Rollerdrome

{{Infobox video game

| title = Rollerdrome

| image = Rollerdrome cover art.jpg

| developer = Roll7

| publisher = Private Division (2021–2025)
2K (2025–)

| producer = Drew Jones

| director = Paul Rabbitte

| engine = Unity{{cite web|url=https://blog.unity.com/games/made-with-unity-2022-in-review|title=Made with Unity: 2022 in review|work=Unity Technologies|date=2022-12-27|accessdate=2023-07-31}}

| composer = Electric Dragon

| designer = Andreas Yiannikaris

| released = {{ubl|Windows, PS4, PS5|August 16, 2022|Xbox Series X/S|November 28, 2023}}

| modes = Single-player

| genre = Action

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox Series X/S}}

}}

Rollerdrome is an action video game developed by Roll7 and originally published by Private Division. The game was released on August 16, 2022, for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It was also released for Xbox Series X/S on November 28, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rollerdrome-finally-gets-an-xbox-series-x-and-s-release-date-and-its-coming-to-game-pass|title=Rollerdrome Finally Gets an Xbox Series X and S Release Date — and It's Coming to Game Pass|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|website=IGN|date=October 31, 2023|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}

Gameplay

Players assume control of Kara Hassan, a participant in a deadly sport named "Rollerdrome" in which contestants must perform roller-skating tricks while fighting against enemies using firearms.{{cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/rollerdrome-preview-pc-roller-skates-shooting/|title=Rollerdrome Combines Sick Roller Skate Tricks & Gunplay for a Great Time – Preview|first=KC|last=Nwosu|work=The Escapist|date=July 26, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} As a third-person shooter,{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/rollerdrome-preview-olliolli-skates-ps5-steam-160030108.html|title='Rollerdrome' preview: Twitchy dystopian bloodsport is my new favorite genre|first=Jessica|last=Conditt|website=Engadget|date=July 26, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} ammunition is refilled by performing various roller-skating tricks, while health is restored by acquiring health pick-ups from defeated enemies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2022/07/27/my-rollerdrome-preview-is-late-because-i-cant-stop-playing-it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727224850/https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2022/07/27/my-rollerdrome-preview-is-late-because-i-cant-stop-playing-it|url-status=live|archive-date=July 27, 2022|title=My Rollerdrome Preview Is Late Because I Can't Stop Playing It|first=Alex|last=Van Aken|magazine=Game Informer|date=July 27, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022}} Players skate throughout various stages while dodging incoming attacks, and using a bullet time function to aim weaponry. As players complete levels, they will gradually unlock more powerful weapons such as grenade launchers and shotguns, though they will have to face more challenging enemies as the game progresses.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rollerdrome-preview-extreme-sports-just-got-a-whole-lot-more-extreme|title=Rollerdrome Preview: Extreme, Sports Just Got a Whole Lot More Extreme|first=Travis|last=Northup|website=IGN|date=July 30, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} Each stage also has optional challenges, which prompt players to perform feats such as eliminating enemies while performing certain tricks.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/rollerdome-brings-together-the-very-best-of-roll7|title=Rollerdrome brings together the very best of Roll7|first=Christian|last=Donlan|website=Eurogamer|date=July 26, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}}

Development

Rollerdrome was developed by Roll7, the company behind the OlliOlli series. The game was initially a side project of solo game designer Paul Rabbitte. Rollerdrome was initially conceived by Rabbite during a 48-hour game jam hosted by Game Maker's Toolkit in 2017 with the theme of 'Dual Purpose Design'.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Chris |date=2022-08-15 |title=Rollerdrome is Proof That Even Simple Concepts can Make a Game Stand Out |url=https://onemoregame.ph/rollerdrome-concept-came-from-game-jam-event/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=One More Game |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=THE ROLLER DOME by ChonkuRabb |url=https://sopcen.itch.io/the-roller-dome |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=itch.io |language=en}} Roll7 took a liking to this prototype, and Rabbite subsequently joined Roll7 to finish the project. Rabbitte at that time described the game's prototype as a mix between Tony Hawk's games and Doom.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/rollerdrome-hands-on-preview/|title=Rollerdrome preview: Hands-on with the skating sensation born from a viral tweet|first=Jon|last=Bailes|website=GamesRadar+|date=July 26, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} The game's spent two years in production, with the team spending the first year of development deciding the core gameplay. They ultimately decided that Rollerdrome would primarily be a shooter game, though the skating mechanics will heavily complement with gunplay. Players will not fall despite failing to perform a trick. This is an intentional gameplay design decision to ensure players can maintain their momentum in both skating and combat.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rollerdrome-is-like-slapping-roller-skates-on-max-payne/1100-6505863/|title=Rollerdrome Is Like Slapping Roller Skates On Max Payne|first=Phil|last=Hornshaw|website=GameSpot|date=July 26, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} According to lead producer Drew Jones, the game was "a wealth of fantastic inspiration from the 1970s", citing Rollerball and The Running Man as examples. The game features a stylized, cel-shaded visual style since the team believed that a simple art style would not compromise gameplay readability and that players would not be easily overwhelmed.{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/games/features/1232243-roll7-rollerdrome-olliolli-world-interview|title=Interview: How Roll7 Released 2 Games in 6 months Without Falling Apart|first=Michael|last=Leri|website=ComingSoon|date=July 27, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}}

Roll7 and publisher Private Division announced the game on June 2, 2022, during Sony's State of Play event. The game was released for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on August 16, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/23152444/rollerdrome-trailer-roller-derby-playstation-5-ps4-pc-roll7|title=Rollerdrome will make roller derby deadly|first=Ana|last=Diaz|website=Polygon|date=June 2, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}}

After Take Two Interactive's sale of Private Division and Roll7's dissolution in 2024, the publishing rights to the game were transferred to 2K.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Vikki |date=2025-02-02 |title=Roll7's critically acclaimed skating games OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome mysteriously yanked from Steam |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/roll7s-critically-acclaimed-skating-games-olliolliworld-and-rollerdrome-mysteriously-yanked-from-steam |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}

Reception

{{video game reviews

| MC = PC: 81/100
PS5: 79/100

| EuroG = Essential

| GRadar = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| GSpot = 8/10

| GI = 8.5/10

| IGN = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Dornbush |first=Jonathon |date=2022-08-22 |title=Rollerdrome Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rollerdrome-review |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=IGN |language=en}}

| PCGUS = 94/100{{Cite web |last=Greer |first=Sam |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/rollerdrome-review/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=PCGamer |language=en}}

| Destruct = 8.5/10{{Cite web |last=Andriessen |first=CJ |date=2022-09-01 |title=Review: Rollerdrome |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/rollerdrome-review-destructoid/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Destructoid |language=en-CA}}

| SN = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome review: Trick shots |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/131860/rollerdrome-review-trick-shots |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}

| TG = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=Regan |first=Tom |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome review – skating as a bloodsport |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/aug/16/rollerdrome-review-skating-as-a-bloodsport |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

| PSQ = {{rating|8|10}}{{Cite web |last=Croft |first=Liam |date=2022-08-16 |title=Review: Rollerdrome (PS5) - Just As Good As Tony Hawk's Pro Skater |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/rollerdrome |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Push Square |language=en-GB}}

}}

According to review aggregator Metacritic, Rollerdrome released "generally favorable reviews" upon release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rollerdrome/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Rollerdrome for PC reviews|work=Metacritic|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rollerdrome/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|title=Rollerdrome for PlayStation 5 reviews|website=Metacritic|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}

GameSpot enjoyed the way the game incorporated skating gameplay with traditional third-person shooter mechanics, remarking "it never feels like the tricks are an impediment to the shooting; instead, they're the secret ingredient that helps Rollerdrome stand apart from other shooters".{{Cite web |last=Hornshaw |first=Phil |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome Review: Skate Or Die |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rollerdrome-review-skate-or-die/1900-6417938/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}} The Guardian praised the flow state that players could achieve with combos, but criticized the high difficulty spikes as "downright brutal". Game Informer liked how tricks were needed to reload, causing the player to rely on trying to "dazzle the crowd or down an adversary".{{Cite magazine |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome Review - A Dystopian Delight |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/rollerdrome/a-dystopian-delight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816130030/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/rollerdrome/a-dystopian-delight |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-24 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}} The Washington Post felt that the game could be unclear on where the player could skate, writing "I often felt the wind knocked out of my sails when I failed to get that one wall ride to the balcony some gunman was on. It started to feel like a flaw in a certain map’s design and not a challenge".{{Cite news |last=Amenabar |first=Teddy |date=2022-08-16 |title='Rollerdrome' brings gunfights to skateparks but it’s no 'Pro Skater' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/rollerdrome-game-ps5-release/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} GamesRadar+ disliked how the game failed to make full usage of the arenas, "each arena may look different, but they rarely challenge you to use their layouts in creative ways".{{Cite web |author1=Jon Bailes |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome review: "Reaches impressive heights, but keeps dropping back down to earth" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/rollerdrome-review/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} Eurogamer praised the artstyle, comparing it favorably to magazines and the works of Jean Giraud.{{Cite news |last=Tapsell |first=Chris |date=2022-08-16 |title=Rollerdrome review - Roll7 delivers a game of impossible style |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/rollerdrome-review-roll7-delivers-a-game-of-impossible-style |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=Eurogamer |language=en-gb}} The game crossed 1 million players on March 19, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Rollerdrome Achieves Milestone with Over One Million Players |url=https://manualdroid.com/rollerdrome-achieves-milestone-with-over-one-million-players/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Manual Droid |language=en-US}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable"

! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Ref

style="text-align:center;" | 2022

| Golden Joystick Awards

| Best Indie Game

| {{nom}}

| {{centered|{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/elden-ring-leads-nominations-as-voting-opens-for-the-golden-joystick-awards-2022/ |title=Time is running out to cast your vote in the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 |date=2022-10-20 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=GamesRadar+ |last=Jones |first=Ali |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026032547/https://www.gamesradar.com/elden-ring-leads-nominations-as-voting-opens-for-the-golden-joystick-awards-2022/ |archive-date=2022-10-26 |url-status=live}}}}

style="text-align:center;" | 2023

| 19th British Academy Games Awards

| British Game

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/bafta-games-awards-2023-nominations-announced |title=BAFTA Games Awards 2023 Nominations Announced |date=2023-03-02 |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=IGN |last=Wood |first=Anthony}}

Rollerdrome

Gameplay

Development

Reception

=Accolades=

References

External links