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 a demanding girlfriend, Georgette. This "platformer" has many jewels - without any ladders and few ledges. So how will Roger complete this 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 momentum to reach each other 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.
Okay, let's take a break from the reading as I've a sexy picture to share...
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 a matter of altering your trajectory towards the next bubble - whilst collecting the nearby jewels, as you zoom through the air. Burst bubbles reappear after a second or two, and that aspect cunningly allows you to revisit the areas you might have previously missed during this insane journey.
Want a tip? Gotta learn the level layout as you are 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 think because the mechanics of bubble-hopping work brilliantly. In some ways, I got a Sonic vibe from it but, unlike that hedgehog, Roger is zooming around your screen in all directions with one primary goal.
It's a maddening thrill being Roger and you'll love it, so let's see another screenshot...
Check out that stride - gotta love those lanky legs!
What about the aesthetics?
The graphics are a mixed bag; Roger's sprite is superb with side-splitting animation - I could watch those lanky legs for hours!! The framerates are frighteningly fast with smooth scrolling thanks to the Blitter. Sadly, the in-game decor is quite a disappointment with 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 chip music plays throughout. Well, I say magnificent but that's because I cannot think of a better word - I could listen to them all day!! This certainly proves that chip music will last forever and rightly so.
Right then, let's see one final screenshot before the gripping climax...
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. It's weird and something I would never have expected to enjoy. It's easy to pick up and play and I guarantee you won't be able to put down your joystick. Hopping from bubble to bubble is stupidly frantic and I loved every second of it.
Roger's gameplay is legendary. Enormously addictive with an extreme adrenalin rush!! Play this.
Roger can be found on Demozoo and Pouet for floppy disk and hard drive installation. Tobé's archive is detailed on Demozoo, although he did stray a little ;-)
