When Konami releases a game you can be sure that (a) it's
going to be good and (b) it just might be another classic. Ten minutes after
starting to play Rocket Knight Adventures and you'll be sure to know where this
one is headed. As a Rocket Knight it's up to you to save the kingdom from some
evil pigs that invades and tries to run the show. Having kidnapped the princess
you are the only hope for her rescue and with your jet backpack and sword no
pigs are going to stand in your way.
The graphics in RKA is beyond cool and the only other games
that I've even seen come close to containing this much detail and speed are
made by Treasure. The game is at times more arcade action than platform and
there is literally never a dull moment. Enemies attack in droves and you'll
have to make use of every trick in the book to escape unscathed. Stages look
excellent and there is sometimes more going on in the background than in the
foreground of some lesser games. Some excellent graphical tricks are used so
sometimes you have to travel in the foreground before switching to the background
while other times the only way to see platforms is to look in the reflection of
some lava below you. This not only keeps the game looking top notch but also
makes for some challenging obstacles.
Although the majority of the game is platforming action you
don't wear a rocket powered backpack for nothing. Sometimes you take to the
skies in a side scrolling shooting section that rank up there with the best of
them. The sections where you fly through space even feature homage to Gradius
with a similar sounding background tune and enemy patterns. Your main sprite
can run, jump, attack with his sword and use his backpack for a variety of
different attacks and tricks. It can be powered up to hurl you into the sky or
into an enemy with your sword extended. It can also be used to spin your around
in a devastating sword attack or simply to boost you over obstacles.
Boss battles are a sight to behold and some of these things
will really get your pulse racing. Most of them also don't know when to quit so
just when you think you've finally nailed the bugger it come back even
stronger. With only a few lives and continues it's going to be a while before
you've completed the game but it is well worth the effort. This is one game
where the more you play it the further you'll get and all enemies and bosses
has patterns that you can figure out to make your life easier next time around.
The game has a cool sense of humor and some stages have a
little scene at the start or end to show what's happening next. This can range
from shooting out of cannon unto a spaceship or smashing through a wall to the
next level. Konami hasn't skipped on the presentation and this game is as fun
to watch as it is to play. The amount of animation's and details are awesome
and there is always something funny hidden in the background or amidst the action
that will make you chuckle.
Anyone who has played a few Konami games will know that
these guys know how to do a descent soundtrack no matter what the system.
Rocket Knight Adventures feature some great tunes but that silly take on
Gradius ranks as my favorite. The sound effects don't disappoint either and
overall the audio fits the game perfectly. You only have two buttons to worry
about and as you'd expect everything is responsive with tight controls and
great collision detection.
There is almost nothing I can fault about this game, the
difficulty is high but the addictive gameplay will keep you coming back for
more. With huge sprites and tons of effects the action never slows down and visually
this game impresses. There is only a normal and hard difficulty mode so be
prepared for an awesome challenge. The levels are long and hard and sometimes
you'll just wish for a password feature, especially toward the end where the bosses
attack thick and fast. Rocket Knight Adventures is far from just another
platform game and packs enough gameplay tricks and innovations to draw in even
jaded players.
[9/10]
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