Roll7 has returned from the success of their recent OlliOlli World and is back, this time with a fresh new IP that harks back to the future painted through the era of the 80s movie. You know, the future – the one who portrays a suffering world, yet each chooses to ignore the ugliness for his own sinful gratification. Into this world comes a new form of entertainment, a blood sport that bears the name ‘Rollerdrome’. Everyone comes in, but only one leaves. Who will it be?
It’s Rollerball starring Tony Hawk
put in a dystopian In the future, instead of using its technological advances for the better good, humanity has transitioned into a society where mega businesses have become the law and rule for the sole purpose of profit and exploitation. Free will is anything but a dream as these companies control everything from what you eat, you see, even what you wear – everything! Despite the total lack of individuality, the world is at peace because there are no more wars and crime has been abolished under this communist-like corporate regime.
And while that may be enough to cause a riot, it seems the companies have been able to keep things in check. That’s because a new king of sports and reality TV has taken the lead in entertainment, giving people a way to vent their frustration with endless hours of bloodshed. The first of its kind, a blood sport known as “Rollerball,” pits teams against each other in a skating arena where spectators will witness some of the most gruesome, horrific acts ever shown on national TV. A crazy idea that would undoubtedly never become acceptable today, but in this retro-future alternate reality, people absolutely love it.
That’s the general plot of the 1975 movie Rollerball, which sees the star James Caan (RIP) dresses up as the sport’s headliner to take on these mega-corporations to prove they can’t control it all. It’s a fun movie, or so I thought at the time, and while this review is about Roll7’s Rollerdrome, one can’t help but draw similarities between the two IPs.
In fact, this probably isn’t the first review you read that makes this comparison, and probably won’t be the last. The plot of Rollerdrome is basically that of Rollerball, except that instead of starring the talented James Caan, a character more closely resembles the athleticism of the legendary Tony Hawk.
Kara Hassan is the newest entrant to the Rollerdrome competition and like many rookies, they hope to become the reigning champion one day. It’s a simple plot that isn’t that deep at all compared to the movies it was inspired from – at least it doesn’t seem that way at first glance.
The Rollerdrome Championship is divided into four quarters, namely; The opening stage, quarters, semi-finals and finals. Each quarter has a certain number of matches, but it’s the parts between these quarters that give players a little insight into the world that accepts a blood sport like Rollerdrome. You learn that the event is run by a company called ‘Matterhorn’. Though welcoming at first, you soon begin to realize that this entertainment business isn’t all it seems, as a darker secret begins to unravel as you progress through the ranks.
Your co-stars have their own background stories that you learn from emails, news broadcasts, newspaper clippings, and other material. You learn that while the championship is underway, there is a rebellion outside taking a stand against the laws enforced by the corporate giants. This rebellion is made up not only of the common people, but also of former teammates and champions who once played under the banner of Matterhorn. If you listen closely to some of the radio chatter and off-screen conversations that take place during the campaign, you’ll slowly begin to paint the bigger picture of what Matterhorn is really capable of, and how far they’ll go to suppress the truth.
It is a story about corporate corruption and the oppressed people who live beneath it.
Now I may be exaggerating the story, because again, it takes place largely in the background and only serves as small pauses between the action. But I really enjoy that Roll7 is trying to establish some sort of world building here, even if it lasts very short in the end. It certainly piqued my interest enough to hope that this isn’t the last time we see Matterhorn or the greedy world that Rollerdrome is set in.
Enter the Thunderdome
If you’ve played Roll7’s previous titles, especially the most recent OlliOlliWorld, you probably already know what you’re getting yourself into. However, if you’re new to the studio and Rollerdrome happens to catch your eye, don’t blink and don’t look away, as this is definitely going to be one of the most unique experiences you’ve played all year.
At its core, Rollerdrome is an arena shooter where the target is the last one standing. A classic mode that many of you are probably familiar with. But to spice things up a bit, instead of running around a map, you’re outfitted with a hip pair of roller skates. A bit of a silly idea, but one that is executed spectacularly.
Imagine if the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games had guns, with heavily armored enemies scattered around the rink trying to kill you. That actually sounds pretty cool, and it is, as it is fully realized in Rollerdrome.
You will be dropped into levels designed as skate parks. There are rails to grind, ramps to dismount and even halfpipes to shred on. While the goal is to take out every NPC on the field, there are other goals that players can take. The most prominent is the scoring system itself. While the game does not contain any PvP elements, it does have an online leaderboard where players can compete against each other for the highest score.
Players earn score points every time they perform a trick and increase their combo for each NPC killed. Like Roll7’s OlliOlli series, there are a variety of different tricks players can perform to increase the score. It gives it that Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Skate vibe, and for anyone who’s played those games, you know how ridiculously fun it is to go around and deliver these fun and addictive feats.
These tricks serve more than just adding some flash to the game, as the mechanic interacts with the gunfight itself. Ammunition is not unlimited, and the only way to get more is by performing these tricks. Sounds like a bit of a hassle, but trust me, once you start rolling it all starts to click. There’s a challenge, especially in the late quarters of the game, but there’s room to breathe as you rush through an arena.
Enemies spawn all over the map, leaving plenty of room to perform tricks, recover ammo, and then eliminate an NPC. It has that perfect flow.
The gunplay itself isn’t that bad either. While you can aim freely, which is actually really hard to do, it will automatically lock if you get close enough to a target. That may seem like a strange decision at first, but it allows you to keep skating freely without having to struggle with the camera. Plus, you can perform tricks and shoot at the same time, making you look and feel like a total badass. There’s even a reflex mode that slows down time and lets you aim or dodge in real time. Yes, that’s straight out of Max Payne and it’s awesome.
If for some reason you’re worried that Rollerdrome might be a little too hard, don’t, because the studio has you covered there. Tucked away in the game’s menu are a number of help options. If you want to play risk-free without worrying about ever dying, you can turn on god mode. Maybe the game is too fast for you? Well, there is a slider to decrease the game speed. Is the reflex mode too short? Here’s an option to let you use it for however long you want. Or maybe you just want to ignore challenges and make progress? There is also an option for that.
Since this is a single player game, having those options is definitely nice for those who need it. For you score hunters out there, don’t worry about these assists skewing the leaderboards as they disable the recording once one of the assists is enabled.
44 developers signed up, one exceptionally designed experience is leaving
For a studio that has spent most of the decade creating games that can usually be categorized as 2D experiences, their first venture into the full 3D world of gaming was certainly a risky one. However, risks are why we love the video game industry. It allows people to create something new, something unexpected. Yes, sometimes they fail, but every once in a while you get a title that feels so refreshing, so beautifully crafted that it inspires others. I think that’s Rollerdrome. Ultimately, we are the audience, and Roll7 is James Caan defied the odds and beat the big companies at their own game. We chant their names and want more as they skate the rink for one last round of victory. This is an exceptional game that hopefully has a bright future ahead.
Rating: 10/10
Pros
- Gameplay really knows how to get the adrenaline pumping. Perfect mix of high octane skating mixed with gunfights. Pure fun.
- Stylish cel-shaded visuals that really help to dystopian future in which the game takes place.
- The levels are well designed and make the most of the gameplay.
- Fantastic soundtrack
- Nice nod to worldbuilding.
cons
- The length is on the short side, but the price reflects that.
A review code for Rollerdrome has been provided by the publisher and played on the PS5. you can read MP1st’s rating and scoring policy here.
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