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Polyroll (2019)

Shiny Dolphin Games, Spicy Gyro Games

Nintendo Switch · PC (Microsoft Windows)

3.50 from 2 ratings

14 members have it in their collection · 8 backlogged · 3 wish listed

How long? · with extras 4h (from 1 logged playthrough)

Relive the PC shareware era in this run n' roll, retro platformer! As the last remaining polyroll, you must run, jump, roll, float, and bomb your way through bizzare environments to defeat the evil Kaiser Kiwi.
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Details

Developers
Shiny Dolphin Games, Spicy Gyro Games
Publishers
HOF Studios
Genres
Adventure, Arcade, Indie, Platform
Themes
Action, Fantasy
Events
SAGE 20th, SAGE 2018
Steam
View on Steam

Release dates

  • Oct 29, 2019 (North_America) Nintendo Switch
  • Oct 29, 2019 (Worldwide) PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • Oct 31, 2019 (Europe) Nintendo Switch

Related

Bundled in

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Rating distribution

5 stars
0
4 stars
1
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
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Community All Reviews Statuses

Retrobert

Review Retrobert 3/5 · Dec 21, 2020

A love letter to Sonic the Hedgehog

The obvious influence of a game like Polyroll is Sonic the Hedgehog. It is evident in the way the game feels, looks, and plays. Everything about it reminds you of the 16 bit Sega classic. Sure, it was hard to disassociate myself from the glory of Sonic while playing this, but I can't say I was not amused and entertained …

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The obvious influence of a game like Polyroll is Sonic the Hedgehog. It is evident in the way the game feels, looks, and plays. Everything about it reminds you of the 16 bit Sega classic. Sure, it was hard to disassociate myself from the glory of Sonic while playing this, but I can't say I was not amused and entertained while doing so. To call a game like Polyroll simply a clone of the game it heavily borrows from is not doing the game justice because there is so much more going on that initially meets the eye. If anything, I would say this a homage or tribute to the Sega franchise you either love or hate: Sonic the Hedgehog. With that said, the expectation should be the same as your average Sonic game and you may find yourself enjoying this one more than you think.

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3 Comment
tylerisrandom

Review tylerisrandom 4/5 · May 31, 2020

Cute Roll-Up

One of the game's more attractive environments

I impulse-bought Polyroll on sale in the eShop a few months ago. My expectations for the game were pretty low: As much as its similarities to Sonic drew me in, they also made me nervous. Those mechanics are hard enough for Sonic Team to get right, so even the most well-regarded homages usually feel off to me.

But I was …

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One of the game's more attractive environments

I impulse-bought Polyroll on sale in the eShop a few months ago. My expectations for the game were pretty low: As much as its similarities to Sonic drew me in, they also made me nervous. Those mechanics are hard enough for Sonic Team to get right, so even the most well-regarded homages usually feel off to me.

But I was pleasantly surprised by Polyroll! Beneath its cute but somewhat generic retro aesthetic (which feels torn between Master System proportions and Genesis colors) is a solid, rewarding platformer that stands apart from Sonic in a few key ways:

  • The "rolling" mechanic feels a lot more versatile than the spin dash, especially when combined with a jump for upward movement.
  • The game's main levels are all fun and approachable, but greater challenges await should you collect enough gems to unlock extra portions of the world map. The gems are fun to find, and since some of the optional paths lead to permanent upgrades, they feel substantially rewarding.
  • The boss battles are really creative. Once I figured out a boss's patterns, it became a simple matter of execution to take them down. I died often, but it always felt like my fault, which made it easier to try again.
  • Although there are no "signposts" or other visible level checkpoints, the game is merciful: Lives are limitless, you always respawn at the beginning of boss battles, and collectibles like gems are retained (even if you exit to the world map).

Like Ristar, Polyroll feels like a game plucked from an alternate universe where platformers weren't so heavily indebted to Nintendo. It isn't perfect, but it delivers 4 or 5 hours of throwback fun. More people should check it out!

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5 Comment