When you’re ready to lace up your skates and hit the rink, you should check out Rollerdrome. The great thing about this game is that it’s not just a skating game, but it’s also a full-time action shooter. This new action-packed video game was developed by Roll7 and published by Private Division. Released on August 16, 2022, for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Rollerdrome is an exciting game that offers players the chance to experience the thrill of roller skating in a virtual world. With its fast-paced gameplay, stunning graphics, and immersive soundtrack, this amazing single-player game will surely keep you on the edge of your seats for hours.

Weird Combat Style that Involves Rollerskating

When playing Rollerdrome, you get to play as Kara Hassan who happens to be a participant in a deadly sport called “Rollerdrome”. Your major objective is to perform roller-skating tricks while battling against enemies using firearms. In this third-person shooter, your ammunition can be refilled by performing various roller-skating tricks, while your health can be restored by acquiring health pick-ups from defeated enemies. You will skate through various stages while dodging incoming attacks and using a bullet time function to aim your weaponry. As you complete levels, you will gradually unlock more powerful weapons such as grenade launchers and shotguns, but you will also face more challenging enemies as the game progresses. Each stage also has optional challenges that will prompt you to perform feats such as eliminating enemies while performing tricks.

The Combat, The Gameplay, and the Plot are all Interconnected

In the game, Rollerdrome is not just a sport, but a brutally clever dystopian blood sport set in the future. The combat system has you skating and shooting for your life against waves of enemies called “house players”. The enemy classes are very easy to identify, as they range from easy melee combatants to mini-mechs with homing missiles. The difficulty in killing them depends on their classes and features. As a new player, you may find it difficult to kill certain enemy classes as the stages progress. But you will eventually improve your skills and abilities in each stage. Your main objective in each stage will be to chase high scores and complete optional challenges. However, your quest to become the champion of the Rollerdrome is not just a backdrop to the action. It reveals a compelling picture of the rather dark reality in which the bloodsport occurs.

Rollerdrome Features Enough Challenges to Keep You Engaged

Rollerdrome may not be the most intricate skate simulation or shooter, but it still presents a considerable challenge. I found myself consistently engaged as it introduced wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies, all while I attempted to complete a list of optional tasks reminiscent of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. These tasks could involve collecting hidden tokens, executing specific tricks, or even taking down colossal foes with your limited weaponry. The primary focus of Rollerdrome is gunning down enemies, with each playthrough providing an opportunity to string together impressive kills and stylish skateboarding tricks as you strive to improve your flow through each stage. Since enemy placement is not randomised, you’ll quickly discover more efficient paths to maintain your speed and find more effective ways to complete those entertaining objectives on subsequent tries. Granted, these may all look confusing and impossible when you first start the game, but you will soon overcome the difficulty and start finding the game entertaining.

Stunning Art Designs, and Music to Match

Rollerdrome’s art design is quite stunning, and the arenas feature such bright and stunning art designs that will make you fall in love with the game at first sight. Another reason why Rollerskate is one of my favourite skating/shooting games is that it features various types of environments, each with a distinct theme. These themes include an arid American desert canyon and a mall in the Midwest. These seemingly mundane locations are intentional, and they surprisingly don’t take away from the game’s bright pops of colour, hard angular linework, and intriguing retro-near-futuristic design. They add to the game’s fascinating world, further enhanced by Electric Dragon’s rocking soundtrack. The music never lets up, incorporating ’70s-era disco pacing, ’80s synth sounds, and a futuristic twist, resulting in a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh.

The Scoring System is Great, and the Weapon Variety is Exciting

Rollerdrome’s scoring system is a bit different from what you will normally expect. Granted, each kill increases your score multiplier, but even shooting an enemy will let you keep the multiplier from going down if you can’t finish them off. I found that my clip wasn’t always full, which led to some missed opportunities to increase my score, but Rollerdrome’s inventive ammo refill system ensured that more bullets were always within reach. Every trick you execute refills your weapons and all four of your guns share a collective amount of ammo, which can be confusing when switching between them. However, this also means you can recharge your clip while grinding past an enemy, preventing them from throwing up a defensive shield or attacking between shots. I enjoyed switching between pistols and shotguns based on the enemy type, chaining shots together in between tricks, and falling into a rhythm that was almost zen-like in its flow. Even when I failed, I learned how a different weapon choice or another path might have played out better. So every situation was a win-win for me.

Conclusion 

Rollerdrome is fun and exciting, as it features a smooth and precise system, from the combat to the scoring system. The designs are also incredibly beautiful. The combination of roller skating with action shooting made me feel like I was in the best of two different worlds. If you are excited about mixing things up a little bit, or you love skating or shooting games, you should check Rollerdrome out. The game is a mix of action, variety, and full-time excitement.