During Sony’s 2022 State of Play, many up-and-coming games for the PlayStation 4 and 5 were showcased. While most of these games were highly anticipated AAA titles, there were a few indie games that stole the spotlight.
One of these unique indie games coming to PlayStation is Rollerdrome, a game that has combined roller derby with action-packed gunplay. As seen in the trailer, Rollerdrome has players take control of a contestant in some sort of bloodsport tournament, armed with a pair of roller skates and various weapons with the goal of eliminating enemies while simultaneously performing stunts.
Welcome to the Rollerdrome
Rollerdrome is set in the year 2030 in a retro-futuristic world that is perfectly accompanied by the game's cel-shaded art style and synthesizer-heavy soundtrack, giving off strong Hotline Miami vibes. Players take control of Kara Hassan, a roller skater participating in a competition of elimination within this dystopian world.
There are a whole slew of different enemies, weapons, and environments that the player must navigate in order to win the competition of Rollerdrome. The trailer has shown a variety of different enemy types that seem to each have their own unique abilities and require different tactics and weapons to take down. While the maps range from snowy mountaintops to desert canyons and industrial complexes. Each area looks to have different environmental characteristics that are sure to affect the gameplay.
It is easy to see a connection between Rollerdrome and games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater. The movement seems fast-paced and fluid, allowing players to gain speed to perform stunts but also features a bullet-time effect in order to achieve stylized kills. And similar to Tony Hawk Pro Skater, players must complete challenges within each stage, utilizing their skills and the environment to successfully access hard-to-reach areas and perform tricks.
Developer Roll7 has experience in roller sports with the recent game OlliOlli World. Like Rollerdrome, this game has players seamlessly riding a skateboard over different environments. This new entry has players trade in the skateboard for a pair of roller skates and also adds a third-person shooter element, but it is appears that Roll7 has a knack for creating movement-based gameplay.
In addition to adapting the flow of OlliOlli World, some of Roll7’s lesser-known games have definitely laid some groundwork for their new title. Laser League was released in 2018 and is described as a combination between Rocket League and Tron. It is clear to see that this multiplayer arena brawler relies on quick reflexes and well-timed moves for players to come out victorious.
The developer is familiar with fast-paced shooters as well. One of Roll7’s first titles is Not A Hero, a 2D action shooter that required skill and patience to complete each level. And similar to its other games, Not A Hero is all about quick movement and twitch reflexes, and both mechanics will surely play a role in Rollerdrome as well.
Rollerdrome's Stylized Gunplay
While the inspiration from arcade skateboarders and previous titles is clear, there are plenty of other games that Rollerdrome seems reminiscent of. My Friend Pedro is a shoot ‘em up game from developer DeadToast Entertainment and published by Devolver Digital that featured a lot of interesting gameplay mechanics, and its influence can be seen in Rollerdrome as well.
In My Friend Pedro, players would perform different acrobatic stunts including: dives, rolls, and the of utilization a slow-motion skill in order to navigate each level and eliminate enemies. The goal was to complete the level as quickly and as flawlessly as possible. Fans of this indie hit should be able to see how it inspired Rollerdrome since the trailer featured many different moves and stunts that showed the player dodging attacks or performing tricks with flair while also eliminating enemies.
Roll7 has created a unique combination with Rollerdrome, one that is sure to appease fans of many genres. The fast-paced gameplay seems like a perfect synergy between high-octane stunts and over-the-top third-person combat, ensuring that the indie title is one to keep an eye on.
Rollerdrome launches August 16 for PS4 and PS5.
