Rogue Flight is a real gem. Inspired by the obvious likes of Star Fox, the arcade space shooter took me back in time to an age of classic rinse-and-repeat action games where the experience was less about how high your raytracing reflections were and more about pure fun.
Rogue Flight is pretty straightforward. You zip around the sky in a stylish aircraft, shoot things until they go boom and you don’t stop moving at any cost. It is the flashy and over-the-top aircraft combat you would expect to see while strolling through the arcade with a handful of coins as you scouted around for the next machine to jump on.
However, Rogue Flight offers the depth you would expect from a paid game. There are weapons to unlock, various classes to master and a surprisingly decent amount of customization on offer.
The game follows a rogue AI that has taken control of the Solar Defense Force. While humanity has just settled down in the new Sol system after escaping a now-destroyed Earth, this AI called ARGUS now threatens their safety. Players stumble on a prototype aircraft called the Arrow which just happens to pack all the firepower and speed they need to take down this threat.
Essentially, Rogue Flight is a multi-mission game that is meant to be replayed a few times over. You chose the path you want to take with a set objective behind the decision. Each path tackles a certain aspect of this whole “take down the machines” threat but includes a bit of variety in between.
The Arrow only has enough fuel to take you so far. As a result, the aircraft is your companion and it actually becomes the star of the game. Not only does it house all the weapons and your flair but the entire game’s focus relies on mastering the moves and abilities of the aircraft. Throughout the campaign, I upgraded my weapons, unlocked new ones and even added companion turrets to the ship that fired shots and enemies and obstacles.
The typical barrel rolls and quick moves also play an important role in surviving the ever-growing threat of ARGUS. However, the Arrow’s tail whip move called the Wingtrail also comes in handy. This move let me whip the jet around and throw a line of jet fuel at enemies. It is not only cool to watch but also incredibly powerful. The move adds a bit more depth to the combat as the whip sprays out in a line so I was constantly looking for the best lined-up enemies to toss it at.
Upgrades on your ship are also vital to combat. The system is limited, however. With only two slots, you can’t kit your ship out with every module you find. As a result, the game kind of forced me into a specific weapon style. Thankfully, certain modules do span multiple stat boosts so there’s always a feeling of improvement even if I was seeing it boost one stat more than others.
Combat is fast and flashy. I flew through various stages dodging fire, barrelling around the screen and trying to shoot as many enemies as possible. The combo system let me defeat a number of enemies in quick succession to refill my shields so I was always juggling to find weak enemies and trickle down larger ones in order to keep the combo up.
Rogue Flight also gets more exciting and intense as you progress through the game. By the end of the first playthrough, I felt a bit unstoppable. My weapons were stronger and my shield capacity was higher. Of course, the level provided an equal amount of extra things to shoot at and enemy fire to dodge. It all combines together to create an authentic space shooter that feels and looks amazing to play.
The game is also packed with an impressive amount of content. There are multiple routes to choose from in the main campaign meaning you’ll likely do this a few times. Then there’s a new game plus which adds the “true ending”. There are also remixed stages, a one-life mode and an entire roguelike mode baked into this game. The five difficulties on their own make this one hell of an experience.
Outside of the gameplay, Rogue Flight also impressed me with its voice work and cutscenes. I didn’t expect this. Cutscenes are voiced and well-shot. Voice work includes some veterans across games such as One Piece and League of Legends.
The soundtrack and sound design are also next-level. It is a bit cliche but it grew on me over time. The opening theme song was also unexpected. The entire package looks and sounds like a triple-A game and kudos to Truant Pixel for putting this much energy into stylizing it.
Rogue Flight costs just R185 on PC, and R378 on PS5 and Switch. For that price, you’re getting a great space shooter. It is worth a lot more than most games this year. I do recommend you give it a go.
This Rogue Flight review is based on a PS5 code sent to us by Perpetual Games.
Rogue Flight Review Verdict
Summary
Rogue Flight is incredibly fun to play. The fast-paced combat and stylish visuals create a satisfying arcade experience. There’s also a lot of content to chew through here with various difficulty modes that add layers of different ways to approach each stage.
