Rollerdrome is a third-person skater-shooting game set in a post-apocalyptic future. Roll17 developed it with Private Division as the publisher, released on Aug 16, 2022. It features tricks you pull off on your rollerblades while shooting away at opponents in the arena.
In between matches, you learn that the Matterhorn corporation behind the event is up to something. It’s a mixture of exploring the mysteries while remaining alive for as long as possible. Read more about what the game is about in this exciting Rollerdrome review.
A malicious corporation in Rollerdome
Welcome to the Hunger Games on rollerblades. As much as there’s a focus on the action and shooting, Rollerdrome actually has a background story that will keep you intrigued. It will make you want to complete the levels quickly to see what happens next.
A dark and twisted future
Rollerdrome is set in 2030 in the not-so-distant future. Massive corporations have taken over, and the world is a complete mess. To keep the populace happy and entertained, they’ve created huge arenas where champions compete for life or death. Humans either face other humans or against bots that spawn.
The Colosseum with rollerblades
The science fiction game takes us to a future that’s much like the past. Imagine Colosseum environments where the crowds watch as you destroy anyone that comes before you. The trick is that you need to do so on rollerblades, as running around on your feet is simply boring.
Mystery and intrigue
The corporation behind the entire event is called Matterhorn. The reason why this is important becomes more relevant later in the story. While I won’t spoil too much for you, suffice it to say that the company has some secret plans that you discover, putting you in a difficult situation. Somehow, you need to keep skating and surviving so you can stop them.
Multiplayer leaderboard
Once you progress further into Rollerdrome, you’ll unlock a mode where you can challenge other players for the top scores. You won’t ever see them, so it’s not a PvP multiplayer mode. Instead, you’ll complete maps and then compare your points with others on the leaderboard.
How long to play Rollerdrome?
If you manage to master the gameplay mechanics and proceed quickly through the 12 levels in Rollerdrome, it will take you about four hours to complete the game. Gamers like me that want to collect every token and complete every challenge can expect anywhere up to six hours. Once you unlock the multiplayer leaderboard mode at a later stage, the game time possibilities are endless.
Rollerdrome shooting and skating action
I’ll leave the rest of the Rollerdrome story elements for you to work out. I’m eager to get to the gameplay aspects, as that’s where all the action is. It’s also the only exciting segment.
The tutorial for Rollerdrome
When you venture into Rollerdrome, your champion needs to qualify to take part in the tournament. In other words, you’ve entered the tutorial. The game shows you the essential controls and what you need to do to survive. It’s effective, and it won’t be picky about small things you do wrong.
Skating around the Rollerdrome arena
Here’s the fun part. As soon as you press up on your controller’s left stick, your champion starts skating. You don’t even need to hold it in, as the character continues on her own. From there, you can turn left and right as needed, making your way around the various arenas.
The maps have different layouts, mostly consisting of ramps and hills. There are also glass windows meant to keep you in, but you can break through them for the fun factor. However, it’s clear the audience must be watching from home, as there’s no one in the grandstands. It’s probably safer that way with bullets flying everywhere.
Shooting enemies and missiles
That brings me to the next part of my Rollerdrome review. You don’t only skate, but you’ll also have to shoot enemies that appear in the arena. They teleport in, and you’ll have to clear all of them to complete the level. There’s a slight penalty for how long you take to do so, so you need to kill them quickly.
Rollerdrome makes the shooting action intensely fun. It’s the most enjoyable part of the game. After you ramp up in the air, you can slow down time to aim and kill enemies from the sky. If you run out of ammo, just perform a few tricks to restock. You also need to watch out for missiles heading your way, which you can target and blow out of the sky or redirect back to the enemy.
I should spend a moment explaining some of the enemy types you’ll encounter. First, you’ll see brawlers who wait on the arena floor to bash your head in. Then there are the long-range snipers trying to kill you from afar. Later, you’ll see more advanced opponents, such as massive mech units and guys with rocket launchers. Luckily, you’ll get better weapons at later stages.
Perform tricks without failing
Another enjoyable element of Rollerdrome is that there’s little chance you’ll fall on your face when performing a trick. Tony Hawk, eat your heart out. Even if you’re spinning in the air when you meet the ground, your hero automatically adjusts so as not to crash. This feature keeps the action going and avoids frustration with all the enemies around you.
If you really want to show off, you can dodge a bullet at the last moment while pulling off a trick in the air. It’s the most satisfying movement in Rollerdrome I’ve experienced so far. I jumped up a ramp, spun around and held my blades to restock my ammo, and then dodge a sniper bullet as I came back down. The moment was epic, and I even received a trophy/achievement for it.
I bet if I was trying to do that intentionally, I would have failed.
Various missions and challenges
The stages in Rollerdrome aren’t simply about skating around the arena and shooting enemies. That’s right; there’s more. Every map has specific challenges for you to complete. Future levels and arenas require that you complete a certain number of these tasks to unlock them. One element to look out for is a blue or orange token, which is usually part of the objectives. You’ll need to ramp up or perform a trick to obtain it.
Exploring the bases
When you’re not skating around on Rollerdrome, you’ll be in your locker room or within the base of the arena. There are items lying around for you to explore, which is where the story element comes in. You’ll be investigating what the corporation is up to and making a plan to stop them.
Alternatives to Rollerdrome
It’s quite obvious from the start that Rollerdrome is much like a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, just with blood and mayhem. In a way, it’s also like Tron Bike Stunt Racing 3d Stunt Bike Racing with the action and destruction. Put Quake Champions on rollerblades, and you get a general idea.
Rollerdrome PC requirements
If you want to enjoy all the action, bullets, and chaos that will ensue in Rollerdrome, you’ll need a computer with decent specs. It doesn’t take up too much space, but it’s the memory and graphics card that are important. Here’s what you’ll need:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2125/AMD A12-9800
- Storage: 4 GB
- Graphics: GeForce GT 630/Radeon HD 6770/Intel Iris Pro 580
Basic graphics and pumping sounds
After I played the game for a few hours and before I wrote my Rollerdrome review, I went to have a look at what some other players and reviewers were saying about it. I was shocked to see that most of them love the graphics while not enjoying the gameplay. I’m clearly a different type of gamer, as my opinion is the other way around.
Cartoonish graphics with complex environments
I wasn’t all that impressed with the graphics. It’s basic at best, with a 3D cartoonish layout that seems to try and be like the good old days of gaming. I feel more could have been done to make Rollerdrome look spectacular. Just making different, huge maps with destruction everywhere doesn’t do it for me.
Interesting characters and opponent designs
The one element of the visuals that wasn’t too bad was the character and enemy designs. Sure, there’s a lot of copy and paste, unfortunately. Still, the developer put some thought into what each type of enemy should look like, even if they usually look the same on different maps. You’ll know a sniper when you see it, in other words.
Fast-paced music to match the action
The music was enjoyable, and it makes you want to tap your foot while skating around the arena and blasting at enemies. It matches the comic art style of the game while making your heart beat with every note. Also, yay for voice acting, which was delivered beautifully.
Final Verdict of Rollerdrome
Rollerdrome is actually an enjoyable game. I didn’t want to put my control down at the end and longed for more. Sure, there’s the Out for Blood mode where you can compete with leaderboards, but I really enjoyed the missions. Once you get past the unimpressive comic graphics, you’ll love flipping in the air, pulling tricks, and shooting weapons.
However, it’s back to Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure for me, which has me hooked. Mirror Forge is set to expand on the demo that’s currently available, and I also want to spend some more time with the mobs on Minecraft. See you next time, and be sure to check out my other Softonic articles.
Pros
- Skate, jump, dodge, and shoot
- Intense, fun action
- Several challenging levels
- A new take on the skating genre
- An intriguing storyline
Cons
- Graphics aren’t that impressive
- No PvP multiplayer mode
Developer: Roll17
Publisher: Private Division
Game Modes: Campaign, multiplayer leaderboard
Platform reviewed: Windows 11 – Steam
