Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken

Hooked Gamers (8.2 out of 10) (82%)

Though the jumping is still a little stiff, Hardboiled has enough improvements over its predecessor to make it a worthwhile purchase for any PS3 gamer. The game is on the short side, but you can go back through the levels to find cleverly hidden tokens. Some light RPG elements and more varied enemies/challenges would have improved the experience, but as the first console game in what will hopefully become a Rocketbirds franchise, Hardboiled is an eggcellen…must resist terrible pun…a commendable game.

Alternative Magazine Online (8 out of 10) (80%)

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken admittedly has a few problems holding it back from reaching its full potential. The enemy AI can seem fairly stupid at times and the difficulty is generally too easy – apart from when it is too difficult, which is usually for the wrong reasons. Despite all of this, it is still a game I would recommend. The gunplay is satisfying and death only results in a minor setback to the most recent checkpoint, making this a “just-one-more-go” type of experience. In other words, addictive. Furthermore, the beautiful graphics and catchy soundtrack by New World Revolution make this one of the most polished PSN titles available to date. At only £7.19, 2D platformer fans would have to be pretty ‘cheep’ – or total birdbrains – to pass on this unusual little gem!

Push Square (8 out of 10) (80%)

Elsewhere collectable tokens and a full roster of trophies — including a Platinum — give the game plenty of content. But even though you'll probably be done with both of Rocketbirds' campaigns within ten-or-so-hours, this is a heavily recommended downloadable experience. The game's unusual, inexplicable tone, mixed with its vibrant art-style and memorable puzzle design make it something of a surprising tour-de-force. Wonderful pacing and a wide variety of mechanics and settings make Rocketbirds a difficult game to put down, and even though it's over a little too quickly, we daresay we'll return in the future just to give its unique campaign another look.

Indie Game Magazine (77 out of 100) (77%)

Rocketbirds isn’t a reinvention of anything you might hold dear in the gaming world, but it’s a well-presented little barrel of laughs which, if nothing else, will allow you to take out your real-world frustrations on an anthropomorphic species. Look closely enough at the game’s snazzy sheen of paint and you’ll start too see the cracks inflicted by its occasionally lacklustre enemy AI, confusing level design and generally repetitive gameplay, but take it for what it is, a charming and satisfying piece of interactive fun, and you’ll probably get a few hours of juvenile capering out of it.

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20) (75%)

Cette version PS3 de Rocketbirds est à la hauteur de l'original sorti il y a près de deux ans sur PC. Si le gameplay du soft reprend surtout des idées déjà vues dans des titres comme Flashback ou Oddworld : L'Odyssée d'Abe, la recette fonctionne d'autant mieux que le jeu profite d'une ambiance graphique et sonore très attractive. Le mode coopératif qui fait ici son apparition demeure certes perfectible, mais il vous réserve tout de même quelques parties bien sympathiques.

allaboutgames.co.uk (6 out of 10) (60%)

Rocketbirds has some nice humour, great graphics and a classy soundtrack, but aside from the fun of the jetpacks, the game is too repetitive and lacking challenge in the right places.

Game Hoard, The (3 out of 7) (43%)

At times, Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken can make you feel like you’re stepping into the world only hinted at in an animated music video, but it unfortunately shows why some worlds are better explored in broad strokes. When you’re viewing a cutscene synced up with New World Revolution’s music it can be an exceptional blend of visuals and sound, but then you need to actually control Hardboiled as he explores the world created in those scenes and it’s one filled with repetitive and slow gunfights that don’t innovate enough for how much time they fill. Flying around with the rocket pack and solving certain puzzles can be a bit more interesting even if the Brain Bugs feel like their mind control powers are used for basic tasks. Sadly, Hardboiled spends more time meeting uninspired enemy resistance that he needs to hold at bay by juggling their bodies with gunfire for way too long, so the music video feel instead gives way to an experience more about bland and repetitive gun combat.

Splitkick (2 out of 10) (20%)

In fairness, this might be too harsh a criticism for what’s essentially a simple game. But it made me upset. I mean, this is part of what we’re being delivered as a consumer base. This game is clearly designed to capitalize on a certain subset. It seems to be blatant pandering, which is a dangerous trend that I hope doesn’t get too much of a foothold. I understand the business side of things, I really do. However, if that aspect completely takes over, we’re in for a decidedly nasty ride, full of tacked on fart jokes.

Gameplay (Benelux) N/A

Het spel werd tot in de puntjes afgewerkt en ziet er geweldig uit. En zelfs al kiest de ontwikkelaar eieren voor zijn geld door niet al te veel risico's te nemen of vernieuwing te brengen, dan nog vinden we dit een regelrechte aanrader.