Rolo to the Rescue

Rolo to the Rescue is a video game developed by British studio Vectordean and published by Electronic Arts for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, released in 1992. The game is a two-dimensional action game with platforming elements, starring Rolo the elephant. Several other animal characters are playable once Rolo rescues them.

Rolo to the Rescue
North American cover art
Developer(s)Vectordean
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Platform(s)Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Release
  • JP: April 29, 1993
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Premise and gameplay
In-game screenshot

In Rolo to the Rescue the player controls, Rolo, a young elephant. The objective is to traverse through levels with varying terrain, rescue Rolo's captive friends along the way and his mother from the circus. Players can move Rolo left to right and can make Rolo jump. Power ups can give Rolo unique abilities. For example, obtaining a water sprayer allows Rolo to shoot water out of his trunk, a vacuum allows him to suck in small objects into his trunk and shoot it out, a helium tank allows Rolo to be filled with air and float in the air, and a washing machine allows Rolo to shrink and reach areas inaccessible at normal size.

Levels are shown in a map from a top-down perspective and designed in the shape of a jigsaw puzzle board. Unlocked levels are revealed as jigsaw puzzle pieces and completed levels have animal paw prints stamped on them. Levels are completed by unlocking and reaching the goal. Goals are represented by sign posts and when they are unlocked, a compass rose will appear on the goal. The goal's primary method of being unlocked is by defeating the Ring Master and obtaining his key and freeing all the caged animal friends within the level. Some levels provide alternate methods for unlocking goals like obtaining a hidden puzzle piece somewhere within the level or reaching an alternate goal post. These alternate methods unlock more additional levels.

Once a captive animal is rescued, it will join Rolo's party with a maximum of three animal companions. If more than three are rescued, the earliest recruited animal companion that joined will leave the party and be replaced by the latest. Players can switch between the animal companions. Each animal companion type has their own unique abilities. For example, the rabbit is able to jump very high, the squirrel can climb, the mole can dig, and the beaver can swim. When an animal party member is being controlled, Rolo and the other remaining companions will be idle. If the animal companion takes damage under control of the player, it will faint and the party and be switched immediately back to Rolo. If Rolo receives damage and has party member, he will lose a party member instead. If Rolo receives damage without a party member he will lose a life instead.

Reception

MegaTech awarded the game 89%,[1] while Mega placed the game at #31 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.[2]

References
  1. MegaTech rating, EMAP, issue 22, page 99, October 1993
  2. Mega issue 26, page 74, Maverick Magazines, November 1994
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