REVIEW: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW VIDEO GAME (Switch, 2024) “I See you Shiver With Antici... pation.”
With no shortage of software to choose from these days, ya just never know what you might come across while browsing for new games to play. And sure enough, during one of my regular deep dives through the lower levels of Hell Nintendo’s eShop, it was quite the surprise to come across this one: A NES inspired video game based on The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Well that sure wasn’t on my bingo card. Before actually throwing $10 at it though, a half assed search across the internet was needed without much turning up. Nothing in the way of reviews or impressions to offer information as to whether the game was y’know…any good or not. So it was one of those instances where a blind buy was calling out to me, singing that sweet siren song.
And you know how much I just love a blind buy.
Let me get this out of the way up front: As appealing as I find the aesthetic of horror themed 70’s goth rock, The Rocky Horror Show never clicked for me (Of the two movies that come to mind which fall under that category, my flag has always been planted squarely in Camp Phantom of the Paradise). Maybe it’s one of those instances where it was never given a fair shake due to my finding the fans fairly intolerable. And maybe there’s actually something there that’s super awesome and I’ve just been a grump about it the whole time and am totally missing out? The world may never know. But you don’t come across a video game based on an odd one like this every day and what can I say: Taking that plunge with Alexander Hamilton sure did pay off.
The Rocky Horror Video Game is pretty much an 8-bit interactive cutscene; you’re really just running through scenes from the movie with highly forgivable mechanics where death isn’t much of a deterrent. And with infinite lives and simplistic gameplay, this game was clearly designed to be as accessible as possible (the star of the show is definitely the cinematic inspiration it’s pulling from). The whole thing presents itself in a way that you would have wanted Nintendo games based on movies to play as back in the day (before getting hit with a hard dose of that Who Framed Roger Rabbit? reality). What I assume are pixelated screen accurate moments and dialogue make up the entirety of the experience in what adds up to a game that could truly be its own genre. Or at the very least, a “Fun Mode” in other licensed software.
*Spit Take*
It’s no understatement that the environments in this game are absolutely dripping with love for the movie. But at the same time there are also plenty of nods and winks to classic games of the era to be found scattered throughout. The opening crawl (and accompanying chip tune) is lifted straight from The Legend of Zelda, your approach to Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s digs recalls the opening of Castlevania, and the gameplay itself is sort of a hybrid between Super Mario Bros. 2 and Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers. Even your “health meter” is a play on Arthur in Ghosts ‘n Goblins, where after a couple of enemy hits you’ll find yourself scurrying around in your tighty whities. At least for Brad, Janet only takes one hit before a restart and remains fully clothed. Which may ruffle some feathers, but hey as they say: Never look a gift 8-bit Tim Curry in the mouth.
This is easily the only acceptable version of The Time Warp and even that’s pushing it.
As for the music? Well, everything across the board remains high quality throughout. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that the original motion picture soundtrack isn’t the audible equivalent to Freddy’s nails on a chalkboard to these ears. I’m not going to sit here and do that. But it seems that you can chip tune just about anything and find some merit in those melodies. When “Time Warp” kicked in, it was of course instantly recognizable but honestly worked great in the moment and didn’t bother me in the slightest. Listen, I’m just as shocked as you are people.
What’s this game rated again?
So wow, did this one turn out to be a real find or what!? The Rocky Horror Show Video Game truly *ahem* “shook-a me up and took me by surprise", revealing itself to be a great time through and through for this non-fan of the movie. The whole thing flat out works as a fun, leisurely 8-bit stroll through a midnight cult classic and in all likelihood may go on to develop a devoted little following of its own. The charm with which it wears its love for fans of the film on its sleeve is highly infectious. And I can’t see anyone who has ever done the Time Warp in their bedroom or at the DMV not having an absolute blast. It’s a game that is screaming to be found lighting up some dark corner of a bedroom at a Halloween party, just waiting to be picked up and played for a level or two.
Highly recommended.
