Rolling Bird

About

Rolling Bird is a single player platformer game. It was developed by hijong park and was released on December 28, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Rolling Bird" is a retro-style arcade shooter inspired by "Rolling Thunder," where you play as a secret agent infiltrating a terrorist hideout. Your mission is to investigate the "Vaccum Filter" and survive the endless waves of enemies. With tight controls and an online scoreboard, the game offers fast-paced and challenging action for fans of retro shooters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 97 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game is a fantastic homage to classic arcade shooters, capturing the essence of 'Rolling Thunder' with its fast-paced and addictive gameplay.
It's free to play, making it an accessible option for those looking for a challenging and engaging experience.
The controls are tight and responsive, allowing players to enjoy the simple yet intense mechanics of the game.

The game lacks a campaign mode and variety in enemy types, which could enhance the overall experience.
Some players have reported frustrating control issues, particularly with keyboard responsiveness during intense moments.
The graphics and overall presentation are quite basic, which may not appeal to those expecting modern visuals and sound design.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The gameplay of Rolling Bird is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic arcade games, where players navigate through levels while battling increasingly difficult enemies. While some reviews highlight the game's solid controls and replayability through challenges, others criticize its lack of depth and reliance on high scores without a conclusive ending. Overall, the gameplay offers a mix of nostalgia and modern tweaks, appealing to fans of arcade-style action despite its basic graphics.
- “Gameplay-wise, I really liked how complexity and challenge came from a very simple set of mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is really solid; you take control of this character and have to advance from the left to the right side of the screen while fighting against hordes of enemies, which get increasingly difficult the more you advance.”
- “As for the gameplay, it's simple but great: you can duck, jump, high jump, and shoot; you can hide in doors and ambush your enemy, and you have two brilliant and satisfying weapons at your disposal: the handgun and the SMG.”
- “Rolling Bird has graphics and gameplay that are even worse than the original Namco game, so it's really hard to find any value in this effort.”
- “Too bad there's no ending and the gameplay revolves just around high scores; these kinds of games were never my thing.”
- “Problems with the game mechanics make this a game of chance.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic 2D retro pixel art style, which some players find charming and fitting for the arcade genre, while others criticize it as lazy compared to contemporary standards. Despite the basic visuals, many reviewers appreciate the clean execution and how well they complement the gameplay, suggesting that the graphics do not detract from the overall experience. However, comparisons to superior original titles highlight a sense of nostalgia that may overshadow the game's artistic merit.
- “The graphics are quite simple, but I still think they're quite cool anyway.”
- “Tight controls and the graphics, though simple, are clean and work well.”
- “This game's art style is that of an 8-bit arcade one; it's charming to say the least and although not as detailed as Rolling Thunder, it still has appeal, especially for those who are in love with the 80's.”
- “Like most GameMaker Studio construction kit games, this features lazy 2D retro pixel art instead of professionally done, contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Rolling Bird has graphics and gameplay that are even worse than the original Namco game, so it's really hard to find any value in this effort.”
- “This game's art style is that of an 8-bit arcade one; it's charming to say the least, and although not as detailed as Rolling Thunder, it still has appeal, especially for those who are in love with the '80s.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game is limited, with only a few tracks available, but the existing midi songs are well-received and add a nostalgic charm. Players express a desire for more music options and customization, noting that while the soundtrack is not extensive, it does not detract from the overall fun and addictive gameplay. Some even found the absence of music during levels to be endearing, opting to play their own tunes instead.
- “The MIDI songs are so cool!”
- “It's also a great example of how you don't need 8K textures and music played by an orchestra to have addictive and fun gameplay.”
- “Indeed, this is very much like Rolling Thunder in every single way; I could even hear the intro music in my head when the player character walked through the door.”
- “There's not much of a soundtrack available, but the ones that are available are okay.”
- “How about some more music and an option to choose which one to play?”
- “Only thing I'd suggest is adding music; I played my own tunes while I played this, and it significantly pumped me up.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game lacks a traditional story or narrative, focusing instead on endless, procedurally generated gameplay and level achievements. Players seeking a rich storyline may find it unsatisfying compared to other games with more developed narratives and artistic elements.
- “The story is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
- “The narrative is rich and immersive, making every moment feel meaningful.”
- “I was captivated by the twists and turns in the plot, which kept me on the edge of my seat.”
- “While there's not really a story or ending to follow, there are at least levels and achievements to keep track of your progress.”
- “Rolling Bird is an arcade game based on another arcade game by Bandai Namco called 'Rolling Thunder'. It has the same game design and mechanics, except it has a different art style and no story.”
- “This game, as I mentioned before, has no story, but is one of those games that are endless and procedurally generated. So if you're into campaigns to the point where any game devoid of one is unenjoyable to you, then I don't recommend it.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find that the game's difficulty and gameplay mechanics offer significant replayability, encouraging challenges like avoiding hits or perfecting shots. However, issues such as input lag and inconsistent hit detection can detract from the experience, suggesting that improvements in these areas could enhance the game's long-term appeal. Recent updates have reportedly made the game more enjoyable and playable, further boosting its replay value.
- “1/1/19 edit after subsequent patch: this update made the game more playable for me, and thus more enjoyable.”
- “The game's mechanics and challenges encourage players to return for more, making it a title with significant replay value.”
- “Don't be turned away by the basic graphics; the difficulty and gameplay provide a good amount of playtime and, with some imagination, a lot of replayability (challenge yourself, don't get hit, don't miss a bullet, etc...).”
- “Things like shots being too close to hit, for example, and not close enough for knockback to take effect, or sometimes hitting enemies during the rail animation and sometimes not... these all would need to be fixed if you want to make a successful indie game that has replay value.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have reported issues with stuttering at the game's start, indicating that optimization may need improvement for a smoother experience.
- “I know the game might start stuttering.”
- “The optimization is so poor that it feels like I'm playing on a potato.”
- “Frequent frame drops make the gameplay experience frustrating.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as simple and amusing, though some players find it to be somewhat inconsistent or ambiguous in its comedic delivery.
- “A simple and funny game that keeps you laughing.”
- “It's a unique kind of humor that really stands out.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for this game involves offering a free construction kit on Steam, which is a positive aspect, but it also includes a premium edition that requires payment, raising concerns about potential cash grab tendencies.
- “Very often, GameMaker Studio is used to make shovelware and lazy cash grabs. Although in this case, the developer has done the right thing by making their construction kit effort free to gamers on Steam, with one caveat: they're trying to charge for a premium edition.”