Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 Review

The sequel to the classic Sega Genesis game is fun, but not without its problems.

As Rocket Knight prepares to blast its way to PSN, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam next month, we at That Gaming Site decided to take a look at the previous entries in the series.  Six months ago, we reviewed Rocket Knight Adventures, and today we see how its Sega Genesis sequel Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 stacks up.

The story has our hero Sparkster, the Rocket Knight opossum, facing a new threat after defeating the pig army of the evil Devotindos Empire.  The equally diabolical Gedol Empire, led by the monstrous lizard King Gedol, now attacks the Rocket Knights' kingdom of Zebulos.  Gedol sends the traitor Knight Axel Gear to destroy Sparkster.  The hero finds himself overpowered and the innocent Princess Cherry is kidnapped.  Now Sparkster must again rocket into action to save both the Princess and his kingdom from enemy hands.

For this sequel, you, as Sparkster, once again attack with your trusty sword.  This time around, however, the sword does not fire off projectiles, but can be upgraded with a flaming power-up for greater damage.  The rocket pack has also been upgraded.  Rather than having to charge it by holding down the attack button like in Rocket Knight Adventures, it charges automatically in a matter of seconds, with flight activated by the press of a button.  This blasts you forward about a screen and half in any direction pressed on the control pad, whether up or down, left or right, or any 45 degree angle.  By pressing no direction, you spin in place with sword out like a rodent buzzsaw.  The pack has two charge levels; level one will let you blast forward with sword out, while the second level will cause you to spin forward like a fiery corkscrew.  This has greater attacking power than level one flight, and enables such unique abilities as twisting screw-like levers to open barriers.  Rocketing against a wall or enemy at an angle will bounce you back at a 45 degree angle, which is a central strategic mechanic to quickly fly around tight corners, take out enemies’ elusive weak spots, and escape attacks.  Rocketing also makes you semi-invincible, saving your tail often.  Speaking of your tail, you can use it hang from rails and climb along them.

These basic mechanics, while simple, must be mastered to get through the adventure.  While rocketing properly is crucial to defeating the numerous enemies and bosses, picking up strategically-placed items, and dodging through obstacles, little misjudgments can spell your doom.  Herein lies the game’s greatest challenge and its biggest frustration.  One wrong move often means ending up behind a barrier in automatically scrolling stages, or being outrun by a deadly laser, both resulting in instant death.  Imperfect ricocheting will frequently plop you into a pool of lava or down a bottomless pit.  These plentiful opportunities to lose multiple lives prompt nightmarish flashbacks of Battletoads (though that game was much cheaper).