Developer ROLLA is set to release its unique game this month, offering players control over a mobile mass of flesh tasked with causing widespread destruction. The game draws comparisons to the popular Katamari Damacy series but injects a significantly more violent and explicitly monstrous aesthetic, evoking a B-movie horror feel.
While both games involve rolling around and accumulating mass, ROLLA introduces explicit challenges within its pseudo-arcade structure. Players will aim to achieve objectives such as destroying specific landmarks like radio towers, eliminating a set number of humans, or causing millions in property damage. Unlike Katamari, where destruction is a consequence of collection, ROLLA's gameplay loop is centered on more direct acts of devastation. The violence is also reciprocal; as the player's flesh mass grows, it becomes a target for military and police forces, who will employ rockets and gunfire to reduce the player's size and thwart their progress.
As players navigate through various city levels, their flesh mass expands through destruction. The demo allowed for a limited size increase, suggesting potential for larger scale destruction in the full release. Conversely, taking damage from enemy forces shrinks the player, creating a dynamic risk-reward system that demands skillful rolling to survive. Temporary power-ups, such as shields and offensive lightning abilities, can aid players, though a greater variety might enhance replayability over longer sessions. The game is currently available to wishlist and try via a demo on Steam, with a full release planned for September 30th.