Rollers of the Realm

 PC
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. GamingTrend
    Nov 26, 2014
    90
    It’s an enormously fun and creative take on two genres you would never think to see in bed together. The gameplay is tight and responsive, the boards are intricate and clever, and the splendid voice acting is an added delight.
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Jan 15, 2015
    80
    Rollers of the Realm manages to say something new in the pinball genre.
  3. Twinfinite
    Jan 6, 2015
    80
    Rollers of the Realm gets points for its unique play style and responsive, approachable play. It’s definitely not an easily mastered mix of genres, but it’s well-done enough that it takes more skill and concentration than it does luck.
  5. CalmDownTom
    Nov 24, 2014
    80
    Rollers of the Realm is quite a lot of fun, though the story doesn’t last very long and the ‘Arena’ mode gets repetitive very quickly as it just recycles level designs from the campaign. The core gameplay, though, is totally solid. If you’re not into pinball, this probably isn’t one for you. If you’ve been known to dabble in the art of Pinball Wizardry, however, you should give it a shot.
  6. Digitally Downloaded
    Nov 24, 2014
    80
    With plenty of levels, several endless modes and multiple characters, there's a lot of replay value to be had in Rollers of the Realm. The relatively toned back violence makes this a game I'd readily recommend to younger audiences, and the story is very good on the inclusivity front with representation for characters of various races, genders and ages.
  7. Ragequit.gr
    Nov 21, 2014
    80
    Immensely challenging and beautifully synergistic systems come together to form an unexpectedly refreshing genre hybrid. If you're a die-hard pinball fan and not afraid of a challenge, Rollers Of The Realm will absolutely delight you.
  8. Gaming Nexus
    Nov 17, 2014
    80
    Rollers of the Realm is much more than a pinball game. For the measly price of $9.99, it is absolutely worth getting even if pinball games aren't normally your thing, there is plenty here to enjoy anyway.
  9. Kill Screen
    Dec 3, 2014
    75
    It’s clear it likes pinball as much as it likes role-playing games, because the whole game is one big love letter to both, the things mashed together into some odd blender without reason or deeper purpose.
  10. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Nov 20, 2014
    75
    Rollers of the Realm aimed for the big points and, while it might not be dead centre, they’re mostly on target.
  11. Shacknews
    Dec 8, 2014
    70
    Rollers of the Realm, by most respects, is an excellent pinball and RPG hybrid. However, it takes a great amount of skill and no small share of luck to get through it.
  12. IncGamers
    Nov 24, 2014
    70
    Gentle RPG systems collide with robust pinball design, triggering a modest gaming jackpot.
  13. Hardcore Gamer
    Nov 23, 2014
    70
    With a bit more polish and tweaking, Rollers of the Realm would stand out for more than its genre mixing.
  14. ZTGD
    Nov 21, 2014
    65
    Rollers of the Realm oversells its limited RPG element quite a bit in advertisement, and perhaps that was smart, because it managed to pique my interest enough to give it a try.
  15. We Got This Covered
    Dec 30, 2014
    60
    A fantastic concept that is never lived up to. It’s definitely more pinball than RPG, and bravely strides into uncharted territory, but I’m not sure who I would recommend it to. Pinball fans have dedicated games that are vastly superior, and RPG fans are going to find the offering meager at best. Right now, it just sits in some strange limbo.
  16. GamesBeat
    Dec 3, 2014
    60
    It’s most compelling as a one-and-done. If you have a difficult time grasping the concept of abstract narrative in pinball, it will be a fantastic eye-opener. Taken any further than that, expecting the replay of almost every other pinball option out there, and it disappoints.
  17. Everyeye.it
    Nov 19, 2014
    60
    Mixing RPG and pinball is a risk, or a crazy thing, or a bit of both. If you love pinballin', this might still be worth a try.
  18. Gamers' Temple
    Jan 25, 2015
    50
    There's some potential to an RPG/pinball mash-up, in fact, Zen Pinball has a table that shows that this is a viable mix, but unfortunately Rollers of the Realm is not the game to realize that potential.
  19. God is a Geek
    Nov 20, 2014
    50
    An interesting premise, but Rollers of the Realm struggles with its identity.
  20. GameSpot
    Nov 24, 2014
    40
    Its flaws are too numerous, and its strengths seldom manage to work in concert. The end result is more disappointing than it is entertaining, which is a real pity if it means another 25-year delay before someone takes the next crack at doing the concept justice.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 30
  3. Negative: 5 out of 30
  1. Insert_Coin
    Nov 24, 2014
    10
    While it is common to develop a somewhat decent product with little to low appeal, few Indie developers can say they’ve aimed for a high levelWhile it is common to develop a somewhat decent product with little to low appeal, few Indie developers can say they’ve aimed for a high level of polish and have successfully surpassed every expectation. I highly recommend this wonderful, unique experience to anyone who falls under either, or both, genres this game sets out to be: a Pinball RPG.

    1. Gameplay & Story
    2. Graphics & Visuals
    3. Music & Sound
    4. Replay & Extras
    5. Is this game for you?

    1. Gameplay & Story
    There is, indeed, a story from beginning to end. The introduction tells a tale of war, survival, and prophecy. As most highly acclaimed titles, the story and game progression come hand in hand. There are various ACTS in the game, each offering STAGES with unique, entertaining challenges. Some range from “defeat all enemies” to “find the exit”. Each character is a ball and you can switch them on the fly by “cradling” them in your main flippers. This adds variety and strategy, especially if you choose to revisit a stage to grind for gold or XP. As you progress through the game you gain more allies, who all have pros and cons similar to any traditional RPG roster (Rogue, Healer, Knight, etc.). You can slightly move your character as he/she is on the play field. The Knight is heavier, so he is harder to control but strikes like a beast. The Rogue is smaller and agile, so you can almost completely curve the trajectory of her launch. Clever puzzles include holding a flipper to allow your ball to pass under it, or bumping torches with your ball to light a room. The game mechanics run deeper as the story progresses, from your flippers having HP, managing your Mana to either resurrect fallen allies or activate special abilities, or hiring an additional character (in other words, purchasing an additional life). Learning the mechanics as the game progresses is part of the fun, so I won’t spoil any further details.

    2. Graphics & Visuals
    Rollers is a beautiful blend of comic-panel illustrations (cinematics) and a deep, fully realized world developed in 3D, presented in an over-head pinball perspective. Enhanced by music and sound, the visual experience brings you into a realm of wild animals, kingdoms, war and tyranny. Dark dungeons and caves are hard to see, only to be lit by torches when activated. The artists must have had a lot of fun creating logs, trees, rocks, land and architecture, all playing an important role in these pinball mazes. Make a quick Internet search and you will see the stunning environments, lighting and effects for yourself, all at a buttery-smooth 60fps.

    3. Music & Sound
    Epic scores fill the game, beginning with a heroic theme drawing you in at the title screen. Long-awaited battles, celebration and excitement are met with grand reprises. There is a strong cast of characters with full, convincing voice-overs that bring the characters to life. Not only are the actors amazing, I need to hand it to the casting director who did a brilliant job. Each character has a distinguishable ethnicity, age and backstory that you can tell just from the voice alone, from a middle-aged monk to an older alchemist.

    4. Replay & Extras
    Each stage can be revisited for various “set ups”. Perfect for RPG fans who love to grind for XP and loot. Many stages have hidden keys, which unlocks a hidden treasure. If you’re looking to unlock everything in the game, there are characters to hire, items to purchase and equip, and challenges to clear, unlocking even more items. Everything you unlock enhances your party, which like any good RPG, leaves you feeling rewarded towards the end having managed an even stronger party.

    5. Is this game for you?
    I’ve never been a fan of traditional pinball games. I can appreciate the high-score appeal, but I’ve always wanted a more compelling reason to play, and Rollers offered something unique. It’s a very ambitious game, and breaks traditional conventions, but the developers at Phantom Compass dared to do it. And it works. From the moment I realized that I had to use the back-side of a flipper to find that hidden key, to the hours I’ve spent eagerly grinding for “one more level... one more level” before challenging that next boss, I’ve never had this much fun with a Pinball game before. There have been several pinball action titles that could fall under the same category, such as Sonic Spinball or Mario Pinball Land, but Rollers has perfected the genre in 2014 adding unprecedented, original features, polished so well that no other developer can even touch them. During development, they were picked-up by Atlus, which in my books add to their credibility. If you’re a hardcore fan of Puzzle, Pinball or Role Playing Games, Rollers of the Realm is a true gem that belongs in your gaming library. The game is so original, you could give it its own genre: The Roll Playing Game.    … Full Review »
  2. puzzlemate
    Nov 21, 2014
    9
    Pinball but with balls that have 'character' in a few senses of the word.

    Your array of pinballs is your adventuring party and every new    Pinball but with balls that have 'character' in a few senses of the word.

    Your array of pinballs is your adventuring party and every new location is a new pinball table challenge where different powers or characteristics can be used. Bigger ball so sewers less, smaller ball for greater accuracy including the ability to tilt or 'nudge' the table more to go where you want. Toss in some special abilities like multi-ball on demand and they have a lot going for them.

    The game is definitely skill driven as pinball skills are used. The physics feels 'physics-y enough' even with the extra stuff tagged on, like moving enemies acting as bumpers that want to knock you out of play. Can make some boards very challenging but not impossibly so, often encouraging you to try different balls (or sequence of balls) or upgrades to manage the new board and you definitely notice the upgrades, like the ability to stun an opponent when you ricochet off of him or a ball with a ranged attack to shoot arrows as it passes close by to take out the enemy 'bumper'. The puzzle components in addition to the skill and action parts keeps each board interesting and new.

    There is replay as you can go back to previous boards for more experience and gold as well as an 'arena mode' for some ****

    Not something I've played before and pretty good on top of that simple fact.

    Totally worth picking up!    … Full Review »
  3. strimen
    Nov 19, 2014
    9
    A cool mash-up of pinball, rpg, and puzzle genres. Each character that joins your party is a pinball (10 main characters in total), with theirA cool mash-up of pinball, rpg, and puzzle genres. Each character that joins your party is a pinball (10 main characters in total), with their own look, size, special ability (uses your party mana bar), and fully voiced swagger.

    There is a 6 Chapter fantasy story line, across 30+ boards, that has some good humour and a few twists along the way.

    The music is great and fits the setting and action. The other sounds are good, but not overpowering or annoying which can happen in easily in either the pinball or RPG genre.

    Also has controller support on the PC side (I used a stock Xbox 360 controller to test it) and fully customizable controls for both the keyboard and controllers.

    Overall a great time waster with more than enough hours of play for the $10 price tag. There are also five unlockable high-score leaderboard arena tables, which are boards from the story but repopulated as challenge scenario.    … Full Review »
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