Rollerdrome Review (Dog)
Rollerdrome is relentlessly overwhelming.
It's the sort of challenge you'd get after meticulously placing the late-game skill checks of Tony Hawk, Bayonetta and Doom Eternal into a cohesive whole. It is merciless in its expectation that you'll be bringing your sharpest reflexes and absolute focus. Indeed - when you play Rollerdrome your brain must be dedicated to Rollerdrome - as breaking concentration guarantees a break in combo.
But there's a mathematical perfection in that difficulty, earn a time slow down and you'll have to make a split-second decision on how to cause the most damage with whatever ammo you’ve got sitting in reserve. Do you chip away at a nearby tank to guarantee a safe landing or risk sniping a far-away polybeam to give your combo a longer buffer? Rollerdrome tests strategy and resourcefulness as frequently as it tests precision, but it still leaves ample room for player expression and creativity. You’re rewarded with bonus points for each unique trick you perform so there’s a lot to keep track of during the thick of combat, even my ADHD-riddled brain is thrown into a teeth-gritting heart-pounding flow state.
This is all presented through brutally sharp stencil outlines and sound design that nails the rupture of large stadium sports. Rollerdrome is loaded in atmosphere, I'm particularly fond of the short "run up" to an arena - a much needed moment of calm and anticipation in contrast to the violence and chaos of the match itself.
Seeing this game falling short of an "overwhelmingly positive" rating initially surprised me, but the more I think about it the more I realise Rollerdrome isn't for everyone. If you've not played the prerequisite inspirations that are being built upon here then that oppressive atmosphere could feel suffocating, especially with a rather monotonous tutorial. On the other hand, if you are within the audience that Rollerdrome is targeting, then you're looking at a game that's not going to leave your rotation until you've mastered it.
Rollerdrome is relentlessly overwhelming, and I know that's exactly what some of you are after.