Flashback inspired shooter goes fowl

Play Rocketbirds Revolution at rocketbirds.com.

When you read the features list of Rocketbirds! Revolution, you may get the impression that the game is the most revolutionary video game to hit the market since Super Mario Bros came out on the NES. Nine, action packed levels, full of suspense and mind bending puzzles, with more weapons and innovative items than “any game in the history of video games.” I’m wondering now if these claims are intended to be serious or if they’re going right along with the design teams sense of humor because while it’s certainly not the epitome of video games, Rocketbirds Revolution is a solid game.

As Hardboiled, a rooster with a mean streak, buff physique and dim mind, you must lead a revolution against Putski, a cowardly, anxious penguin with an army of albatross followers at his disposal. His right hand man, a cigar chomping albatross general with a Schwarzenegger like voice and a personal grudge against hardboiled, calls the shots. It’s the same story we’ve heard before but it’s told with such character that you won’t mind hearing it again.

Rocketbirds features great humor and even greater visuals.

The amazing intro video and cutscenes for RB certainly help this cause. Great camera angles, dynamic movements, solid soundtracks, all done in Flash; the Ratloop team really nailed them down tight. It would be easy to mistake the work for a big budget action game, they’re so darn good.  This game sets a solid bar for flash based animation.

On top of that, Rocketbirds has an impressive and captivating art style. The backgrounds are cleanly done, making it hard to tell at times whether they were all hand painted or if 3D renders were blended together. Yet what really gives the game its pizazz is the team’s attention to lighting. Many Flash games achieve good gameplay and style but rarely do they hit the mark it comes to lights. Rocketbirds may be set in the same old place but the lighting brings the drab concrete walls of the bunkers and subways to life. There’s very few secondary animations throughout the levels but, though it would have been a nice addition, the solid texture work more than make up for it. 

Rocketbirds is a decent side scrolling shooter. Aiming isn’t an issue since you can only shoot straight ahead of you, yet despite it’s simplicity, the game is still quite difficult. Taking on one guy is easy enough but more often than not you’ll find yourself outnumbered and outgunned. Worse still is that whenever you’re shot, you get thrown into the air, incapable of fighting back. It works both ways of course, allowing you to juggle your enemies around but getting caught in a crossfire can lead the a very unpleasant death. Like any good shooter, quick reaction times are essential.

Hardboiled is one big chicken and all that muscle really bogs him down. I’m unsure if this was intentionally done to make the game harder but the sluggish controls can be pretty frustrating, especially in a shooter. It’s easy to overshoot gaps, run off edges or, better still, run right past an enemy giving them a free shot. Instead of just stopping, hardboiled takes a few stutter steps to regain his balance which, realistically, makes sense. This time, Ratloops amazing animation skills work against them. That small bit of lag time meant game over more than a few times for me. Luckily Hardboiled can roll, so you can still make some quick escapes when you need to. 

Controls aside, Rocketbirds really is a fun game to play. The gunplay is quick and though your movements are slow, aiming is not. The impressive sound effects for the guns in game are a definite plus, giving them that extra oomph they need. Your weapons of destruction are pretty straightforward; your standard machine gun, shotgun and pistol trio. Grenades and “brain bugs” are included but these are too hard to aim in combat and usually kept for the “puzzle” sections of the game. Rocketbird’s puzzles are relatively simple, requiring you to retrieve a key card or take control of a guard with a brain bug and have him clear sections of the level for you. Nothing any seasoned gamer couldn’t handle.

Hardboiled is one big chicken, but all the muscle really slows him down. Hold down 'Z' to run.

When I first played Rocketbirds I really wasn’t that impressed. I loved the art right from the start but took their claims on their promotional page too seriously. Picking it up again, I have to say that it is a solid game, worth the 10 bucks you’d have to shell out. It’s not groundbreaking in the least but the awe inspiring Flash animations alone would be worth the money. Unlike many games, Rocketbirds starts off strong and finishes with a bang. No lackluster endings here people. Check it out and help the Cock of War free us from the oppression of the rubber necks who think they control us. --Review By Craig

score
  out of 5

Art: Amazing Flash animations. Beautiful Texturing and Lighting. Great sound effects. Great graphical style.

overall
4.4

Gameplay: Simple shooting fun and enjoyable. Sluggish controls can be frustrating. Still a challenge despite simplicity.

Design: Those darned impressive animations.