– Rolando: Royal Edition
$2.99 From HandCircus, handcircus.com Made for iPhone, iPad Needs iOS 9.0 or later
In 2008, this platform–based puzzle game was well known for showing off what iPhone games could do, combining colorful aesthetics, chilled–out tunes, and (at the time) unusual touchscreen and accelerometer controls. Its return in remastered form is a pleasant reminder of a more innocent time in iOS gaming.
Immediately noticeable (if you played the original) is the graphical upgrade to “2.5D”; the world is rendered using 3D objects, with the action taking place in a 2D plane. The look is charmingly simple, and the atmosphere enhanced by the feel–good, chilled–out soundtrack.
The first few levels teach you how to move the titular characters. Mostly it’s by tilting your device left or right to roll them across the landscape, using their bodies to push things, and flicking to jump. Certain objects, like turnstiles and lifts, require direct manipulation, though. Characters roll responsively, perhaps a little too keenly when you tilt your device. But these early levels lack the delight of beating SuperMarioBros.’ first level.
Newcomers to iOS gaming, particularly young minds, are the most likely to be entranced by the novelty in 2019. Oddly, Rolando is a 9+ for “infrequent/mild cartoon violence”.
You can enjoy watching your kid playing it, and using it to learn about precise control, without them getting angry at unfair challenges.
the bottom line. An enchanting game that’ll charm the socks off young kids getting to grips with iOS gaming. AlanStonebridge