Super Sami Roll
- July 21, 2021
- Sonzai Games
"Super Sami Roll" is a 2D platformer game where players control Sami, a boy with the ability to transform into a ball, to save his sister and the world from an evil emperor. The game features colorful levels with various themes, tight controls, and numerous challenges such as puzzles and enemies to overcome. Using Sami's ball form, players can perform various rolls, jumps, and attacks to navigate through each level.
Reviews
- Super Sami Roll features charming visuals and a fun, engaging movement system that allows for creative gameplay and shortcuts.
- The game offers a challenging yet rewarding experience, with a well-balanced difficulty curve that keeps players engaged without feeling unfair.
- It has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 3D platformers, combining elements from games like Super Monkey Ball and Mario, making it appealing to fans of the genre.
- The controls can feel imprecise and sluggish at times, leading to frustrating moments, especially in later levels that require precise platforming.
- Some level designs are criticized for being overly punishing, with poorly placed checkpoints and mechanics that can feel inconsistent or unfair.
- The game ramps up in difficulty too quickly, which may deter casual players and lead to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics, particularly the tongue action and traversal abilities, which offer a rewarding experience for players who enjoy mastering skills. While the controls are generally solid and the level design encourages creativity, some players find the physics inconsistent and the difficulty curve steep. Overall, the game combines charming aesthetics with engaging mechanics, making it appealing for both casual players and those seeking depth in speedrunning.
“The gameplay, however, is incredibly unique.”
“The controls are solid and tight, just moving around the level feels fun, the mechanics are simple but have surprising amounts of depth, everything you'd expect from a well-polished platformer from the early 2000s.”
“It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the tongue jump mechanic feels different enough from other platformers and feels very good to use, and the game showcases all around great level design and understanding of what makes the genre fun.”
“You have jumping and grappling abilities to help with traversal, but the sluggish acceleration permeates so much of the gameplay that 'platformer' still feels disingenuous.”
“Overall, I feel like the difficulty ramps up too quickly, and the level design works against the mechanics.”
“There's a lot of great potential here, some really great ideas, nice music, a charming aesthetic, and a lovable mascot, but I think the gameplay lets it all down.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming and colorful aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for classic platformers, blending various styles such as anime cutscenes, pixel art, and mid-poly designs with toon shaders. While some players appreciate the visual diversity and vibrant art, others find certain elements less appealing or inconsistent. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the fun and engaging gameplay experience.
“The art style, music, and classic vibe really drew me in, as well as the promise of tough but fair platforming.”
“The gameplay is top-notch and the colorful graphics and upbeat music add a lot to the experience.”
“It's not bad per se (though the graphics don't do it for me and I turned the sound way down so I couldn't hear Sami's horrible screech whenever I lost), it's just not what I wanted.”
“The game opens with a beautiful anime cutscene, then the story is told with amateur-looking pixel art, next the menus use clean vector graphics, and then the game itself is a mid-poly look with toon shaders, then the map is pixel art again.”
“Its graphics are not groundbreaking, or maybe a little cheap-looking, but I would never be a snob for it; the creator successfully tried so many different things to keep levels visually fresh and fun and I never felt anything was ugly or boring to be in.”
- music11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting that it fits well with the environments and evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of GameCube titles. However, some players mention that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the charming art style and engaging gameplay.
“The music by Damian Moloney gives the game the feel that it was a long-lost GameCube title.”
“The music is absolutely fantastic, and the art style is very charming.”
“Outstanding music, fulfilling gameplay, and downright addicting.”
“The only negatives I have with the game are the fact that there are very few music tracks (they get really repetitive after a while) and the same applies to Sami's voice, but they're not dealbreakers.”
“Complementing this, the music by Damian Moloney gives the game the feel that it was a long-lost GameCube title.”
“Besides the music and intro animation, this game, as far as I know, was made by one person, and what they have done is quite impressive.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and presented through a mix of artistic styles, including anime cutscenes and pixel art, but ultimately lacks depth and engagement. Players should not expect a platformer that prioritizes storytelling or intricate narrative elements, as the focus leans more towards quirky visuals than substantial gameplay.
“The game opens with a beautiful anime cutscene, then the story is told with amateur-looking pixel art, next the menus use clean vector graphics, and then the game itself is a mid-poly look with toon shaders, then the map is pixel art again.”
“What to expect - very little story.”
“What not to expect - a platformer with mostly story bits and quirky elements rather than actual interesting platforming.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its high replayability, as it is easy to learn but offers depth that makes mastering it a challenge.
“Easy to learn and hard to master, highly replayable.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic gameplay elements.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character designs are considered somewhat derivative, yet they effectively serve their purpose within the game. Overall, the music complements the environments well, enhancing the overall experience.
“Many character designs feel too derivative for my liking, but they get the job done.”
“The character development lacks depth and fails to make me care about their journeys.”
“I found the characters to be one-dimensional and their growth throughout the game was minimal.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game to be very enjoyable and entertaining.
“They're very funny; I like them!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch and keeps me laughing throughout!”
“I love the witty dialogue and hilarious situations the characters find themselves in!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional tension created by Sami's inability to jump immediately after landing, which adds a layer of challenge to navigating the fast-paced platforming levels. This mechanic heightens the stakes and can lead to moments of anxiety and urgency as players strive to master the timing required for success.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanics in this 3D platformer to be highly enjoyable, with many considering it one of the most fun aspects of the game in recent years.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers perceive "Super Sami Roll" as a generic platformer that appears to prioritize profit over quality, suggesting it may be a cash grab rather than a well-crafted game.
“Super Sami Roll looks like a generic, cash-grabby, cobbled-together cartoony platformer.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to progress without spending extra.”