Rollerdrome is a truly bizarre combination of video game genres, combining Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-esque tricks with blood-pumping third-person shooter action. Surprisingly, though, it works like a dream. Somehow, combining the zen experience of getting high scores and pulling off incredible tricks with satisfying shooter combat creates one of the best games of 2022 so far.

The second game of the year from development team Roll7, Rollerdrome is a bit of a departure from the studio's usual work. Roll7 is best known for developing the OlliOlli series, which got a new entry in February 2022 with OlliOlli World. While the other two games in the series released to quieter sales and middling reviews, OlliOlli World was recognized as a rad skateboarding adventure, and an evolution of OlliOlli gameplay.

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This evolution goes even further in Rollerdrome, which takes the base system of tricks with scores, and uses it to create one of the most original games of the year so far. Rollerdrome still captures the joy of skateboarding games with high score chasing, and a lot of challenges for players to take on. However, by combining it with third-person shooter gameplay, it elevates the game into a compelling action game too, with a surprisingly interesting story to boot.

Rollerdrome Takes Skateboarding Gameplay & Elevates It To Something More

Rollerdrome is practically Tony Hawk's Pro Skater with guns, and it's incredibly cool.

Rollerdrome uses skateboarding games' combo mechanics and makes it even more integral to the gameplay. Instead of comboing tricks, the combo meter tracks how many consecutive enemies have been defeated. This combo multiplier, in turn, increases the points players get for both kills and pulling off cool tricks on players' journeys to achieve high scores like in OlliOlli World.

In addition to the action gameplay, Rollerdrome goes a step further and adds in an interesting story to the mix of mechanics. Following Kara Hassan, a newcomer to the sport of Rollerdrome, the player and Kara eventually learn more about the truth of the sport. More accurately, the mystery unfolding around the sport due to its corporate sponsors. The best part about this story is that much of it is completely optional. So, for players more interested in getting right back into the gameplay, these sections can be easily skipped over in favor of getting back to Rollerdrome's fun levels.

Rollerdrome is one of the most novel experiences of 2022 so far, combining two seemingly opposite ideas into a delightful combination of action and skating. While it doesn't quite fill the same void as the canceled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remaster collection, Rollerdrome is a game that fans of the skating franchise won't want to miss.