Rocket Knight

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 82 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Rocket Knight Game Cover
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Rocket Knight is a historical platformer game, with both single-player and multi-player modes, that brings back the classic side-scrolling rocket action series starring the opossum hero Sparkster. After 15 years, Sparkster returns to his home kingdom of Zephyrus, now in shambles, and must use his wits and rocket pack to defeat a menacing wolf army. Rocket Knight is a sequel to Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2, reviving the popular Sparkster series with exceptional game mechanics and good music.

  • PC
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features great control and fun level designs, making it an enjoyable platformer.
  • It includes creative mechanics and a charming main character, which adds to the overall experience.
  • The visuals are appealing, and the game successfully captures some nostalgic elements from the original titles.
  • The game feels generic and lacks the charm and depth of the original Rocket Knight Adventures.
  • It suffers from issues like poor hit detection, floaty controls, and frustrating boss battles.
  • The game is short, averaging around two hours, and many players feel it doesn't justify its price.
  • gameplay33 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its tight controls, clever level design, and nostalgic mechanics reminiscent of classic platformers, while others criticize it for feeling simplistic or lacking depth compared to its predecessors. Many players appreciate the creative use of mechanics and the fun arcade-style gameplay, but some find certain elements, like the jetpack mechanic and boss battles, to be flawed or frustrating. Overall, while the game captures the essence of its classic roots, it struggles to stand out against more innovative titles in the genre.

    • “They are iconic games that demonstrate Konami at the top of their game, featuring gorgeous and vibrant graphics, rocking soundtracks, and bombastic and energetic gameplay.”
    • “The controls are tight, the sound and music are gorgeous, the graphics are intense, the level and character design are superior, and the gameplay is hard as hell.”
    • “The difficulty curve is perfect, the controls are smooth and quick, the aesthetics are great and have a steampunk feel to them, even the platforming and shmup mechanics work well together.”
    • “But something about this game, the style, graphics, gameplay; it all feels like a cheap mobile game.”
    • “This game took the base premise of the previous game (an opossum in a suit of armor with rocket gameplay) and took away everything that made it truly stand out.”
    • “To be honest, it doesn't hold a candle to any of the previous incarnations of Sparkster as far as gameplay goes.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the memorable quality of the original titles, often describing it as forgettable or merely serviceable. While some tracks, particularly remixes of classic themes, are appreciated, the overall soundtrack fails to evoke nostalgia or enhance the gameplay experience, with critics highlighting a lack of energy and excitement during key moments like boss fights. Overall, the music is seen as a significant step down from the iconic scores of earlier games in the series.

    • “They are iconic games that demonstrate Konami at the top of their game, featuring gorgeous and vibrant graphics, rocking soundtracks, and bombastic and energetic gameplay.”
    • “The old game had wonderful music, and even some of the most wonderful and exciting music of the day for games.”
    • “Its controls were pretty tight, the mechanics were fun and simple, the levels were clever and well-designed, the boss battles were intense, unique, and gave you a feeling of intimidation, and the atmosphere and music were unforgettable.”
    • “The soundtrack is merely serviceable, and the story gets the job done with minimal fuss.”
    • “This game doesn't even change its slow, boring music when you get in a boss fight.”
    • “To be honest, there's little to describe the game other than 'mediocre' - mediocre platforming, mediocre gradius-style flight sections, mediocre soundtrack (even the remixed first level theme feels weak and listless).”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style and vibrant visuals, while others criticize them as unpolished or reminiscent of cheap mobile games. Many reviewers noted that the graphics, though colorful and cartoonish, lack the charm and detail of the original titles, leading to a polarizing reception among fans. Overall, while the visuals may not meet everyone's expectations, they contribute to a solid gameplay experience.

    • “They are iconic games that demonstrate Konami at the top of their game, featuring gorgeous and vibrant graphics, rocking soundtracks, and bombastic and energetic gameplay.”
    • “It has all the fine tuning and fast gameplay you'd expect of a classic game, but beautiful 3D graphics (especially nice on a high refresh rate monitor).”
    • “The graphics are the biggest change in this game as it is now 2.5D and it looks great, nice and cartoony, and it keeps the feel of the originals whilst updating them and it looks lovely.”
    • “But, something about this game, the style, graphics, gameplay; it all feels like a cheap mobile game.”
    • “My only gripe would be that the graphics are a little unpolished.”
    • “The graphics are also crappy.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story of the game is generally considered minimal and less engaging compared to the original 1993 title, lacking depth and character development. While it serves its purpose and complements the gameplay, it is described as generic and not as memorable as its predecessor. Overall, the narrative is functional but does not elevate the experience significantly.

    • “The little story is a nice addition to the original game's along with the gameplay itself.”
    • “It has a decent story and great level designs.”
    • “It doesn't have the epic story, evolution and climax, or the well-developed and varied levels and enemies, and neither the coolness that the original of 1993 has, but it's still Rocket Knight!”
    • “The enemies themselves aren't anywhere near the heights of Donkey Kong Country's Kremlings, the soundtrack is merely serviceable, and the story gets the job done with minimal fuss.”
    • “The plot of the game is similar to the first, but with less story and character and more generic everything.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unforgettable music and clever level design, complemented by a gripping steampunk aesthetic. Players find the intense boss battles and the overall environment to create a sense of intimidation and intrigue, enhancing the immersive experience.

    • “The atmosphere and music were unforgettable, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
    • “The levels were clever and well-designed, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that kept me engaged throughout.”
    • “The dingy steampunk atmosphere of the first level and the places you had to explore to uncover the truth about your nemesis were incredible!”
    • “The atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the overall atmosphere was dull and failed to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be lacking, particularly in the design of the wolves, which are described as boring and lifeless compared to the more engaging hogs from the original. While other aspects like controls, sound, and graphics receive praise, the character design does not meet the same standard.

    • “The character design is uninspired; the wolves feel boring and lifeless compared to the more dynamic hogs from the original game.”
    • “I found the character development to be lacking depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “The characters don't evolve in meaningful ways, leaving their arcs feeling flat and unengaging.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as feeling more like a cash grab than a genuine sequel or reboot, suggesting that players perceive it as prioritizing profit over quality or innovation.

    • “It feels less like a sequel or reboot, and more like a cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system is so aggressive that it ruins the overall experience.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game when every feature is locked behind a paywall.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Players have reported experiencing glitches during boss battles, including issues with enemies appearing in frozen T-poses, which can disrupt gameplay and hinder progress. Overall, stability appears to be a concern for some users.

    • “There are glitches that I often face during boss battles, and there have been times when I progressed a bit too fast in the level and bumped into enemies in frozen T-poses.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, including characters getting stuck in the environment.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players find that the inclusion of a challenging hard mode enhances the game's replayability, offering a fresh and demanding experience for those seeking a tougher challenge.

    • “Hard mode is surprisingly brutal, which adds a significant level of replayability.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
    • “Hard mode is surprisingly brutal, too, which adds a bit of replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

54hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
5-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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