Rochard Review

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 3.

Meet John Rochard, a mild mannered and easy-going space miner leading the lowest producing team in the Skyrig Corporation.  He and his team happen across an alien structure buried deep in the asteroid that their mining; a find that could keep every one of his crew out of the unemployment line.  But shortly after they secure the site, their mining facility is attacked by a band of space pirates, and his team goes missing.  Rochard is out-manned and out-gunned, but this old miner has a couple of tricks up his sleeve.

Rochard is a 2D-style, side scrolling platformer set on an asteroid in the middle of nowhere.  You must guide Skyrig Employee #90210 through five massive levels using your wits, your G-Lift (a gun that fires a beam to lift, move, and throw objects), and your Rockbreaker (which in most cases serves as your gun).  Throughout each level, you’ll encounter roadblocks consisting of shields that either block biomatter (colored blue), inanimate objects (colored red), or shields that only allow traffic in one direction (gold).  Add to the fun your typical armed thugs, rampant robots that explode when you damage them, automated turrets guns, and more, and Rochard is guaranteed to keep you on your toes – all while you figure out how to make it from point A to point B through a series of brain wracking puzzles.

Rochard is an exceptionally well put together production for a downloadable product.  The cartoonish character models and environments are fully rendered 3D giving excellent depth on the 2D playing field.  Bring in some excellent voice acting that seems natural (with a cast acting like they’ve known each other for years), add a musical score that’s reminiscent of the 80’s action sci-fi flicks, and you have a recipe for some good, enjoyable fun.

For the cost of $9.99USD, you’re getting a game that will take you about 5.5-6 hours to complete.  And even more for the completionist as you’re looking for the trophy collectibles scattered throughout the game.  Finding them all is relatively easy; actually getting to them is a completely different story.  In the end, Rochard is definitely a game that everyone can surely dig.

Rochard receives a 5.0/5.0.