Rocket's giving Kirby a run for his money!
GAMEPLAY ~
Rocket Slime Heroes (or RSH as I will now call it) Is a basic platforming title with an over-the-top view point. Rocket is the games main protagonist, as you might have guessed, he is a slime. So Rockets main weapon of choice is his elastic body.
He can jump with A and even float for a short while if you hold the A during the jump. Using his elasto-blast technique (tapping or holding B for charge) Rocket can take out numerous foes surrounding him as well knock items into the air. When anything is made air-born, all Rocket has to do is place himself under the shadow and catch the falling debris. Rocket can hold upto 3 items on his head at once (interchangeable with the R button) and when you have the maximum number of items on-head, you can send it all back to town on the rail carts. An what becomes of the items you send back? The monster inhabit the town and the items become ammo and alchemy.
Alchemy is used later on in the game (after level 3 I believe) to fuse different items together to make a stronger item. Using a recipe given to you by certain slimes after their rescue you can combine items and completely upgrade your tank for future, more difficult battles.
RSH does add in a nice little extra that keeps the pace of the game up, it’s called “Tank Battles” and Rocket uses his own tank called the “Schleiman Tank” acquired during level 2. Tank battles normally involve a team, but can be battled one on one. Rocket’s team is a jumble of different rescued slimes and even some baddies acquired when you earn their respect (see replay).
There are two main cannons in the Schleiman, Upper and Lower (each next to on another) and the three additional teammates you choose all run on a programmed AI, normally having two options to choose from. The ammo is presented in shifts from the varying different slides in the upper, lower and back regions of the tank. As long as you can rely on your teammates, most battles are quick and easy. I choose to storm the other tank and hold off the enemy from firing as my team decimates them with a rain of debris.
Once the enemy tank has reached zero HP, it’s time to storm the main engine and elasto-blast the heart for the win! Very fun and exciting, a needed addition!
RSH offers you a nice map on the top screen as well as an interchangeable menu which lets you cycle through recipes, enemies collected, items acquired and a whole lot of other interesting and well needed settings. Thought I do have to say, there was no in-game stylus usage, only during canvas painting was it used... but sometimes, it’s better to use the DS for its engine than its hardware.
In summary, RSH offers alot not seen in other platforming games on the DS system.
STORY ~
The inhabitants of Boingburg in the kingdom of Slimenia are attacked by surprise and taken prisoner by the evil Plob (Platypus Mob) it’s upto Rocket to rescue them all and stop whatever evil plan the Plob have in store for all of Boingburg!
GRAPHICS ~
RSH host a large assortment of classic DQ / DW enemies. From jailcats to bunnicorns almost every well respected Akira Toriyama designs, but let’s not forget the main reason we play Rocket Slime... the Slimes! Yes these little gelatinous balls shaped like a hershy kiss is what makes the charm of RSH work. There is around 5 to 6 base designs for the slime population each one repainted and reused 2 to 3 times over.
The only original designs are Rocket, the King, Rockets parents (Big Daddy seems to be a design of either a solider from DQ3 or Ragnar from DQ4, while Mama Mia has the hat of the female witch from DQ3) and Holly parents. There are also smaller tributes to other DQ games, especially DQ8. During level 3 you enter in an ancinet temple with floor carvings. These carvings are of the Cursed King's interaction with the Cursed Princess and the alchemy pot as well as the wagon from DQ8 fashioned with a stuffed horse head at the front, nicely done SquareEnix.
The enemies only get an initial design (each enemy has an annoying Platy-tail for some reason, even when converted to your side they still have that tail...) with only the leader of the apposing team in Tank Battles have a varying color.
Tank Battles are nice with the top screen representing the overview of the two tanks (Schleiman on the left, and whatever the enemy decides to drive on the right) and as you fire off weapons they are displayed in micro version flying across the screen towards apposing forces. When you decide to invade the enemy vessel you can destroy the surrounding computers and slow down the weapon slides due to flames or what have you.
RSH also adds in a Day / Night transition (like many other DQ games) in where as you progress, on field day baddies fall asleep but tougher Night baddies may emerge. That is the only reason I could see for adding in a Day / Night transition, Boingburg is always sunny and during the day, so I have no real clue other than what I mentioned.
SOUND ~
RSH has a nice select tracks which are all properly arranged (by Koichi Sugiyama I believe) and have that classic DQ feeling. Some even sound like rehashes from past DQ titles. I can’t think of any of the songs off the bat, but all are pleasant and worth a listen. The SFX are what really drag you in, with enough oomph and silliness to convey the free feeling of this title. There isn’t any real voice-overs, except a few sounds of pain and alot of boing’s.
REPLAYABILITY ~
This is where RSH doesn’t hold up well. The game does not offer a quick save option, instead you need to make your way back to town to save at the church.. ah DQ how I didn’t miss doing that all those years ago. RSH holds around 15 hours of solid game-play and an additional 5+ if you choose to undertake the mini-games and bonus battles made available to you.
There is a monster statue creating where if you gain enough monsters their statue will be displayed in the museum. If you collect 30 you get a bronze statue and that monster joins your crew. 50, silver, no additional support, and 100 nets you a gold statue and still no additional support.
The Kingdom of Slimenia has 100 slime inhabitants in all and 12 monster freeloaders to collect. This is very similar to DQ7’s monster town in where you lore monsters into your town and they live and make homes and stuff like that. Except RSH isn’t as intense as that, it’s very layed back and isn’t necessary to collect even one monster. But it’s done so they join your tank crew eventually.
Tank battling is the biggest addition especially when you rescue the Tank Master and battle in different Ranked tank battles. An you don’t even need to use the Schleiman tank, it’s all upto you what tank you choose to play as.
But once it’s over, it really feels over... unless you like upgrading you weapons or battling Sliva one last time... it’s all upto you.
OVERALL ~
A great addition to any DS players line-up and if RSH becomes a franchise you can sure as heck bet that Rocket will give Kirby a run for his money! Hands down one of the finest gaidens's I’ve played in some time! Enjoy!