Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre: Shooter

Number of Players: 1 - 4 (on or offline)

Support: HD 1080i, PS Network Compatible, Leaderboards

Peripherals: Ethernet Broadband

One of the things that I have enjoyed the most regarding downloadable games on whatever systems applicable network is that many of the new titles that have been released have a definite old school appeal to them. They don’t necessarily look like the games that were seen a few decades ago and they have definitive modernization to them, but they also have a distinct retro feel. Simplicity is what made games work and developers then probably couldn’t have imagined the direction that the industry would take in years to come. Once again that retro feel comes home thanks to downloadable content in a game that will remind some of a classic arcade and home console game from years past.

Rocketmen: Axis of Evil is actually based on the license from WizKids, a subdivision of Wizards of the Coast, and I’m sure that most have probably no idea what Rocketmen is all about. That might be one of the big pays off though since familiarity with the constructible strategy games isn’t required. What should be know is that sometime in the distant future, the fate of the universe is once again in peril, something that seemingly happens all too often these days. The Martians are up to no good, another thing that I think we’ve all seen too often, and they are threatening the peaceful stability of the galaxy. It’s up to you, as Rocketman (or Rocketwoman I suppose depending on your character design) to get to the bottom of their nefarious plans before thigns really get out of hand, and your allies from the Alliance of Free Planets, namely Nick Sion andAlec Mink, don’t seem to be too much help. So, as you have encountered time and time again, the fate of the entire solar system is in your hands.

Prior to diving into the game, players will design and customize their own characters. While Rocketmen isn’t as in-depth as what you might find in one of the WWE titles for example, it isn’t a game where you really need to be concerned with how you look onscreen as Rocketmen is a top-view shooter though you will get to at least view your character in the games many cutscenes that help to further detail the story and events as you fight against the evil Martians. The character customization gives you three different races to play as, human, Mercurian, or Venusian, offers three different class types (which I honestly noticed no difference between) and of course lets you choose between being male or female. From there, you can change the color and look of the character to suit your needs. While it’s rather basic, it suits the needs for the game.

The overall gameplay is quite easy to grasp and Rocketmen uses the same control scheme that has been found in other games like Super Stardust HD (still a favorite for this reviewer) among other titles. The most basic idea here is that the left analog stick is used to move your character while the right allows full, 360 degree firing, but there is more to the game than just moving and firing, though that is a lot of it. There are objects that you can interact with and this is done easily by getting into the vicinity and, as the game instructs you, mashing X. You may not need to do this to open doors, but just about everything else requires you to tap the button like your virtual life was dependant upon it, and it actually us.

Rocketmen plays very similarly to an arcade hit from 1990 that some may remember fondly; Smash TV. However, Rocketmen adds in plenty of other things that make it stand out a bit more. The idea is still to blast through wave after wave of enemy, but you aren’t restricted to a single, bland looking room and instead will constantly be on the move as you push deeper into Martian territory. There are secondary weapons that can be obtained and even purchased at the end of stages that you will select through by using the shoulder buttons not to mention there are a wealth of primary weapons that can be grabbed on the fly and used until their ammunition is exhausted. There are also plenty of bonus items that can be picked up, and later sucked up, which play an important role as well.

At the end of any given stage, you will be rewarded, first by getting some congratulatory piece of armor. Once you accepted this, or declined if you’re just feeling that it might clash with the scheme you have going, you picky hero, you will see the results of the damage you have reigned down upon your enemies in the way of you amassed sum of experience. Every Martian that you send to an early grave is worth experience which can be used by your character to upgrade their stats so that your health, speed, or even armor will be more prepared for the road ahead. There are also monetary equivalents that can be grabbed as well as other icons which you can then turn over to improve your weaponry, buy more secondary weapons, or even pick up a nifty new suit of armor to help you on your way.

The thing is though that Rocketmen has a lot of creatures crawling out of the woodwork, or maybe steelwork, to end your life. Each time you die, you will loose experience points, and this is cumulative and continues to increase in the total loss. There are health icons to give you a little pick up, but that’s not always enough, and that’s where another element of the game can help tremendously. Rocketmen offers players the ability to play with their friends, up to four of them, and they don’t necessarily have to be present in your living room either. If you want to host your own online game or join one, you are free to do so with the character that you’ve crated and this can help to build up stats even quicker than the game would normally allow. Saving the universe alone is fine, but with friends, it’s much easier.

Rocketmen uses a cel-shaded look which suits the game rather well. It’s all about hardcore action and destruction, and the carton style lends well to another element of the visual approach. Rocketmen has a retro look to it, but more along the lines of the old science fiction serials of yesteryear. The early Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon cliffhangers that used to be a huge part of the cinema going experience that my grandparents certainly remember seems to have been a huge influence in how some of the game was designed. You’ll see this quite often in the cutscenes which are done in s still image style, much like a comic book, but it carries over into the regular gameplay as well and makes for some entertaining mayhem.

A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games really has done an outstanding job of giving this new generation shooter the feel of an old school classic, and for anyone who remembers the likes of Smash TV and the games that tried to follow its success, Rocketmen will certainly give you that warm, fuzzy feeling that you undoubtedly had then. It may be a simple game, but this is something that I’ve often pointed out; the old school games didn’t need to be complicated and simplicity actually can make for an enjoyable game. Rocketmen is without a doubt enjoyable, it’s addictive, and at times, it can be downright difficult and that’s certain to keep gamers playing for some time to come.

-mike-