Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken

The game is reasonably priced on PSN, so if you love 2D side-scrolling games that offer a good challenge and also try to attempt to distinguish itself from the rest of the games out there, do give this a try. There is also a demo available, so check it out if it matches your taste or not.

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In Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken, players control a commando chicken on a mission to overthrow the penguin dictatorship in Albatropolis. The game combines side-scrolling shooting and puzzle-solving, with a blend of humor and action. Players can use various weapons, stealth moves, and rocket-powered flight to defeat enemies and progress through the levels.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 564 reviews

music104 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

Great background story with a mix of humor and action.
Outstanding soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
Fun multiplayer system that adds variety to the gameplay.

Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times.
The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more.
Some gameplay mechanics can become repetitive and frustrating.

music
192 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and unique soundtrack, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the quality and variety of the music, with some noting that it has remained in their playlists for years. However, there are criticisms regarding the music's volume inconsistencies and occasional repetitiveness, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
- “Now that that's out of the way... this game's soundtrack has been in my playlist for the better part of a decade at this point, worth buying alone just to listen to the music but the game is also pretty good too.”
- “The soundtrack is brilliantly suited; there's a decent sense of humor, again, good fun, would recommend.”
- “The music is great and the voice acting is decent; the guns sound very good for a 2D indie game.”
- “By the way, the music (songs, with lyrics) start and stop randomly, making it very annoying.”
- “The music is absolute trash.”
- “And not just in a 'this type of music uses four chords and repeats the same crap over and over again', but the actual system that delivers the music seems to be somewhat broken - often restarting the music for doing simple things like pausing or walking through a doorway.”
gameplay
128 mentions
29 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it enjoyable yet simplistic, often leading to repetitive experiences. While some appreciate the unique mechanics and humor, others criticize the clunky controls, lack of depth, and unbalanced difficulty, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. The visuals and soundtrack receive praise, but many feel that the gameplay itself fails to fully engage or innovate, leaving it feeling flat or tedious at times.
- “This game has a wicked soundtrack and the gameplay is solid.”
- “The gameplay is unique and fun.”
- “Damn great game with fun gameplay, nice level design and stunning graphics.”
- “The problem comes that this game is too simple gameplay-wise to encourage you to keep playing.”
- “Gameplay was way too easy.”
- “This shows in its fairly 'minimalistic' game mechanics; you only really get to complete puzzles and shoot enemies while 'plowing' through the game.”
story
114 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a mix of humor and action that keeps players engaged, with many praising its unique premise involving chickens and penguins in a Cold War setting. While some reviews note that the plot can be simplistic or short, the entertaining cutscenes and comedic elements enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable despite its flaws. Overall, the narrative is described as fun and compelling, with a charming art style and a memorable soundtrack that contribute to its appeal.
- “The story and overall experience is unique and quite compelling, considering we're talking about farm birds playing out the Cold War here.”
- “Rocketbirds has it all—fantastic and unique artwork, voice acting that manages to be both hilarious and perfectly in character, a story about apocalyptic drone life that doesn't take itself too seriously, puzzles and side endeavors, and of course the kickass soundtrack.”
- “The story is told well without much dialogue.”
- “The story is awful.”
- “There's practically no story here; you are a hardboiled chicken hero who must liberate a land from Nazi penguins.”
- “The plot is hilarious, but it is a very lacking story.”
humor
89 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, often highlighting the quirky characters and absurd scenarios, such as a chicken battling penguins. While some reviews note that the humor can be hit-or-miss or occasionally cheesy, the overall consensus is that it adds a delightful charm to the gameplay experience. The combination of witty dialogue, amusing animations, and a fitting soundtrack contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the enjoyment of both single-player and co-op modes.
- “Hilarious game”
- “The humor was great - the way your character runs makes me laugh every time I play.”
- “The end of each level is very funny, because the daughter runs away after you save her each time, which really annoys the roosters.”
- “Boring, buggy, poor mechanics and gameplay, poorly animated, and most of all, not funny while it clearly tries to be.”
graphics
89 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stylish and unique art style, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive animations, detailed environments, and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the graphics to be a bit simplistic or not groundbreaking, the combination of aesthetic appeal and a fitting soundtrack contributes to a compelling atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, adding depth and character to the gameplay.
- “Awesome art style (especially the cinematics), great music, and a genuinely compelling little storyline.”
- “The graphics look sharp and detailed; the blood splatters on the wall look quite amazing, for example.”
- “First of all, I have to say that this game looks brilliant; it has really good graphics and some kind of weird 3D movements in the background which is nice.”
- “Interesting game mechanics... but the cutscenes and gameplay transitions feel weird, and the gameplay + graphics are a bit tricky to get used to at first.”
- “The graphics are okay for a 2D game, but you feel bored very quickly, and the gameplay is kind of bad...”
- “I don't like the gameplay, the graphics, or how it works with a controller.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
73 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a captivating blend of humor, darkness, and stylized visuals, enhanced by impressive artwork and a unique soundtrack that includes atmospheric rock tracks. Players appreciate the oppressive, dystopian elements reminiscent of classic titles, alongside engaging gameplay that encourages repeated playthroughs. Overall, the atmosphere is described as thick and immersive, making for a fun and enjoyable experience, despite some criticisms of the co-op mode.
- “The art style mixes cartoon-y and serious atmosphere, with clean graphics and detailed environments.”
- “The music is also really well done and lends a unique feel to the game's atmosphere.”
- “In terms of both oppressive, dystopian atmosphere and gameplay, the closest comparison I can think of is Abe's Oddysee; the fact you can psychically control your enemies to complete platform puzzles is especially reminiscent of that game.”
- “The art style mixes cartoonish and serious atmosphere, with clean graphics and detailed environments.”
- “It's a healthy mix of humorous, dark, and badass; a thick atmosphere that can be shared in co-op.”
stability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is inconsistent; while some players report a bug-free experience in singleplayer, others highlight significant issues in multiplayer, describing it as a "buggy mess." Additionally, several reviews mention poor mechanics and animations, contributing to a frustrating experience for some users.
- “No glitches detected.”
- “Bug-free, pure joy.”
- “Buggy mess in multiplayer, but it's mediocre and kind of fun in singleplayer.”
- “Very buggy.”
- “Buggy in multiple ways.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting it has "absolutely no replay value." However, some players find that co-op mode enhances the experience, providing a bit of replayability when played with friends.
- “The game is really enjoyable, and has a bit of replayability, especially in co-op mode. If you have a friend, it makes the experience so much better.”
- “Absolutely no replay value.”
- “Too bad it's hardly replayable.”
- “Replayability?”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, with heavy controls that detract from the overall experience. The puzzles are often seen as more aggravating than enjoyable, requiring cumbersome mechanics that can make gameplay feel boring rather than engaging.
- “This would not bother me so much if the gameplay were spot on, but sadly I found it tedious, repetitive, and boring. The controls seem heavy and lack the responsiveness we see in titles like Super Meat Boy and Broforce.”
- “The puzzle element is more aggravating than most, as you'll most likely need to brainbug and control an enemy (which is cool, but the process involved is tedious) and flip switches or slide boxes around because you're too short or fat.”
- “A couple of the 'puzzles' were more tedious than they were interesting or fun, but they do not stay around long enough for me to really take them into account.”
emotional
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a jarring contrast, as players experience an unsettling mix of high-stakes drama involving a hard-boiled chicken attempting to avert a nuclear disaster, yet this is undermined by an overall perception of a boring story.
- “The emotional roller coaster of being in control of a hard-boiled chicken saving the world from a potential nuclear catastrophe in this game is unsettling.”
- “The story was extremely boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
- “The characters felt flat and unrelatable, making it hard to connect emotionally.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is lacking, particularly in online mode, which suffers from lag and imprecise controls. Users have attempted to adjust settings for better performance, but issues persist.
- “I opened it and went into the settings to make sure it would run smoothly.”
- “However, the controls were imprecise, and the online mode seemed a bit unoptimized and laggy.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While the game features visually appealing character designs, the reviews do not provide substantial insights into the depth or progression of character development within the narrative.