Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Collection
- June 11, 2024
- Limited Run Games, Inc.
Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked features platforming greats that are absolute must-plays, but the overall package is bare bones. It’s great to see Sparkster and his jetpack make a return, but this awesome opossum deserves so much more.
"Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Collection" is a 3-game set featuring the acclaimed opossum knight, Sparkster. Players will battle robots and pigs to save the princess across the original game and its two sequels. Additional features include a museum, music player, boss rush mode, save anywhere function, and rewind feature for a smooth gaming experience.
Reviews
- Rocket Knight Adventures is a standout title, regarded as one of the best 2D platformers from the 90s, with fun gameplay and an incredible soundtrack.
- The collection includes both Japanese and American ROMs, allowing players to experience the games without the 'rental difficulty' of the original Western releases.
- The inclusion of features like save states, rewind functionality, and a museum with concept art adds value to the collection, making it a nostalgic experience for fans.
- The emulation quality is subpar, with issues such as audio crackling, poor video options limited to 720p, and overall performance that doesn't meet modern standards.
- The price point is considered too high for the content offered, with many reviewers suggesting it should be significantly lower to justify the purchase.
- The Boss Rush mode and other new features feel poorly implemented and lack quality control, detracting from the overall experience.
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchiness and quality, with standout tracks from classic titles like "Rocket Knight Adventures" and "Sparkster." However, players have reported significant issues with the in-game music being broken, which detracted from their experience and led some to request refunds. While the inclusion of a music player and concept art museum is appreciated, the overall execution of the soundtrack has been inconsistent, affecting the game's value.
“The music is slamming, the sprites are detailed, the boss battles are epic, the game has a humorous style, and it is challenging enough for multiple play-throughs.”
“I like the way you can listen to the in-game music on the main menu because I remember some of these tunes being incredibly catchy, specifically 'Kingdom of Zephyrus' from the first stage of Rocket Knight Adventures and 'Ancient Ruins' from the first stage of the Mega Drive/Genesis version of Sparkster.”
“The soundtrack is incredible (especially level 5 in 'Adventures').”
“Okayish port with a nice rewind system, some sound bugs like glitchy music.”
“The in-game music is wrong; you can hear it fine in the sound test, but inside the game, it is broken, and considering its soundtrack is the best part, it made me ask for a refund.”
“The 'new' features like the museum, a music player, a save/load and rewind feature, and a boss rush mode don't justify the price tag.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their amazing 16-bit quality, showcasing the charm of Konami's library, with only minor emulation issues. Additionally, the inclusion of raw PNGs of manual scans and artwork adds a nostalgic touch, featuring Japanese ads and flyers that enhance the overall experience.
“A trio of some of the best hidden gems in Konami's library: fun gameplay, amazing 16-bit graphics, banging soundtracks, and fun characters.”
“It's very faithfully emulated with tiny graphical issues, but otherwise it's spot on.”
“Also, the manual scans/artwork/museum content are raw PNGs you can access freely, which is genuinely cool, as it has stuff like Japanese ads/flyers.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted by engaging boss rush modes and features enjoyable mechanics, complemented by impressive 16-bit graphics and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the fun characters and the nostalgic charm of Konami's hidden gems.
“The art style is undeniably nice, but the actual gameplay attraction on offer here is the boss rush modes.”
“A trio of some of the best hidden gems in Konami's library: fun gameplay, amazing 16-bit graphics, banging soundtracks, and fun characters.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of this release has been criticized for its sub-par performance, with users experiencing erratic frame skipping reminiscent of playing on an emulator. Despite the nostalgia of the 30-year-old games, many feel they perform better on unofficial software, leading to disappointment, especially given the $30 price tag. However, some users noted that the developer was able to address and fix these performance issues on PC and Steam Deck.
“I opened with 'people have been playing these games on emulator for 20 years' partly because that's literally what you're doing when playing this release, only it's an emulator with sub-standard performance in which frame skip will occur erratically without any apparent reason, and you paid $30 like a mug to play 30-year-old games that perform better on unofficial software.”
“Mvg of Limited Run Games himself addressed the issue and was able to fix all performance issues on PC/Steam Deck.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a humorous style that complements its engaging gameplay, with detailed sprites and epic boss battles adding to the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor and challenge, making it enjoyable for multiple play-throughs.
“The game has a humorous style that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
“The witty dialogue and funny character interactions add a delightful charm to the experience.”
Critic Reviews
Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Review
Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked features platforming greats that are absolute must-plays, but the overall package is bare bones. It’s great to see Sparkster and his jetpack make a return, but this awesome opossum deserves so much more.
70%Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked (Switch eShop) Review
I'm sure some of you will dig this retro compilation.
70%Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Review
Rocket Knight Adventures is a series comprising two fine games and one stellar, timeless piece of work. While the sequels are above average for '90s platform gaming, it’s the series debut that really informs this review’s score. Rocket Knight Adventures is a title that sits comfortably alongside Gunstar Heroes in the pantheon of exceptional games overlooked in their heyday. It does everything an arcade action adventure needs to, and more, outdoing a vast number of actual arcade games in the process. Its constantly evolving stages, incredible variety of scenarios, and driving cinematic soundtrack make it one of the best of its kind. If that’s not the very definition of underrated, we don’t know what is.
90%