TouchArcade first reported on Rolando on July 1st of this year, even before the App Store had been launched. Rolando has since become one of the most anticipated apps coming to the App Store.
Some of this, of course, was due to our own enthusiasm for the title, but one shared by a large portion of our audience. I think the reason for the enthusiasm was apparent from the first trailer which we originally described as “a clever and promising title that has ‘iPhone’ written all over it."
With the release of Rolando [App Store] last night, the big question is: does it deliver on the hype? For many of the early adopters, the answer seems to be “yes".
Played the first few levels. So far I’m impressed. It’s stylish and adorable and the three separate medals for each level makes me want to play it again and again. It oozes polish from every surface. I guess I still have to get used to the controls, but on a side note, the physics are great! – SydneyS
I’m having a great first experience with it. Above all, this game absolutely screams “polish,” from the interactive title screen onward. Concerns about comparisons to Dizzy Bee should be assuaged once gameplay videos start coming out. This is a wonderful interactive platformer with a neat story and wonderful, fitting graphics. – polyplay
As described, the level of polish, style and humor really establish a great feel for this game. The controls, while taking some getting used to, seem well suited for the iPhone.
The goal of the game is to save the Rolandos from the evil “shadow blocks". Each level requires you to navigate various obstacles to save as many Rolandos as you can while also picking up additional gems. Controls are both tilt and touch based. Tapping on a Rolando or highlighting a group of them allows you to control their movement. Additional obstacles/tools can also be found, including turning platforms, bombs, trampolines, and more.
At this early stage, it’s impossible to say much about length of game or replayability (also mentioned by polyplay referenced above), but from a production standpoint, this is as good as it gets. We’re still working our way through the levels and will return with a more complete view at a later date.
Here’s an early gameplay video:
App Store Link: Rolando, $9.99
