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While it is common to develop a somewhat decent product with little to low appeal, few Indie developers can say they’ve aimed for a high level of polish and have successfully surpassed every expectation. I highly recommend this wonderful, unique experience to anyone who falls under either, or both, genres this game sets out to be: a Pinball RPG. 1. Gameplay & Story 2. Graphics & Visuals 3. Music & Sound 4. Replay & Extras 5. Is this game for you? 1. Gameplay & Story There is, indeed, a story from beginning to end. The introduction tells a tale of war, survival, and prophecy. As most highly acclaimed titles, the story and game progression come hand in hand. There are various ACTS in the game, each offering STAGES with unique, entertaining challenges. Some range from “defeat all enemies” to “find the exit”. Each character is a ball and you can switch them on the fly by “cradling” them in your main flippers. This adds variety and strategy, especially if you choose to revisit a stage to grind for gold or XP. As you progress through the game you gain more allies, who all have pros and cons similar to any traditional RPG roster (Rogue, Healer, Knight, etc.). You can slightly move your character as he/she is on the play field. The Knight is heavier, so he is harder to control but strikes like a beast. The Rogue is smaller and agile, so you can almost completely curve the trajectory of her launch. Clever puzzles include holding a flipper to allow your ball to pass under it, or bumping torches with your ball to light a room. The game mechanics run deeper as the story progresses, from your flippers having HP, managing your Mana to either resurrect fallen allies or activate special abilities, or hiring an additional character (in other words, purchasing an additional life). Learning the mechanics as the game progresses is part of the fun, so I won’t spoil any further details. 2. Graphics & Visuals Rollers is a beautiful blend of comic-panel illustrations (cinematics) and a deep, fully realized world developed in 3D, presented in an over-head pinball perspective. Enhanced by music and sound, the visual experience brings you into a realm of wild animals, kingdoms, war and tyranny. Dark dungeons and caves are hard to see, only to be lit by torches when activated. The artists must have had a lot of fun creating logs, trees, rocks, land and architecture, all playing an important role in these pinball mazes. Make a quick Internet search and you will see the stunning environments, lighting and effects for yourself, all at a buttery-smooth 60fps. 3. Music & Sound Epic scores fill the game, beginning with a heroic theme drawing you in at the title screen. Long-awaited battles, celebration and excitement are met with grand reprises. There is a strong cast of characters with full, convincing voice-overs that bring the characters to life. Not only are the actors amazing, I need to hand it to the casting director who did a brilliant job. Each character has a distinguishable ethnicity, age and backstory that you can tell just from the voice alone, from a middle-aged monk to an older alchemist. 4. Replay & Extras Each stage can be revisited for various “set ups”. Perfect for RPG fans who love to grind for XP and loot. Many stages have hidden keys, which unlocks a hidden treasure. If you’re looking to unlock everything in the game, there are characters to hire, items to purchase and equip, and challenges to clear, unlocking even more items. Everything you unlock enhances your party, which like any good RPG, leaves you feeling rewarded towards the end having managed an even stronger party. 5. Is this game for you? I’ve never been a fan of traditional pinball games. I can appreciate the high-score appeal, but I’ve always wanted a more compelling reason to play, and Rollers offered something unique. It’s a very ambitious game, and breaks traditional conventions, but the developers at Phantom Compass dared to do it. And it works. From the moment I realized that I had to use the back-side of a flipper to find that hidden key, to the hours I’ve spent eagerly grinding for “one more level... one more level” before challenging that next boss, I’ve never had this much fun with a Pinball game before. There have been several pinball action titles that could fall under the same category, such as Sonic Spinball or Mario Pinball Land, but Rollers has perfected the genre in 2014 adding unprecedented, original features, polished so well that no other developer can even touch them. During development, they were picked-up by Atlus, which in my books add to their credibility. If you’re a hardcore fan of Puzzle, Pinball or Role Playing Games, Rollers of the Realm is a true gem that belongs in your gaming library. The game is so original, you could give it its own genre: The Roll Playing Game.