5th to 1st with one or two good slingshots. Like Road Rash, you can punch or use weapons during races but it's more often a novelty than good strategy. You can also buy upgraded equipment from the money you win on races. You can perform tricks off jumps during the race too, which earns bonus cash. The controls are not as good as Road Rash - while the steering is smooth, I had some troubles latching onto cars and executing other moves.
Bottom line: Skitchin' is an under-the-radar game for a reason. While it uses the Road Rash formula, the Road Rash series on Genesis is superior, with better gameplay and more fun. On pure gameplay, Skitchin' is an average game at best. But it's unique concept earns it bonus points and makes it worth a look for Road Rash fans. Skitchin' is a Genesis exclusive and sells for about $10 loose and $20 complete.
