Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe

Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe is described as a challenging 3D platformer where you roll down slopes trying to destroy everything in your path while avoiding obstacles that will destroy you. What makes this a deluxe version is a mystery, as there wasn’t any information on this in the press kit or online. The original version has been taken down, so there must be differences, but I can’t tell you what those are, unfortunately. There’s not much to say on the developers, Solid Neon Games either, with the only information I could find on them being that they are based in Spain. 

The mystery continues with the game itself as you’re thrown straight into the action without so much of a clue on what is happening or why this happy pink ball alien thing is wanting to destroy everything. No context at all is given, and also no tutorials are available. You’re left to figure it out old school; there’s a game within the game with trying to figure out systems and mechanics. This was fine back in the ‘90s when we had instruction books to refer to, but here in the 21st century it just isn’t the way. I did feel clueless most of the time, and I was still figuring out stuff half way through the game.

I also felt unattached to the game because there was no plot. I would have liked to know why this pink ball alien thing decided to do this. Is there a plot to destroy their race, and this is the only way to stop it? Is it just for giggles? I never found out. This feeling though made it so I was just going through the motions and not really caring about the game as much as I normally would. Now, some would say that I’m missing the point; this is clearly an arcade game; it doesn’t need all this context; just get on with it, but even arcade games manage a thin, silly plot that leans into the fun of it all, and that’s what I was missing here. 

But that’s the negative out of the way, and what is it that you are actually doing here? Well, as mentioned, you are controlling a Kirby-like ball alien creature thing down slopes with the goal of grabbing a big gem that’s waiting for you at the bottom. This is obviously not as easy as it sounds, with many dangers waiting to stop you. These are mainly spike fences and saw blades that will pop you like a balloon, and if that happens, it’s back to the start of the level. Level design is pretty good, with a nice variety on show, and it never felt stale, though I would have liked to have seen a few more themes as there only seems to be two in the game, a desert and forest style world. Imagine trying to roll down a slope covered in ice or trying to avoid moving animals or flames. That would have been a fun addition. 

Apart from the gem at the end, your other main objective is to destroy anything that’s in your path. You are given a set number at the start of the level, which, if you match, will earn you a gold medal and effectively 100% that stage. Buildings, cars, trucks, and even wells are just some of the structures that will meet their doom, and this destruction was rather satisfying. It has been implemented well, with satisfying reactions when you hit them. Sometimes hitting a building will send you in a different direction, which can lead to reaching buildings that are in a more challenging position. I did enjoy the momentum-based physics on show, and they have been implemented well and incorporated into the gameplay in a satisfying way.  Along the courses, there are little pink or blue tokens to pick up that give you certain powers to use. This was one area that I struggled to figure out, as I didn’t really know what they did or when best to use them. When I finally got it, they became rather handy, with the pink giving you a boost and the blue an electric shock to destroy out-of-reach structures. It’s a nice addition that did give the gameplay that little bit more and stopped it from becoming stale.

You can earn points when you finish a stage and gain extra if you manage to match the required target for destroyed buildings. Yet again, I didn’t really know what these were for, as nothing was said at any point. But with some digging around, I found a completely different section of the game where you can spend these points on blind bags. These reward you with new skins and outfits for your pink ball alien thing, and that’s all you can use them for. It would have been cool to unlock extra stages, a new mode, or just something to give me more incentive to gain as many points as I could and give the game extra longevity.

The visuals and sound design were a highlight, though. I warmed instantly to the graphics, with it so colourful and cartoony, and how the stages were represented. Sound design was fine; it was on a loop, playing constantly, even through the respawning loading screen (which lasted a couple of seconds). There’s a mixture of lo-fi-style tracks, with a couple of uplifting ones thrown in too. They never grated or made me want to turn it off, but it didn’t get my foot tapping either.