Rocket Knight Review

The current-gen sequel to the classic 16-bit series is a solid action-platformer full of intense rocketing fun.

After 16 years of waiting, Konami has finally rewarded fans with the current-gen sequel to the Sega Genesis’s Rocket Knight Adventures and its follow-up Sparkster (a totally different SNES version called Sparkster was also released). The series pitted the Rocket Knight opossum Sparkster, hero of the Kingdom of Zephyrus, against the evil Devotindos Empire of pigs as well as the lizard Gedol Empire. The games’ central mechanics had Sparkster swinging his sword while using his powerful jetpack to rocket through enemies and careen through tight corridors. 

The new follow-up for the PSN, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam, simply titled Rocket Knight and developed by Climax Group, picks up 15 years after Sparkster’s last adventure. The once villainous Devotindos Empire has made a treaty with the Kingdom of Zephyrus, trading their technology in return for help rebuilding their country. As opossums and pigs live and work side by side, it appears all is well. Sparkster has given up his life as a Rocket Knight, and enjoys the quiet life of a farmer with his wife and young son.  This peace is shattered as he witnesses the Wolf Army invading his beloved kingdom. As opossum and pig alike desperately attempt to defend against the devastating attack, Sparkster digs out his sword and jetpack once again.  It’s time for the hero to return!

The visual style of the series has been given an overhaul with new 2.5D graphics. The visuals are bursting with color and cartoony charm, with a look familiar to those who have played the older games while bringing a refreshing new aesthetic to the series.  The characters’ interactions are hilarious and charming, playing out without dialogue or voice acting, a wise decision on Climax’s part.  The soundtrack also contains some of the classic themes from the original Rocket Knight Adventures, and is pleasant enough, but unfortunately does little to distinguish itself from any other game of this type.

Sparkster has a basic set of moves that are used throughout the entire game. A basic sword swing has an arc to hit close foes anywhere around Sparkster, while rapid burst projectiles, limited by your jetpack’s fuel meter, can take out foes from a distance at half the damage. The real draw of Rocket Knight is using the jetpack’s various abilities.  This includes blasting forward in any direction, whether up or down, left or right, or any 45 degree angle. Double-tapping your rocket button will end your trajectory with a drilling spin, doing twice the normal damage to enemies and smashing you through cracked barriers.  Pressing the rocket button with no direction causes you to spin in place with sword out like a buzzsaw.  These rocket powers are limited only by your fuel meter, which is quickly spent but recharges on its own.