Rocket: Robot on Wheels is a strong first outing for Sucker Punch that unfortunately never left much of a legacy.
A collectathon, the game utilizes Banjo-Kazooie's approach to level design by focusing on small-scale levels with collectibles (in this case, tickets and tokens instead of puzzle pieces and music notes) that you can grab all in your first go -- no move-gating like you see in Banjo-Tooie and DK64. The smaller scale allows the game's unique moveset and surprisingly robust physics engine to take center stage. Players need to manage Rocket's speed carefully, as conserving momentum plays a key role in many tricky platforming situations. The game otherwise tasks players with using magnets, tractor beams, an ice ray, and plenty more in a puzzle- and physics-laden venture. At its high points, Rocket: Robot on Wheels is genuine, interesting, and loads of fun.
Taking only about 9 hours to 100%, Rocket: Robot on Wheels adds up to a lean, exciting experience that stands out amidst other more traditional fifth-gen 3D platformers, even if its flavor of puzzly physics-based platforming doesn't ultimately reach the same quality as run-and-jump classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Mario 64.
Similarly, there are a few sour points that hold the game back from the top of the genre. The levels are fairly lifeless aside from generic enemies that can be dispatched with one one tractor beam ground pound. When combat isn't a focus, enemies don't contribute to a level feeling "populated." The level design as a whole is not especially colorful or memorable, which diminishes the quintessential collectathon experience of wandering around a 99% completed level searching in vain for that last missing collectible. Finally, while the game's physics-based approach to movement is overall very impressive, the occasional vehicle or move is simply clunky, unresponsive, or just plain boring to use.
If you like collectathons and can tolerate some early 3D game jank, Rocket: Robot on Wheels deserves a look, both for its quality and for its unique approach to the genre.
A collectathon, the game utilizes Banjo-Kazooie's approach to level design by focusing on small-scale levels with collectibles (in this case, tickets and tokens instead of puzzle pieces and music notes) that you can grab all in your first go -- no move-gating like you see in Banjo-Tooie and DK64. The smaller scale allows the game's unique moveset and surprisingly robust physics engine to take center stage. Players need to manage Rocket's speed carefully, as conserving momentum plays a key role in many tricky platforming situations. The game otherwise tasks players with using magnets, tractor beams, an ice ray, and plenty more in a puzzle- and physics-laden venture. At its high points, Rocket: Robot on Wheels is genuine, interesting, and loads of fun.
Taking only about 9 hours to 100%, Rocket: Robot on Wheels adds up to a lean, exciting experience that stands out amidst other more traditional fifth-gen 3D platformers, even if its flavor of puzzly physics-based platforming doesn't ultimately reach the same quality as run-and-jump classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Mario 64.
Similarly, there are a few sour points that hold the game back from the top of the genre. The levels are fairly lifeless aside from generic enemies that can be dispatched with one one tractor beam ground pound. When combat isn't a focus, enemies don't contribute to a level feeling "populated." The level design as a whole is not especially colorful or memorable, which diminishes the quintessential collectathon experience of wandering around a 99% completed level searching in vain for that last missing collectible. Finally, while the game's physics-based approach to movement is overall very impressive, the occasional vehicle or move is simply clunky, unresponsive, or just plain boring to use.
If you like collectathons and can tolerate some early 3D game jank, Rocket: Robot on Wheels deserves a look, both for its quality and for its unique approach to the genre.