7 Nov, 2011
Name: Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken
Platform: PSN
Developer: Ratloop
Publisher: Ratloop
Tagline: Kill tons of evil Penguins, while rocking out to an exceptional soundtrack
Family Friendly: While Rocketbirds plays up death with a wicked sense of humor, it does have you killing numerous birds, each dying in a ball of blood and explosive blood. Mix in the idea of possession that can only end with a self-inflicted bullet to the head and you might want to keep this title for the elder children in the family.
While some people seem to think that penguins are lovable, cute creatures that are dressed for success, they are far from it. Instead, penguins are evil, maniacal creatures that are looking to take over the world on a moment’s notice. Thankfully, Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is here to keep those pesky frozen birds at bay, keeping the world safe for the rest of us.
Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken does not do much to change the formula for a side scrolling shooter, but instead looks to put its own spin and flavor on the story rather than trying to add unique mechanics. Think of Rocketbirds as more of an Oddworld type game, where you are battling foes, but also mixing in puzzle solving on a regular basis. Sure, it is nothing that will require a Master’s Degree from MIT, but it does switch up the pace and reduce the tedium that can come from a side scrolling title.
But it is not the mindless killing of your penguin enemies that never show much intelligence in their patterns of attack, but the story and music that really set Rocketbirds apart from the competition. As you play through the main story, you unlock animated cut scenes that start to tell the intriguing and depressing story. Yes, we find out more about our hero and how he came to be, but we also learn so much about the dystopian place where these two factions come from and the lack of any other way than war.
Also accompanying your Chicken’s killing spree is a great, industrial/electronica soundtrack provided by a band called New World Revolution. I had not heard of this band before this game, but as I worked through the main game, the beats and rhythm from this soundtrack had me running to my digital marketplace to pick it up. It is really that good, and the music does offer a lot of weight to both the cut scenes and the gameplay.
Strange enough, while I loved all the cut scenes, music and basic gameplay, there are a few things that keep this title from perfection. While I did appreciate the simple gameplay, it does become very repetitious. Sometimes, new mechanics work their way into the repertoire, like brain bugs that take over your opponents, but it normally revolves around running down corridors and shooting endless waves of enemies. Worse is that the title element of the game, is one of the worst parts of the game. The flying segments where you fight other enemies are terrible, with a lack of control and enemies that seem to have a better grasp of the airborne mechanics than you. They are spread out enough, but they just kill the momentum of the game when these levels show up.
For the price tag though, Ratloop does create a solid title that is a lot of fun to listen to as it is fun to play. Sure, Rocketbirds won’t win any awards for originality, but it does not have to when it earns it success from being a ton of fun to play. Who knew that murdering so many hapless penguins would be so cathartic for the soul.
The Good:
- Wicked soundtrack, that becomes infectious with its groove
- Fun gameplay
- YOu kill tons of those penguins that are overpopulating the Anarctic continent
The Bad:
- Becomes a bit repetitive in later levels
- Jetpack sections are confusing and annoying
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