Rollerdrome – Review
Rollerdrome expertly combines the thrill of roller skating with the difficulty of third-person shooter gameplay. There is a wide variety of opponents, environments, and difficulty levels to overcome throughout the game.
So many times in Rollerdome I died, but every time I did, I pressed the Replay button to try again. Some games are ridiculously challenging for no discernible reason, while others have a steep learning curve and challenging goals but are still enjoyable. Thank goodness that’s the case with Rollerdrome.
If I were given a choice of ten games at random and Rollerdrome was one of them, it’s not likely that I would pick it. Rollerdrome, on the other hand, has a charming comic book aesthetic and an unusual mix of gameplay elements, making it a must-try. Even among our top games of 2022, it is deserving of a spot.
Despite being published more than 20 years apart and featuring vastly different visuals, Rollerdrome and the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game feel remarkably similar. Even though I only recently played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (thanks to the free PS Plus version), the first level of Rollerdrome brought back a flood of fond memories.
Tricks, obstacles, and levels are present in both games, with Rollerdrome’s levels being more aesthetically distinct. The use of firearms is a significant departure. While Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater centres around performing and perfecting skateboarding tricks and combos while racing against the clock, the protagonist of Rollerdrome is on roller skates and must eliminate all of the enemies in order to progress.
Rollerdrome satisfies a gaming itch I’ve had since I got Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for free but haven’t had the chance to scratch. Rollerdrome had had moments where I felt like I was just punching buttons because I had forgotten the button combinations that went into a certain stunt. My button mashing became more calculated and my tricks more impressive as the game progressed.
For me, the best kind of instructional is an interactive one, and Rollerdrome delivers just that. There are a number of tutorials to go through before starting the first level, and you’ll need to demonstrate competence in a given ability before going on to the following lesson. You can’t just “wing it” through your initial level of tricks; instead, you have to acquire the proper technique. The most of the tutorials are shown before the game’s first level, however there are a few smaller ones sprinkled throughout.
The level’s target time and the 10 available tasks are displayed on a dashboard view before you begin the level. Time and score are displayed in-game, and a progress bar appears as you finish a task.
House players and other adversaries populate each level, and you must eliminate them before they can finish you off. You may simply switch between different guns mid-level, and some monsters can only be defeated with a specific type of gun. Your ammunition will be used up as you continue to fire at foes. You can get more bullets by performing stunts like grabs, flips, and grinds. When things became hectic on a level, I found that grinding on a neighbouring rail refilled my ammo quickly and easily.
Then, you’ll have to defend yourself from attackers while you roller skate about aiming to complete challenges and eliminate the competitors. Throughout the game, you’ll encounter both ground adversaries that can be killed by getting too close and snipers that can be killed by being too far away. The good news is that you can avoid both of these assaults; the bad news is that you’ll need to strike a careful defensive/offensive balance to progress through each level.
Okay, so you’re thinking, “rolling skating and shooting adversaries at the same time sounds much too difficult to be fun,” and I have some good news for you. No, it’s not at all. Okay, in Rollerdrome at least. There are two key components that make this unconventional pairing so successful.
The first is a mode called Reflex Mode, which provides slow-mo while allowing for rapid camera movement. If you’re in the air, grinding a rail, or just skating past an opponent, you can activate Reflex Mode without sacrificing any of your momentum or agility. Second, killing foes does not necessitate the sharpest aim. While you do have to aim roughly at your target, you’ll get a visual cue as to when you’ve actually made contact with the bad guy.
Play through four distinct tournaments, each having their own unique number of levels. To advance to the next chapter, you must first complete a set amount of challenges spread over all previously unlocked levels. There is no penalty for completing fewer than all of the challenges at a given level. When you’ve completed the required number of challenges, the next chapter will become available.
I was reminded a lot of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater by Rollerdrome, especially with how difficult it might feel at times. Many of the games I could play as a kid were tougher than the ones I enjoy today. There was a noticeable slowdown in the introduction of new video games, and publishers and developers appeared to intentionally make games more difficult so that players would spend more time with each title before moving on to the next big thing. (Anyone else old enough to recall the 1990s remember the Lion King and Aladdin video games? Extremely difficult!)
I thought I had a firm handle of the controls after breezing through the tutorials, yet I only got a D on the very first level. There are four levels, from “D” at the bottom to “A” at the top. When I went back and tried to challenge myself by playing the first level again, all I was able to do was get a C. Ranking A will be extremely difficult to achieve and will be sought after mainly by those with exceptional skill or by those who simply enjoy seeing perfect scores.
That being said, each time I was knocked out, I was driven by rage that made me return even more formidable and speedy the next time around. The more you play, the more you’ll pick up on the subtleties of each level and develop your own unique approach. If you don’t finish a level in the allotted time, you’ll keep playing until everyone is dead, but your score will be penalised.
My inner perfectionist is rejoicing because there is so much content to complete in this game. As you progress through each level, you’ll face a series of 10 obstacles, some of which will be far more difficult than others. The greatest difficulty is in placing A at the top of a level. In a nutshell, Rollerdrome’s challenge is frustrating but ultimately rewarding.
Anyone can have a great time playing Rollerdrome, in all honesty. However, if you have fond memories of playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater as a kid or enjoy playing third-person shooters, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this game.
Rollerdrome is a departure from the types of games I usually play as an adult, but it’s a lot of fun anyway. From a third-person perspective, you’ll get to experience a fresh blend of trick-based gameplay and high-speed roller skating. I know you’re probably feeling like you want to shatter something or toss your controller across the room, but trust me when I say that this is one gratifying game.
