Rocket Knight Preview (XBLA, PSN and Steam)

Has it really been almost 17 years since I played Rocket Knight Adventure on the Mega Drive, a game that is one of the consoles greatest games, thanks to bold visuals, catchy music and fun-yet-challenging gameplay that still holds up to this day. Indeed it feels like it was just yesterday that I was completing it again and again, each time on a higher difficulty level. That was followed by the sequels, released on the Super Nintendo as well as the MD with the SNES offering more superior due to better graphics and better gameplay, though the MD version is still decent.

Point is, Rocket Knight Adventure and Sparkster were fantastic games and the series deserved to be continued. But for whatever reason, Konami decided to stop there and focus on other games and it looked like the rocket knight would never get a game as the years go by. Then all of a sudden, Konami announces that Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam will be getting a sequel (being developed by Climax Studios), titled Rocket Knight. It’s as if my years of praying for such a thing were finally heard.

In Rocket Knight, Sparkster comes home to the Kingdom of Zephyrus after 15 years to find it in ruins. Apparently he left due to being dissatisfied with the events that happened after the previous games.

Mastering the ways to use Sparkster’s rocket pack to get through the levels – by  ricochet off walls, blast through enemies and break weak walls to access passageways, as well as firing an energy attack from his sword and hanging from rails using his tale - is now more important in Rocket Knight than it has been in previous games. One seemingly new offensive move to be a “burst vortex” where Sparkster uses his rocket pack to repel enemy bombs back at them. Mastering these techniques is essential not just to see Sparkster to the end, but to get to the top of the leaderboards and prove your skills with a high scores and a fast time online.

In terms of how it’s looking so far, the screenshots don’t do it justice as they make the game seem bland and the 3D graphics feel tacky. However, when seen in motion, it looks like as if Climax Studios have done a good job, and nailed down the gameplay to boot. Let’s hope were in for levels that get more attractive looking (dare I say) more challenging the further we get into the game. Check out the 1st stage gameplay video right here - http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/27447

There’s been no definite release date, with early 2010 the closest we’ve heard to one. But as soon as it hits, you can expect a review shortly.