Plot: What’s it about?
The mark of a good game is that you can pick up the basics quickly, but enough depth is present so that you need to hone your skills to master the mechanics. Rotastic is a prime example of that concept, as you can jump right in and hold your own, but there is a lot of depth to master. The premise here is to navigate each stage via hooks, then complete your objective while avoiding a plethora of pitfalls. The objectives change from level to level, some are collection based, others are boss battles, and some just task you to live through the experience. While being able to finish is nice, you can earn tons of points with creative hook work, item collection, and a quick run. Rotastic hands you a trophy after each stage, so you can gauge your performance and if you latch onto a platinum one, you can see where you rank on the global leaderboards. So even after you’ve won over a stage, you’ll be driven to return and try to best your previous efforts.
The single player campaign offers 70 levels in 7 different worlds, so there is a wealth of content to explore. With so much room to improve your scores, you could spend a lot of time with Rotastic and never be bored. I mean, 70 levels is impressive, but add in the replay appeal and you’ve got a remarkable value. But the game doesn’t end with the single player adventure mode, as there is also a multi-player mode for up to four participants. You can either race your enemies to collect the most items, or tangle in a deathmatch mode to eliminate the competition. Sadly only local play is offered, but you can experience these modes against bots, if you don’t have a full foursome. The inclusion of on-line play would have added a massive cherry on top of Rotastic, but that is the lone complaint I have. The game has fun, deep mechanics in the campaign, awesome visuals, and some multi-player modes, so Rotastic earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The visuals here are terrific, with some fun, creative designs that help the game stand out from the crowd. A cartoon inspired overall approach really suits the 2-D mechanics, as well as being just plain cool to watch. The enemy designs can be downright hilarious and the animation is rock solid as well. You’ll see vikings, skeletons, boars that eat sausage, chickens, and so much more, so this is just a real visual treat.
Audio: How does it sound?
The sound design is whimsical and fun, so a perfect fit for the visuals and overall tone of the game. Even in moments of defeat, the sound effects will get a chuckle from you, so that is always good. The music is brisk and never gets annoying, which is always a plus. All in all, a great sound design that fits the game like a glove.
Supplements: What are the extras?
N/A
