I have to say that I wasn’t sure what to expect from this game. Judging by the cover it could have been any genre. I was very pleased to see that it was an old-school looking (all the rage, oddly enough) 2D shoot-em-up. It’s like someone took over stages from Super Mario Bros. 3 and started to blow the hell out of them. But we all know that judging a book by it’s cover can lead to serious disappointment – doubly so in the world of video games, I think.  So how does this unassuming game stack up in the gameplay department? Only one way to find out, eh?!

Long story short, a pirate named Blockbeard has taken away your legs and the legs of all the other people in your city. Revenge will be taken upon him and his underlings by you in the form of hot death – provided of course by rocket launchers. So there you are, flying around a 2D/3Dish level with a jet strapped to your ass. Blowing the hell out of your enemies is the goal here – but not the only goal. Eighty levels await you ranging from a football-type arrangement to a barrage of cannons zeroed in on your position at all times. Blocks blow up to great particle-laden effect and regenerate after a short while. This makes for some great strategic positions as the blocks grow back around you. Power ups rear their heads in various forms (my favorite is the giant bomb-like rockets) and add that much more to the hectic pace as the tide can turn in a second. The now standard regenerating health bar is in full effect, which is always nice. Multiplayer modes are par for the course but fun nonetheless. A full eight person match is fast and incredibly frustrating but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Really the only drawback that Rocket Riot suffers from is the obvious problem of repetition. I’m not saying you can’t get into it, but long stretches may not be the thing for most players. Then again, depth has never been this genre’s strong point so what do you expect. I made it about twenty levels then I had to put it down for a day. Smaller issues include the areas that seem like filler and some of the more annoying power-ups (I’m talking to you POP Flag…douche).

This is pretty much a no-brainer. All issues aside, Rocker Riot is fast, furious fun by yourself or with a friend – that’s what this game is all about. And it’s worth every one of the 800 credits that costs. Get some.