Showing posts with label 2004. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2004. Show all posts

Monday, June 19, 2017

Roger



Another Atari STe game, anyone?

Spot... Erm, sorry, Roger is a fast-paced 25-level platformer released by Tobe of MJJ. It offers a frantic run through various Sonic-like levels collecting jewels for our rather demanding girlfriend, Georgette. However, this "platformer" has many jewels - without any ladders or (very few) ledges... So how will Roger complete her task?

Bubbles, of course! All he needs to do is jump on one and, when it bursts, the force thrusts him upwards. If there's another bubble, then the cycle continues and he uses that speed and momentum to reach each of the jewels. Roger has limited health, so it's advisable to avoid the sharp spikes that burst on contact to drain valuable energy. Thankfully, power pills can be collected to compensate for that but they are few and far between.


This is what it's all about and Georgette is pretty much a babe with her luscious red lips!


Quick Reactions R Needed!

Use the joystick to walk left or right and the fire button helps Roger leap with joy via the bubbles. Once you begin bubble-jumping, it's "simply" a matter of altering your trajectory towards the next bubble, whilst collecting the nearby jewels, as you zoom through the air. Previously burst bubbles will reappear after a second or so and that aspect cunningly allows you to revisit the areas that you might have missed during your insane journey.

Want a tip? Learn the level layout as you're hopping about like a crazy fool!

Are you getting a little worried about how deranged this game sounds? It's not nearly as stupid as you are thinking because the mechanics of bubble-hopping work brilliantly. In some ways, I got a Sonic vibe from it but, unlike that silly hedgehog, Roger is zooming around your screen in all directions. It's a maddening thrill and you'll love it.


Check out that stride, gotta love those lanky legs!


How's it look and sound?

The graphics are a mixed bag; Roger's sprite is superb with side-splitting animation and I could watch those lanky legs for hours!! The framerates are frighteningly fast with smooth scrolling thanks to the Blitter coprocessor. Sadly, the in-game decor is quite a disappointment thanks to drab backgrounds that only change every 5 levels.

Sound effects are crisp and perfectly suited to the style: I like the explosion sound for the spikes and magnificent chipmusic plays throughout. Well, I say magnificent but that's because I cannot think of a better word - WOW - I could listen to them all day long!! This certainly proves that chip music will last forever and rightly so.



Finally, a different background after the first few levels and it's much nicer too.


The CryptO'pinion?

Roger is quite a unique experience and feels like an airborne Boulder Dash meets Sonic. Yes, it's weird and something I would never have expected but it's also easy to pick up and play. Just learn the location of those jewels: that might take some practice and will be a little disorientating at first, but stick with it and I guarantee you won't be able to put down the joystick. Hopping from bubble to bubble is stupid but frantic fun.

Roger's gameplay is legendary. Extremely addictive with an extreme adrenalin rush!! Play this.

Roger can be found lurking on Demozoo and Pouet for floppy disk and hard drive installation.
Tobé excellent archive is fully detailed on Demozoo, although he did stray a little ;-)