Rodea the Sky Soldier Reviews
When a Sky Soldier falls
Overall, Rodea the Sky Soldier is an interesting game and worth owning for anyone with a Wii or WiiU.
Suffering from technical gaps, imprecise controls and a predictable and clichéd plot, Rodea still manages to display an interesting concept and gives the player a degree of freedom that is unusual in similar titles. Pity that its qualities don't weigh enough to redeem its flaws.
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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.
Rodea the Sky Soldier has the odd interesting idea, but numerous gameplay problems betray its troubled development.
Somewhere in this package lies a great game with plenty of excitement to offer- it just has a hard time presenting itself. Is it fun? Of course it is. With enough time and dedication, not only would you be able to master the game and its controls, but also have experienced one of those rare feelings of complete satisfaction just for having played the game. It also depends on your own tastes. Some would say that the best version of the game is the original Wii version, which is only available exclusively with the launch version of the retail game. I can't say that for myself, having only played the Wii U release, but if you're interested in Rodea the Sky Soldier, keep a sharp eye out for the retail version.
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.
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.
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.
Rodea the Sky Soldier is not without its annoying flaws, and it's certainly no Mario Galaxy, but it serves as a fitting swan song for the dearly departed Wii. It's a game that embodies everything great about the Wii, taking a simple concept and running with it, bringing us a unique and fun game.
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.
While the cinematics and storyline are fairly eyebrow raising and interesting, the rest of the game is a broken platter of inedible stale pastries.
Rodea the Sky Soldier has to be one of the biggest letdowns of the year. It's missing quite a bit, including comprehensive gameplay, solid visuals and any sort of option to play like the original Wii version does. It's sad to say that this high-flying adventure falls flat before it stands a chance to get started.
You can see the potential in Rodea's high-flying, swooping, soaring gameplay, but it's all squandered by the woeful visuals, poor design and terrible controls. The Wii U might be short of quality games this winter but you'd have to be pretty desperate to buy this.
Horrid visuals and unintuitive gameplay make Rodea the Sky Soldier one of the worst action games I've played in a long time.
Glimpses of Yuji Naka's outmoded genius can be seen in Rodea's barren skies, but a paucity and dissonance of ideas make this a failure.
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.
A tragic failure that attempts to revive the wonder of NiGHTS and Sonic The Hedgehog, but falls victim to publisher melding and terrible controls.