Rodea the Sky Soldier Reviews
In the end, Rodea the Sky Soldier probably should've just come out years ago, in its original form. The controls, we're willing to bet, are way better with the Wii remote, as they simply feel like garbage the way they stand now.
Rodea the Sky Soldier is simply a game that really needed more time, and a course correction. A lot of promising concepts are seen and experienced throughout, but the flying and Sonic homing-style combat would have been executed so much better with a bit more polish. The environments and visuals are possibly the worst to be seen in 2015, but at least the lovable character Ion provides charming quips of entertainment. The drunken and confused sky soldier Rodea, however, needs to have his pilot license revoked.
I do believe that Rodea could have been a good little game. The ambition it has going for it is certainly appreciable, but ambition not put to good use is ambition wasted. Unfortunately, despite being one of the few high profile third party Wii U games, Rodea is a dud.
Kadokawa's interpretation of Rodea the Sky Soldier on Wii U misses the mark on so many levels, and it's a prime example of how to butcher a solid idea for aerial action.
Rodea the Sky Soldier is one of those games that has good intentions and great dreams, but fails to capitalize on them. With a bit more time in the oven (or a few patches), this game could be the next big thing. Unfortunately, as it stands right now, this is one title only for the most diehard of action fans.
It's hilarious to me that this version of the game feels the most natural, when it's treated as nothing more than bonus material! The Wii iteration of Rodea comes packed with the first run copies of the game, and Naka himself actually announced on Twitter that he'd like fans to play it, specifically. Was that a subtle indictment of the other two versions of Rodea? Hopefully not, especially because (as you've seen in my reviews of both games) neither is terrible by any stretch of the imagination. That said, playing Rodea on Wii it becomes clear that the system was the true destination for the game. The controls here feel the most natural (though still, sadly, imperfect), taking full advantage of the Wii Remote's excellent motion-sensing capabilities. The Wii version of Rodea feels more unique than either of the other takes, and though it's nowhere near as pretty to look at as the Wii U iteration, it's also packing a respectable presentation. Why the motion controls couldn't have at least been an option for the Wii U Rodea is confusing, and I walked away wishing Naka and company would have given that proposition some more thought before moving forward with the control scheme they ultimately settled upon. I'm pleased that all three Rodea games are available to experience, however, and this bonus disc should act as some compelling frosting for those who choose to buy the game for Wii U.
The game is an enjoyable experience, with the focus on flying action being a welcome change from the usual Japanese games we get to enjoy in the West. It would have been an improvement if the touch screen was utilised for the flying controls in some way, though, rather than just aiming with the circle pad. I played on 3DS, which is a decent option, but I recommend you try the game on Wii if possible, in order to make use of the control scheme initially intended by the original developer.
Even with a graphical facelift and some new customization options, the Wii U version of Rodea pales in comparison to the Wii build, and it doesn't come close to Naka's earlier works.
Unfortunately, Rodea the Sky Soldier is flying in low altitude. There is great potential, but the bad controls and camera are what shoot Rodea out of the sky. Here's hoping we get to see a bigger and better sequel one day.