An unassuming video game released for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis by EA Games in 1992 reaching neither the upper echelons of critical acclaim nor the darkest depths of deep-set failure. It is hardly worth having a separate paragraph for the plot because, being completely honest, there is not all that much to go on, as you may well expect from an early ‘90s game. For those interested, it covers the trials and tribulations of a circus elephant called Rolo that has escaped and is on a quest to (you’ll never have guessed) rescue his Mother from the circus, in addition to a bunch of other critters that find themselves deprived of their liberty from the evil circus folk.
This is a platforming game, and perhaps on the back of the tidal surge of Sonic the Hedgehog’s rise to fame, allows you to play as several different animals, it really does spoil you. Each animal has different abilities to allow you to solve platforming puzzles to make it to the end of the level, of which there are a lot, though none are particularly long. A typical level will have Rolo snatch the key off a henchman (by jumping on him, no doubt crushing the poor person unto dust) and releasing all of the animals in the level,whose skills you will utilise to reach other areas, find secret alcoves, or complete the level; this lends itself to diverse gameplay functions within the same level. A non-typical level involves collecting goodies from presents in some form of sideshow, riding a cart, helping a hedgehog find their parent, or collecting lives from an alien on the moon. Again, eccentricities make these games what they are.
This game is fairly difficult, completing all of the core levels to get through the game is not too bad but getting 100% is where the challenge kicks in, with some very difficult sequences that require precision and skill. The bosses are also tough going, particularly the final boss who takes a bit of practice to get through, and creates all the more frustration if you get a game over. Though I think the gameplay is elephantastic! (Last bad joke, I swear.)
The graphics are fine and dandy, nothing to shout about but I’ll do so anyway: THE GRAPHICS ARE FINE AND DANDY!! The level thematics do their job but the issue I have is that the scenery takes place over ten to fifteen levels of the same background and foreground with a different layout in contrast to Tombi! above or Sonic where after two or three acts, you are taken to an entirely different zone, Rolo to the Rescue repeats the same level theme over the course of several levels and outstays its welcome. The music is equally bland, nothing bad and nothing to moan about, but I’ll do so anyway. There are a few tracks that play regardless of the level, they suit the childish nature of the game but there’s not any that standout and they are reused constantly, oh well.
Next Time - Super Fantasy Zone!
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