Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Browsing through the recently rechristened Xbox Live Indie Games Marketplace can seem like an excursion through a virtual red-light district. However, between the assortments of sordid massage programs, sophomoric fart apps, and drinking titles, steadfast gaming can be found. Developer Halfbrick Studios’ last two efforts- Blastoff and Echoes, each presented players with a skillful, retro-influenced diversion worthy of recommendation. Recently, the Brisbane-based team released their third indie title, Rocket Racing.
Like their two previous titles, Rocket Racing’s strengths lay in its distinctive visual presentation, and the exploration of play mechanic that conceals an unforeseen amount of depth. While some games maintain a player’s interest with an evolving gameplay play style, Halfbrick’s efforts remain stalwartly static, increasing the level of mastery required for success. For Rocket Racing, that proficiency will require an atypical amount of dedication from players. Players with an inclination toward frustration may want to sidestep this title.
The goal of Rocket Racing is simple- players are required to steer a hypersensitive craft around a scrolling playfield in the shortest time possible. Each of the game’s forty stages offer an escalating variety of objects- from acceleration boundaries that speed up your rocket when players get precariously close to edges to zones that prohibit firing your afterburners. Additionally, stages have varying race routes than range from circular lap courses, twisting paths, and the occasional checkpoint, which requires players to quickly reverse direction after crossing a threshold.
The title’s futuristic vehicles use one of two main control systems. Rocket Racing’s default method uses the Xbox controller’s triggers to engage the craft’s left and right thrusters. Powering just one engine rotates the ship accordingly, while firing both boosters propels the rocket forward. While straightforward in concept, controlling the ship is quite daunting at first. Even with the game’s secondary control style, which use the stick to steer and a single trigger to boost, navigation is tricky. Rocket Racing’s low-gravity setting subtly recalls Blastoff, requiring players to constantly monitor their trajectory. Initially, controlling a ship felt like learning how to ride a bicycle, as players wayward steering will likely send them careening into walls. Perseverance, however, can reward players with a sense of satisfaction.
Gamers that beat preset racing times will win one of four medals (bronze, silver, gold, and the pinnacle- brick). Once players amass enough of these rewards, a new set of courses is unlocked. Sadly, only the best players will be able to see all of Rocket Racing’s levels, as qualifying race times become increasingly difficult to obtain. Making a single error on later stages tend to prohibit players from earning the more exotic medals- meaning players will be pressing the game’s reset button with feverish intensity.
With a wealth of tracks, a local multiplayer mode, and a gameplay mechanic which demands a substantial amount of training time, Halfbrick’s Rocket Racing has the potential to absorb several hours of your leisure time. Players that are both impervious to frustration and committed to domination will likely adore the title’s tenacious challenge. Those with less dedication will likely flounder in the game’s initial stages, before moving on to another more temperate recreation. While Rocket Racing’s three dollar admission price is exceptionally meager, the investment of time into the title’s control scheme is sizeable.
Never heard of this. I really haven’t spent any time with indie games on the 360.
Wow, sounds too hard for DE! This game broke him like a bronco.
We get it. This game is hard. You must have said that ten times in the review.
I assume there’s a demo. I’ll try it.
For three dollars you can buy the T-Pain Iphone app. Now, that’s money well spent.
I tried it, but it was sooo damn hard to control that it felt broken.
I liked Echoes, but Blastoff was balls hard, too.
Looks like a 2D F-Zero with a bit of drifting, am I right?
I like these 2D style games. First time I heard of this game.
Is T-Pain paying you a dime for every spam message of what?
Tried the demo. It’s really hard to get a hang of, even with the stick. I almost threw the controller at the wall.
I’ll give it a go. $3 seems cheap enough. You can buy 20 of these games for the price of one regular game.
I totally agree with what you said about the indie games. Way too much crap is allowed online.
Hard is good, right?
I went ahead and purchased it. I’m currently stuck trying to unlock the second set of tracks. WOW.
Still it pretty fun, especially with others.
So it got a C+ even though it’s basically unplayable for 95% of people. That makes sense!
I can’t get enough clocks and screensavers. Jeesh, its a wasteland.
This game just kick my ass, took my name, and called me Sally. I felt like I was drunk.
I bet I can clear all the levels in a single sitting!
I’ll take that bet!!!
Yeah, the indie games don’t get much love.
Demo didn’t do anything for me.
Usually, yes!
I recently purchased this, and I dig it! While the learning curve on the control scheme is pretty steep, it’s clever and fun to learn. It just takes patience and skill. Once you start to get somewhat familiar with the controls, the feeling of being in the zone, but on the verge of careening out of control, is strangely addictive.
In some ways this game is a bit like an action/puzzle game. You have to figure out how to take turns most efficiently, and then pull them off. It’s definitely not for everyone, but some will really enjoy it (like me!), and it’s only $3!
What control method are you using?
The default, “Reversed”.
Experience intense speed and intuitive control with Halfbrick Rocket Racing! Use the two triggers to fire up rockets on either side of your craft, and simply alternate power to drift, slide and grind your way around over 40 tracks. Check out for the further information on http://www.techarena.in/review/33623-halfbricks-rocket-racing-review.htm.