Game Reviews

TerRover has the makings of a quality video game, or at least it would seem that way. The controls are responsive, the hero’s adorable and the stylish graphics remind us at times of Sony’s PixelJunk Shooter. Going in, we saw no foreseeable reason why it wouldn’t be a shining gem in the PS3’s lineup, but after several hours of play, this title doesn’t have what it takes.

Creat Studios’ latest casts you as a multi-wheeled vehicle that travels to different planets completing stages in the fastest time possible. Initially, the character looks fairly basic, but later, you can purchase new parts that make things easier, such as a gun, missile launcher and magnetic grip. While that stuff’s fine, it doesn’t necessarily correct the primary issue, which is, unfortunately, the hero itself.

Playing TerRover reminds us of trying to control a cheap RC car over different forms of terrain. Traveling across a flat surface produces no issues. Frustration sets in, however, when things get bumpy, and having to jump across pools of lava or fight our way through a compartment full of yellow balls had us ready to chuck the controller into a wall. The vehicle moves so awkwardly that the game becomes a maddening chore, largely because of the controls. To change directions, you must press a button to slide the character’s head left and right, but you can also flip it upside down by either shaking the controller or tapping Triangle. On paper, this may have seemed like a good idea, but in practice, it’s easy to forget what does what.