Righto here’s Rollerdrome, which launched in 2022 and was developed by British indie game team Roll7 (the title is a play on the 1983 sci-fi film Videodrome).

This is a hybrid genre title, with third-person action shooter stuff mixed in with rollerblading. A fab combo? Well, on the whole. This one certainly has its peaks, but doesn’t quite hit them regularly enough.

Skate and Shoot (and have a hoot) in Rollerdrome

Before we begin, let it be known this one is available on PC and all consoles. The Steam page synopsis for Rollerdrome goes a bit berserk with the adjectives:

“Rollerdrome is a BAFTA award-winning third person action shooter that seamlessly blends high octane, visceral combat with fluid movement and tricking mechanics into one complementary and challenging whole, to create an original adrenaline-pumping shooter experience like no other.”

Unfortunately, we didn’t find the game quite as thrilling as whoever wrote that is trying to make out. Although we must note some in the gaming press lavished the title with rave reviews.

Whilst we enjoyed our time with the game, we didn’t really ever get enthralled by it. And we find it a little repetitive.

However, there are also some fabulous things going on here.

The actual skating premise is good fun and well implemented, even if the tutorial process at the game start is a little laborious. Everything is easy to figure out, but the game handholds you through every move.

Once you’re away, though, there’s a lot going on. You must skate, shoot, and balance the enemies out. It reminds us of the excellent Boomerang X (2023), but not quite as frenzied and dramatic.

Certainly, the game looks great. That cool retrofuturistic appeal, as seen in titles such as 2021’s sci-fi romp Stray, is fused with cell shaded graphics.

And there’s a pretty cool PalmRide (2021) synth soundtrack by darksynth composer Ian Mullinger (known as Electric Dragon).

There’s no denying Rollerdrome met with rave reviews on its launch. IGN gave it 9/10 and PC Gamer an astonishing 94/100.

On the flip side, The Guardian provided a more muted 3/5.

We’re on the side of the 3/5 review here, we’re a bit stunned some of the reviews have been quite as gushing with praise.

Whilst we enjoyed Rollerdrome, we must not we found it pretty repetitive after a while and found matches kind of dragged on a fair bit.

We compare it to Solar Ash (2021), a title we really enjoyed but got quite mediocre press reviews, and we’re not quite sure what to make of it all.

Our advice? Give it a whirl if you like the way it looks! Just, perhaps, don’t expect a 9/10 standard of game from it.