I’m constantly amazed by just what flash games can do these days. It wasn’t too long ago when we were lucky if we even got a decent Pac Man clone via flash. Today, however, there are great strides being made using the technology. Games, for example, are being created that are more on the level with what you’d expect out of a real gaming experience as opposed to a meaningless time waster. Today, that game is Rocketbirds.

Rocketbirds is a flash-based action platformer. I’d liken it very much to games like Metroid or the newly released Shadow Complex (more of the latter actually). However, what Rocketbirds brings to the table that neither Metroid nor Shadow Complex bring is a welcome sense of humor and character. Wrapped in some damn fine gameplay is a unique hero whose thrust into an even more unique world. Rocketbirds is, quite possibly, one of the best fowl-related games I’ve ever had the good graces to play.

But enough yammering on; let’s get to the review!

Gameplay

If your a Shadow Complex fan look no further. Rocketbirds is an excellent game in the same vein as Shadow Complex. The gameplay is similar, and you’ll be trekking all over the place in order to find keys, get new weapons, and meet up with people to get new objectives. While Rocketbirds might be a bit more linear than Shadow Complex, it’s definitely a game that lovers of the genre will immediately take too.

In addition to it’s action/platformy goodness, the game also boasts a healthy selection of puzzle-ites. Now, I call them puzzle-ites because I don’t want you to expect anything incredibly challenging like what you’d find in Zelda, or Machinarium. However, the game does throw in some gameplay puzzles that differ from just the mindless running and gunning; something I can definitely get behind. Anything that truly break up the combat with something meaningful is a definite plus in my eyes.

Rocketbirds isn’t easy. I can’t ultimately decide if this is a good or bad thing, but within my first couple hours of play I had already died multiple times. However, what is a good thing is the numerous amounts of check points in the game. Never, at anytime after I died, was I too far from where I left off. It made the thought of dying not necessarily worrisome.

In Rocketbirds, you don’t have a map. I mentioned above that this game was similar to Metroid and Shadow Complex, both of which had vast maps to help guide you through the game. While Rocketbirds doesn’t feature as robust of an exploration system, it can still be fairly easy to get lost if you aren’t paying attention.

Finally, the controls in Rocketbird could have used some more work. While I was eventually able to get the hang of it, never, at any point, did I feel like the game was as fluid as it should have been due to the sluggish controls. All actions are basically worked into the arrow keys, shift key, and ‘Z’ which means there is a lot of overlapping actions. It can get quite confusing and as I played more and more of the game I found myself yearning for a traditional gamepad. I even plugged in my 360 controller just to see if it would…. No dice.

Style

Rocketbirds oozes with style, better than Shadow Complex I’d wager, if that’s anything to go by with you. Seriously though, the game ‘s artwork is very fresh and is highly detailed. While the environments can seem a bit repetitive at times (especially in the beginning) it’s still a joy to look at. Likewise the cartoon stylings of the characters is also a welcome relief from the doldrums of realistic gaming that the mainstream industry so fervently pushes onto us.

The game features over ten minutes of fully animated, voice worked cut scenes. These absolutely make this game worth playing, especially in the cut scenes that include music by the New World Revolution. I don’t know who their animator/director/editor/whatever is but that person was invaluable to creating such a great game. Truly, they produced a work of art.

The voice acting in Rocketbirds is also fairly well done. Nothing spectacular, but I didn’t cringe at the sound of it. While this may seem like a pseudo-complaint, I assure you it’s not. Voice acting is a strange thing in video games. Rarely is it ever mind blowing ly good and often it’s absolutely unbearable. The fact that Rocketbirds’ acting was decent enough to keep me within the game is a high praise, especially considering it’s an indie game.

Love, love, love the soundtrack! I don’t know what kind of deal the developers had with New World Revolution but the opening cut scene is probably one of the better music videos I’ve ever seen… and it wasn’t even an intentional music video. Play the demo and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Story

Rocketbirds has a story that’s penned write out of the action-script playbook. What I mean is that the game reminds me a lot of the old 80′s and 90′s action moves starring Sylvester Stallone, etc. Your the Cock of War on a mission to bring down a regime of oppressive penguins. So, naturally, you break into their base and proceed to kick the ever living shit out of every last one of the bad guys. While it’s easier said than done, the story often gives me nostalgic feelings of these long forgotten movies.

Everything Else

There’s no multiplayer to speak of, but really this isn’t a game I felt would benefit from it. In fact, had they attempted to include one I can’t even imagine it being fun or decent.

Overall, Rocketbirds was a great game to play. While the controls definitely need some work and the game can feel overwhelming sluggish because of it, the game is actually a fairly capable gaming experience. It has its own faults but what it lacks it more than makes up for in style and fun.

This is not a game I, personally, would idly pass up knowing what I know now. The fact that it costs a mere $9.95 to play (free demo too!) and that you can play it directly from your browser makes it all the sweeter. Do yourself a favor and check this game out, especially if your a fan of Metroid-likes.

[The developer/publish of Rocketbirds gave DIYgamer.com a free copy for review purchases. This in no way affected the outcome of the review.]