RocketElite

Review #1

.: By: Shaun Beane :: Device used: iPAQ H3650 :: May 23, 2001 :: Buy this game :.

This review should have been done several days ago, but I have a good excuse... I haven’t been able to put this game down! While there has been a fair amount of PPC games that have been released over the past two months, I had yet to find a game that I just couldn’t put down. Especially after playing it for a couple weeks. I downloaded the demo as soon as it came out because it looked promising and the demo alone blew away most of the games I’ve played on my iPAQ. I rarely even download demos because of the limited play and possible bugs. I haven’t even mastered the demo yet. I just kept playing the first level over and over. After seeing the high score listing on the RocketElite website, I became obsessed with beating the scores. Not that I have had any luck doing so, but it gave me something to shoot for. RocketElite has an unbelievable amount of replayability.

Getting started with RocketElite is quite simple, once you have gone through the most painstaking registration process ever known to man. I purchased RocketElite the day it was released. I clicked on the purchase link, entered my credit card info and, after a short verification process, I was forwarded to the download page (piece of cake so far). Then, after I finished downloading, I was forwarded to a page that gave me a product key. I had to install the game on my iPAQ first, then record a registration number from the game, input that number on the product key page and click submit. I was then given a number that I had to input in the game. Finally, the game was registered... I think. That’s OK though; it was well worth the effort.

Installation was a breeze. After you have all your registration info entered, the game menu gives you several options: new game, jump gate, controls, high scores, options and quit. Jump gate allows you to “fast forward” to any level you have successfully reached. Controls gives you screen shot of the iPAQ and an explanation of what all the buttons are used for, followed by a screen that gives you hints on how to better control your ship, and the last screen lists the power-ups and allows you to view a demo or the intro. High scores is pretty self explanatory. Game options include: difficulty, show frames/second (on/off), limit frames/second (on/off), training mode, multiplayer mode, IrDA port, log score codes and developer mode.

I would definitely recommend playing several rounds of the game in training mode to get familiar with controls and layout of the different levels. Training mode is basically a slow motion version of the game. It really gives you a chance to understand how to fly your ship and practice, practice, and practice your landings some more! Landings are a key part to this game. The better and more accurate the landing, the more points.

Each level has different missions. For example, retrieve astronauts, retrieve equipment, and practice safe landings. Once you have accomplished your mission and gathered all the points you can (or want) you exit the level by flying straight up. At the end of each level you will be rewarded a fuel bonus, equipment bonus and points for completing the mission. I haven’t figured out how the fuel bonus works yet because it doesn’t seem to relate back to how much fuel is remaining. Anyway, you also are given a score code that you can record at the RocketElite website; similar to Turjah’s high score page.

I found the missions to be fairly basic. I have more fun trying to better my score by perfecting my landings. Remember I said that landings are a key to this game? Well, here’s a few tips. First, the more accurate a landing, the higher your points. There are several landing areas (some marked by flags, others just a flat surface barely big enough for your ship) throughout the levels. The closer to the center of the landing surface you get, the higher you score. It seems that a normal landing area yields 600 points for a perfect landing. Smaller, unmarked areas, yield much higher. Secondly, you can “make” smaller landing areas by blowing your ship up and having the pieces divide landing areas into several smaller ones. This yields big points – the bummer is that you lose a life. This method seems to be widely used. I found it after reading several pages on RocketElite’s forum pages. The highest I’ve scored for a landing was 3100 points. I read some people scoring over 5000 for a landing! Third, three point landings yield the highest points. Three point landings are when your ship basically lands on its side, or belly, however you look at it. These are not easy! Trust me; I’ve spent several hours trying to perfect them. Use the training mode to practice.

Each level has different equipment that you can retrieve. Shield, landing assistance, rockets, bombs, and radar, just to name a few. Extra lives are also hidden throughout the different levels. Don’t miss these, they could come in handy! The first level has one hidden in the water. Don’t get too close to the water or you’ll be gobbled up. I’ll let you find the rest.

Definitely check out the forums on RocketElite's website. Some very helpful hints about this game are discussed. The author is always answering questions too. Which makes me believe that this game will be well supported.

Every good game should have a level designer. RocketElite definitely does not fall short in this category. The only complaints that I could find about Turjah and it’s sequel Turjah 2 usually discuss replayability. Once you have finished a level, it’s very annoying to have to go back to the beginning and start over once you die. RocketElite is not like this at all. You can play this a couple different ways: score high points or just finish the missions. With a level designer, this game will have a fresh taste for quite some time. All of the great desktop titles have level designers – why not PPC titles too? This is a first for Pocket PC’s isn’t it? There is a very detailed page on the website describing how to build your own custom levels.

Next up, multiplayer mode! This is where I’m very disappointed. Not by the game, but by not being able to find anybody else who has a Pocket PC! I’ve been dying to try out the multiplayer mode but I don’t know anybody who has a Pocket PC! Anybody live in Southern Maine? From reading the forums, this sounds very exciting. There is a death match level that has very limited hiding places and is built specifically for a killing you’re opponent. I can’t wait to try this!

I can’t say enough good things about this game. Doug Beck (the author) has revolutionized the Pocket PC gaming platform! Doug claims to have reached over 100 frames per second in this game and it’s very obvious once you’ve play this game that he’s not lying. The game has 44 levels – and unlimited add-ons! The game requires 7 meg of free program memory to run but seems to load and run flawlessly if you have less available.

This game is simply incredible. There are several features that I believe that set this game far above the rest. Finally, somebody listened to the PPC gaming community and included multiplayer mode and a level designer. This puts RocketElite on a par with desktop titles. I’m sure there is room for improvement, but in my opinion, no other game currently available for Pocket PC’s comes close in comparison. With that said, for the first time I will award a game a perfect 10! Well done Doug!

What's elite:

• 100 frames per second

• Replayability

• Level designer

• Amazing physics

• Sharp graphics

• Multiplayer mode!

• An author who listens!

What's not:

• Mind boggling registration process

Shaun's score: 10/10

Review #2

.: By: Mark Jackson :: Device used: iPAQ H3650 :: May 23, 2001 :: Buy this game :.

Over the past few months since Christmas the Pocket PC gaming market has begun to make a dramatic turn towards an ever-professional community. Popular developers such as Jimmy Software are going to start finding it hard to compete in a market where games are much more than just simple scroll and shooters.

With advanced titles such as Quake, ZIOGolf 2, Need For Speed, SimCity 2000 and some other stunning 3D games surfing to an iPAQ and E-125 near you, the market is starting to become truly competitive. Now is a time to innovate and not renovate, which brings us nicely to RocketElite.


Lander All Over Again

Hands up if you’re old enough to remember the BBC Master system and a once little known game going by the name of Lander? It was a simple 2D game in which you had to navigate a small space module to land on any flat land you could find, thus scoring points.

The title demonstrated that you didn’t need an umber computer in order to handle simple, yet smooth and realistic physics. RocketElite pays homage to Lander by taking the formula up a few notches, giving it a slightly more detailed and interactive style of play.

Essentially you use the stylus on-screen to move and fire the thrusters of your space module, which must be landed on platforms to score, pickup expansion packs or to simply rescue hostages.

Play It Again Sam.. And Again.. And..

The whole point of RocketElite (RE) is the mastery of navigation, so that you’ll eventually be able to take your craft just about anywhere through skill alone. Along the way you’ll have to fight gravity, physics, laser turrets and possibly other alien craft in order to score or win whatever goals the level sets out.

As usual with such a game you can expect to be stuck on Level1 for a while until you master the craft enough to move on. RE is not an easy game to get use to, but once you are then it’s truly amazing just how much fun you can have simply trying to land and score.

Despite the gameplay being visually repetitive, the actual addiction is enough to keep you going for hours on end, or at least until your batteries run out. To this end RE should be considered illegal because of its similarities to some popular Class-A drugs. You can lose your life over this thing.


Playing Through

You get to play through numerous levels, all based on locations such as Mars and various other planets, each complemented with high-res 2D graphics and some astounding particle effects. The game gets more difficult as you progress by adding turrets, alien craft, limiting fuel and of course making landing a more treacherous task through narrow cavern passes and smaller pads.

Such elements also increase through the difficulty levels, requiring an ever present and increased amount of skill in order to overcome the various obstacles. Yet RE is so much more; you can even use the IrDA port to challenge fellow Pocket PC owners to a multiplayer game. Not only that, but it was designed for the iPAQ and its lack of multiple button presses; thus, owners of such devices will be very happy indeed.

However RE isn’t without fault, the levels often feel unattached and poorly connected, many unable to represent what they’re supposed to (Mars isn’t that red guys). You’re also unable to outfit your craft; it would have been nice to have that element before a level starts. The ability to add modules such as extra fuel tanks and lasers etc. could have improved depth.

You also have the sound to consider, which seems just right for such a game, although some ambient music to simulate the mood of various caves and such wouldn’t have gone amiss.


The Verdict

RE is a game that takes an old idea, redefines it for the Pocket PC and then blows almost all its competition clean out of the water. You’ll soon forget about visual fests such as Quake, SimCity 2000 and Need For Speed when you play RE and suddenly find yourself engulfed in its simplicity and style.

RE is without a doubt the most addictive game currently on the market and its use of Fixed Point Math also means that an equally fast Casio E-125 version will arrive fairly soon. After you’ve played RocketElite, games from Jimmy Software will suddenly become things of the distant past.

What's a blast:

• Addictive Gameplay

• Stunning Multiplayer

• Sexy Graphics & Effects

• Clean Cut & Accurate Sounds

• Did I mention – Addictive Gameplay?

What's not:

• Steep Learning Curve

• Levels don’t seem to ‘connect’; they’re often too different from each other and don’t suit the environment.

Suggestion: If there’s to be a RocketElite 2 then I truly hope the author turns 2D into 3D =) and no I don’t mean like Lander on the PC (1998). Simply make the levels with a little 3D perspective so you can see the depth of platforms, that’d be stunning – little extrusion in 3D goes along way.

Mark's score: 9.5/10 (nothing's 100% perfect)

.: Game category: Action & Arcade Games :: Reviews Index :: Buy this game :.

Editor's Note:

The two scores are combined to give an average of 10/10 (RocketElite is the first game to achieve this score).