Roogoo (XBLA) Preview
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 05.30.2008
Hands-on: This puzzler will have you punching your walls, smiling, shouting out loud and having fun all at the same time.
A few months ago, I had a chance to get a first look at Roogoo for the Xbox Live Arcade. Unfortunately, as it was pretty early on in the development cycle, I wasn't able to get my hands on it until just recently. I visited with the developers and got plenty of play time with the puzzler that left me hankering for more.
The premise of the game is very simple – you have these platforms, and each platform has a hole that corresponds to certain shapes such as triangles, square, circles etc. You'll get a shape or shapes falling from the top of the screen and you have to use the left and right bumpers to rotate the platform so that the shape falls onto and through the hole. Eventually the shapes will fall to the next platform below up until you have used every piece. Sounds simple enough right? Well that's before you start getting extra holes on the platforms and the speed picks up. You can also speed up the pieces on your own like in Tetris if you get pretty good. As you progress, you will get more shapes as I mentioned as well as different types of platforms that will flip completely, forcing you to time the falling of the shapes. You'll even go through some platforms that will shoot the shapes to the lower platforms at high speeds so you'll have to be quick.
It's a great looking game.
When I first started playing, I was told I should start from the beginning so I could get the hang of it and I'm glad I did. It was simple enough to begin but there were times where I would rotate the platform too quickly or to the wrong side which resulted in me losing some of the shapes and thus points. There is a timer that's counting down that is used solely for extra points so you can take your time if need be. I was doing pretty well and started advancing to newer stages. I finally came upon the stages where the platforms began flipping so I had to be really careful. Sometimes I'd think I have the shape timed and the platform would flip and I'd lose a large pile of shapes. That was infuriating, but only because I had a big stack ready to go and I f'ed it up. Not to worry though as players will be gradually get ramped up by the game. So you'll get introduced to the first flipping platform and first platform with an extra shape before it gets tougher. You'll get the hang of whatever new gets introduced before things get crazy.
Every level also has its bonus stage where you'll bring the shapes down through the holes and onto these creatures that are covering the holes beneath them. You have to bring the shapes down fast to knock them upside their heads to take them out and you'll have to be careful because there can be a stack of two or three of them.
The game comes off as very inviting and a casual game which it is. However, the game will start to kick your ass in the later levels and you'll find yourself being button-happy as you twitch to move the platforms around. The game was created with a two-button control scheme so all you really have to worry about is the bumpers unless you want to speed things up with the A-button. Hardcore gamers need not worry because the game becomes very challenging and you'll find yourself playing over and over again either because you know you can beat the next level.
If you're here, you're getting your ass kicked most likely!
Multiplayer is also included and it's pretty entertaining. I got to check out the two modes that are in the game. In one mode, you and other players can control your own platform so you have to work together to get through the stage. There's still a sense of competition though as you will still get individual scores and you'll be able to see what the scores are for each player as it is displayed right next to the platform that belongs to them. The other mode is more of a battle mode where two players go head to head. The game goes into split-screen mode and each player has their own set of platforms and shapes. You're trying to get rid of all of your pieces with the higher score and you can throw in some of those creatures onto your opponent's platform to really piss them off. This was probably the more entertaining multiplayer mode and after winning the first match, my ass was handed to be on the next.
The music is very soothing and peaceful so it doesn't make you stress out when the game gets tougher and in my opinion, was a great choice. Graphically, the game looks very clean and polished and is appealing to the eye.
The play time that I was given for the game was more than enough to keep me coming back. This was extremely fun and addicting to play and I found it sad that I had to put the controller down. I wanted to keep on playing to see how far I could get but you can bet your ass that I'll be jumping all over this one when it releases on June 4th.
Roogoo will be available for the Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points and you can stay tuned for our full review when the game is out.
