The Observer, September 29, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 5
Adventure and combat engage in Rocket Slime
Most gamers are familiar with the turbulent history between Nintendo and Square-Enix. Since the mid-90s, the RPG juggernaut has developed most of its games for Sony systems, while almost completely ignoring both the N64 and Gamecube (Chrystal Chronicles being the sole exception). However, Square-Enix has always been supportive of Nintendo's handhelds, and the DS is no exception.
This fall, the company will be releasing the highly anticipated remake of Final Fantasy III, and at last week's TGS, they announced several more potential hits. Though cynics could argue that Square-Enix is just trying to make a quick buck off of the DS' huge success in Japan, I'm optimistic. Their first effort, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, is hopefully a sign of great things to come.
Rocket Slime will appeal most to fans of both Square's classic games and Enix's Dragon Quest series. Obviously, the slime enemies that have been so prevalent in all of the DQ games are the stars, lending the game a charm similar to LocoRoco. There are numerous references to fan-favorite RPGs that veterans will also appreciate. Certain tank ammunition is taken directly from FF7, and one of the rival tanks is named the "Chrono Twigger." Newcomers should not be intimidated, however, as all of these nods are just icing on the cake.
The controls are interesting because they don't require the use of the touch screen at all. Your slime is moved with the d-pad and A button exclusively. Though this may seem like a missed opportunity for a game in which you fling slime back and forth, the simplicity is actually a virtue. The learning curve is almost non-existent; even in the later worlds, there are no new moves to complicate matters. The action is reminiscent of a very simplistic Zelda, only without all of the gadgets. Though some difficulty is sacrificed in the process, Rocket Slime is immediate fun for any audience.
Thankfully, the more hardcore crowd has not been forgotten. There is a very cool mini-game in which your slime crew is put in charge of a massive tank. In these segments, you can give orders to teammates, manage ammo and items, or even launch yourself across the map to infiltrate your opponent's tank. Though this mode still doesn't require a great deal of skill, collecting items to upgrade these battle stations is addicting. Even after the relatively short single player adventure is complete, you can test out your battle station's firepower in multiplayer duels. It is a shame though, that wi-fi capabilities were not included.
This game looks nice enough, but doesn't really push the DS hardware. Fans of the Mario & Luigi RPGs will be very familiar with the presentation. The dual-screen setup is utilized well during the tank battles: the top screen shows the outside view while the bottom screen shows the interior. For a handheld game, the sense of scale in these segments is impressive. The story is suitably silly, featuring either awesome or groan-inducing puns (depending on your perspective). For instance, the last boss is a an evil platypus named Don Clawleone. Ugh!
If you're looking for a fun adventure on the DS that isn't a huge time commitment, Rocket Slime warrants at least a rental. This game isn't essential, however, as it is likely that both the upcoming Zelda and Final Fantasy will provide superior questing.
