Publisher: Sony
Developer: Recoil Games
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: Teen
Release Date: Available now

One of these days, someone really ought to release a game called “Metroidvania” and retire on the never-ending residuals. That superlative; the Reese’s Peanut Butter cup-style fusion of two great things – in this case Super Metroid and Castlevania; is usually all an action-adventure fan needs to hear to know their money is well spent. Those titles certainly hit a sweet spot for people who hunger for games that reward methodical exploration with carefully doled out abilities that open new, exciting reaches of whatever castle or labyrinth they happen to be exploring. A few years ago, Chair Entertainment (a subsidiary of Epic) took the “Metroidvania” formula and married it to the spy genre; churning out one of the better titles that year, Shadow Conspiracy. And while the wait for that game’s sequel continues, we now have Recoil Games’ Rochard to scratch the itch as their PSN exclusive aims to send players scrambling through a variety of interstellar installations solving puzzles, chasing down new pathways and keeping the “Metroidvania” dream alive.

Rochard is both the main character’s name and a really bad pun. See, John Rochard (pronounced with a hard ‘C’) is a good ol’ boy space miner, toiling away for the cosmic conglomerate Skyrig, whose bread and butter is made by blasting away at asteroids in hopes of finding treasured minerals. It’s during one of Rochard’s latest missions that he unearths something far more mysterious, sending him on the run from the nefarious space pirates and other shadowy conspirators who are quick to put a lid on things. The game plays out on a vibrantly designed 2D platforming plane and requires John to work through a number of tricky puzzles and combat situations to save the day.

Rochard may sport the look of a next-gen “Metroidvania” title, but it borrows a significant chunk of its game play from another modern classic: the gravity gun from Half Life 2. Named the G-Lifter, this “tool” is used by Rochard to move obstacles out of his way by utilizing a gravitational beam. As the player works through the maze-like interiors of the various asteroids and facilities Rochard is sent into, the G-Lifter is called upon to work in concert with the environment and the particular navigational challenges that working in weightless orbital surroundings can introduce. This leads to a number of physics-based puzzles that demand players exercise their brain in order to clear a path to the next puzzle-laden stretch of landscape. Along the way, a number of combat opportunities present themselves, requiring Rochard to utilize the G-Link and the more offensive attacks afforded by his trusty Rock Blaster to turn the tables on his attackers.

Rochard is most enjoyable when it’s following its primary directive of puzzle-based exploration. All of the conundrums you’ll encounter can be resolved by careful observation and manipulation of your surroundings. In the best puzzle game fashion, the tools you need to survive are right at the gamer’s fingertips with little need for backtracking. If you step back and take a look at where you are at, those delightful “ah-hah” moments occur with satisfying regularity. Early on, John also gains a tool which allows him to momentarily alter gravity. This factors into the various platforming sections you’ll encounter, adding another element to consider when working your way through the adventure.

Of course, John is on the run from a legion of space mercenaries which leads to several combat sequences. These play out similarly to those in recent 2D adventures such as Bionic Commando and Shadow Conspiracy, although those games certainly gave players more weapons to fend off their foes. The lunch-pail toting John is not a traditional action hero, so his battles play a bit more loose. That may be the intent but there is no doubt that Rochard is most engaging when it’s focused on the puzzle-solving and can grow unnecessarily frustrating when the game sends an armada of foes your way and you feel significantly underpowered. That said, the melees can be overcome and fortunately, the generous checkpoint system never sends you back too far should Rochard fall victim to his pursuers.

Rochard is another great downloadable title that underscores the notion that an independent game design renaissance is in full swing. Each month seems to bring forth another carefully crafted and entertaining title that flourishes on the downloadable frontier. While it takes elements from popular, proven titles in the “Metroidvania” form, from its unique ‘Everyman as adventurer’ to its masterful sequences of brain-teasing exploration, Rochard mines a great gaming experience.

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