Rollers of the Realm Reviews
Rather than combining the two genres into a perfect blend, Phantom Compass has diluted both before mixing them conservatively. Rollers of the Realm is more gin and tonic than anything else: refreshing, quite enjoyable for the short time it lasts, yet some will find it's not to their tastes. It may not be a perfect amalgamation of Pinball FX 2 and Dragon Age, but RotR is still an above average game with a unique concept and good value for money.
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.
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.
Rollers of the Realm strives for true innovation by fusing the pinball and RPG genres. There are some clever spins on traditional pinball gameplay, and it's bizarre yet fascinating to see how a story, characters, and RPG stats and abilities are interwoven with this. It's unfortunate, then, that irritating design faults and questionable ball physics significantly mire the ideas at work. It's certainly an unexpected journey, but it's wrought with joys and pains that you should take into consideration, whether you're a pinball connoisseur or not.
Rollers of the Realm is a fun, unique, and flawed game that ends up being greater than the sum of its parts.
A wholly appreciated experiment that does not quite balance both genres, but definitely worth a look with players who are 70 percent pinball fans, 30% RPG.