As hard as this game is, it is actually harder to describe with words. A hardcore puzzle/action title for the thinkers.
You play the game as a gravity defying ball that must roll its way up, over, around and through various cubes and obstacles to an exit square. The playfield is made up of cubes and rectangles existing on a plane above a generic landscape. The objective is to open the exit by collecting keys all the while staying on the cubes and not falling into the abyss around you. Time is short, and you must get to the exit before the ever present timer hits 0:00. You must move the ball along the cubes all the while collecting coins, treats,keys, enhancers and bonus items. The direction pad controls movement and a single button allows the ball to "jump" . The R1 button tilts the screen top-down so the player can determine potential jump spots or to reveal hidden paths. It has no real plot or story arc to speak of. There are no characters or personalities presented here (excluding the ball itself of course, which oddly enough does attain a certain amount of character without distinct personification). There are no villians nor do you battle any bosses. Your only objectives are to avoid any obstacles presented, open the exit and generally conquer the maze. I use maze loosely here, as it is more of an obstacle course you take on. The maze aspect is the brain digging a player must do to figure out the proper path to collect the keys and to open the exit. It is a real challenge to determine the right way to take, and pausing the game reveals the course in all its' floating glory, helping you make an assessment of the challenge. I suggest you look at some pics of this game to get an idea of how everything is presented. The game occupies such a surreal environment and cerebral plane, that words really fall short of bringing justice to the game.
Rollaway, like any puzzler worth its' salt, is easy to get into but very challenging to master. The game contain a heap of stages and a nice variety of different cubes and bonuses. Stages are broken up into worlds that contain their own specific nuances. Collecting the designated amount of fruits which are littered throughout stages opens up Bonus areas. These disco-like Bonus stages test the player to collect the treats while lighting up the cubes "Billie Jean" style. You know...the M.J. classic where each dance step lights up where ever the gloved one steps. As I continue to struggle in my attempts to accurately describe this abstract game, know that this game is challenging and addictive. Control is tight. The graphics are simple, clean (even if the token backgrounds are quite pixelated) and colorful. Sound is adequate for what it is, although fairly unimportant to the game itself. This game will test your problem solving and spatial skills to the max. Gamers lacking patience and the desire to think too hard need not apply. This is a thinking players game, and it does not attempt to define itself as anything you have ever played before. Playing this game can be hectic and nerve racking, but the player will always feel a great sense of accomplishment completing a stage....even if it takes 30 or more attempts to do so. A nice bar graph visually represents your stats and skill during save points (which occur when you complete a "world" which consists of numerous individual stages) and/or the end of the game. The general presentation of the game is tight and focused. It is obvious that the effort was made by Game Design Sweden to create a distinct look and feel to this game. The effort pays off as there is nothing quite like this title out there, it is truly one-of-a-kind.
This is not a light puzzle/action game. This is an intense experience for the hardcores out there. Later stages are incredibly difficult and truly test the ability of the gamer. It is equally rewarding and frustrating in its objectives, like all great puzzle games. Pick this one up at your own risk....how much thinking do you want to do? If the answer is little to none, stay away. Otherwise, snag this game if you come across it and enjoy shifting your brain from cruise control to manual.