If you’ve got a love for Nintendo-style games, Super Sami Roll on Steam might just be the game for you. Developed by Sonzai Games and published by X PLUS Company Limited, this 3D adventure begins after the evil exotic collector, Albert VII, kidnaps Sami’s friend, Vera, whisking her away. Now it is up to Sami to travel across several lands to rescue her.
GAMEPLAY
At the beginning of the game, you fade into an adorable 16-bit styled world map. From there, you can move Sami around from level to level in order to enter a new stage. The goal is simple: Roll Sami to the end of each maze. The game is split across several “Worlds,” each having a set of levels leading up to a boss castle. Each level is unique, growing increasingly difficult as you move forward.
Although this game could be classified as a roller-styled adventure game, there are actually several things Sami can do! Besides rolling and jumping, you can make use of his tongue to grab onto platforms, move around, and even add a little boost to certain jumps. A lot of thought has obviously been put into the potential combos Sami can create for different results out of his three base abilities.
These abilities are used to jump onto high platforms, avoid obstacles, and outsmart enemies. The enemies in this game are uniquely styled, some even having a purpose of helping the player along the map. Although it should be noted that the most these enemies will do is stun Sami, not kill him. (Though sometimes the stunning can lead to death!)
Each level is on a time limit, one that is increasingly difficult to abide by the further you foray into this game. Fortunately, the coins you collect on each stage add a second each to the timer, buying you some extra time! The camera function in this game is unique as well! It usually is manual, allowing for another level of control (and difficulty) in the game play.
CUSTOMIZE
What I appreciate most about Super Sami Roll is the ability to customize the game. By that, I don’t just mean graphics. Although the game does allow you to tweak the video settings a fair amount, the best part about it is the ability the player has to customize Sami.
Instead of a stage, one of the landmarks are set aside for a shop run by a chill mosquito. The mosquito offers a bunch of different purchasable options for the player, from little hats for Sami to wear to little spray paint bottles to recolor him.
It is also in this shop where a player can purchase and unlock the multiplayer mode.
MULTIPLAYER
After purchasing the marble item from the cool mosquito, players unlock the multiplayer version of the game. Contrary to what one might think, Sami is completely absent, replaced with different colored marbles.
Here, multiple players race across the geometric map towards the end of the maze, each represented by a different colored marble. There is also a time limit, setting the players on not only a race against themselves, but also a race against time itself.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re looking to find a game both frustrating and addicting, look no further. Super Sami Roll is overall a fun and fast paced game to play. The customizing ability, though not needed, allows the player to personalize their character as they race through complex mazes.
I will say, however, that the game appears to be more attuned for a controller than a keyboard. There were several times in my playing the game, most of all when it came to the shop, where this became blatantly obvious. I would get stuck, unable to exit without tabbing out and exiting the game entirely. It was only through mashing my keyboard that I was able to find the correct way to navigate certain menus obviously designed for a controller.
I do not want to make it seem like the game was not properly ported, however. There are times, when introducing new combos, where they picture typical mouse and keyboard controls. It seems that the game was ported for the computer fully, but they might have overlooked the navigation in the shop and menus when doing so.
Super Sami Roll is an interesting new game, showcasing a lot of potential on the developers’ parts. It brings the nostalgia of old N64 games and marries it into modern gaming. However, I will say that its loyalty to the controller and sometimes purely frustrating levels might make it a bit unappealing to the average PC player.
SCORE: 6.8/10
Check Out the Super Sami Roll Trailer:
Super Sami Roll is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Super Sami Roll 3D Platformer Heading to Steam July 21
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Steam Review
Victoria's fascination with games dates as far back to the early days of Newgrounds, where she became enthralled with the patchwork flash games that the site boasted. From there, she continued onward, playing a multitude of different games, diversifying her taste with every new day. Whether it was talking to Alduin at Skyrim's peak, or romancing Sebastian in Stardew Valley, she has always been fixated on the mechanics of games, as well as the diversified culture that backgrounds them. Even to this day she continues trying new genres: from RPGs, to Roguelites, to even more quaint experiences found in Cozy games.
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