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ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS Review – Out Now on Nintendo Switch

RocketsRocketsRockets Screenshot
ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS Review – Out Now on Nintendo Switch
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Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Steam

Game Name: ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS

Publisher: Radial Games Corp

Developer: Radial Games Corp, Loren Bednar, Dr. Kimberly Voll, Lindsey Jorgenson

Genre: Action, Sports, Strategy

Release Date: November 15th, 2018

ESRB Rating: Everyone

ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS (hereafter known as Rockets because all-caps offends my delicate sensibilities) is probably the closest a game has come to completely summarizing itself in its title. Indeed, the developer description highlights this with a rather concise brief “ROCKETS fire ROCKETS at ROCKETS” (that’s the last time I’m writing that word in all capital letters).

Rockets is an arcade-style shooter featuring a 2D environment, where the titular space vehicles duke it out for supremacy. This is very clearly a party game at heart, and everything is kept relatively simple; the titular rockets are all armed identically with an array of missiles, bombs and mines to deploy in fast-paced combat.

RocketsRocketsRockets Quick Match Menu

Game modes are split between standard battles and zen, which simply allows you to fly about with weapons disabled. I found the latter mode to be largely unnecessary, but I suppose it could be relaxing under the right circumstances. The battles can be fought against AI or against up to three other players locally; this can be done in a free-for-all configuration or in any arrangement of teams. There is, to my surprise, no online mode. This is a pity, as the AI makes for a meager challenge that soon becomes repetitive.

Star Crazy

The action itself is quite enjoyable, if lacking in depth. The three weapon types make for a good set of destructive tools, and while forward-firing missiles are a little more prevalent than the mines or bombs, it feels like all three options see a lot of use. A selection of power-ups range from time dilation to changing the size of weapon projectiles, and these can be toggled from the settings menu.

Beyond this, the game feels quite rudimentary in it offerings; I would have liked to have seen customizable load-outs with different kinds of weapons available – anything to increase the longevity of the game.

Sparkling or Flat

Aesthetically, Rockets is sometimes dazzling, and its many-colored rocket trails can weave an appealing dance across the screen. I was disappointed to find that each stage featured the same background, however.

Speaking of the stages, there are few on offer, but only the “battleship” stage noticeably added new threats or challenges. That being said, my favorite was a vertically-aligned arena that simply forced combat into a more restricted environment.

Come on Baby, Light My Fire

Rockets is a fun little party game that anyone can pick up and understand within a couple minutes. Conversely, it doesn’t take long before the full breadth of its offering is apparent; a lack of additional modes and customization options severely limits the longevity of Rockets.

The absence of an online mode is a real shame, as this would provide Rockets with more value as a pick-up-and-play action game, but as it is, this will have to wait for when a few friends are about for local action. As a local multi-player game, Rockets certainly offers a fun, short-term blast, but if you want a game to take you through most of an evening, Rockets may not have enough fuel.

ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS is available via the Nintendo Game Store, the PlayStation Store and Steam.

[xrr rating=”3/5″]

Watch the Nintendo Switch trailer for ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS below: