System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Title: Snake Rattle’n Roll
Publisher: Nintendo
Circa: 1989
Overall Rating:





Intro

In all its glory, Snake Rattle’n Roll. Move around in 3D-beta. One of the first games to use the 3D isometric play-field, gives it a minor mark in gaming history. Get ready for some happening snakes and their race for space to delightful music! I've always loved the game for the music and feel it deserves much more credit than it gets. A quiet game from a great company, even if the game was a bit of a flop in its time. It wasn't a flop in my mind, it just didn't get the press it needed.

Story

Rattle and Roll are after snacks … pibbleys … racing to space. That’s it.

Gameplay

This game helped shape some of the later 3D Isometric games we came to enjoy (Sonic 3D Blast comes to mind … if a different company). The snakes moves freely around and are very response to the D-dap twitches that one can enforce on it. This makes for smooth play and tight circles around enemies.

Multiplayer

You compete more on score than anything else. The Pibbleys can be found from dispensers making them easy to get at times or just annoying things bouncing, running or swimming away from you. Still, there are elements within the game that still make it very co-op friendly. As one plays through, it's easier to reach the needed length/weight goals with a friend. It also makes the game more friendly to beginning players. The game sets a good pace and has a timer, it still gives plenty of room and time for people to feel it out and work together.

Controls

A bit to control awkward at first, as well as dealing with a limited 3D environment, but they are easy to grasp within just minutes of starting playing. B flips out your tongue while A jumps. Simple is a good description.

Graphics

3D in 2D without getting very buggy, in the days of the NES, that was quite a feat. Rare has always been very good at innovation when it comes to graphics and play. Everything is well colored and fitting to the level’s theme.

Sound Effects & Music

Jazzy tunes and delightful sound effects. Every time I’m playing this game I find the music to be very compelling and can’t help some toe-tapping. A good variety of music keeps the game fresh over the course of play. Some are faster, some slow down a little. The sound effects work as well. The jump sound is a very unobtrusive, quick little sound that you’ll overlook if you’re not too careful. The various others blend in well. A favorite example is when Rattle or Roll are on the water, you hear a deep bass giving that all-too familiar music of Jaws, warning you of your potentially impending munch.

Obscurity

It’s hard to find, and it’s harder to find someone’s who played it.

Summary/Author’s Take

This game gave us something that would grow and flourish over the years, the building blocks for 3D games. The music is happening and delightful. It persist on even if half-remembered. I remember years ago finding this in a Blockbuster in Seattle Washington and playing along side the Original Mega Man. It took the better part of at least 3 years, over 10 years later, actively searching in retail stores to find this game and buy it (it was actually in a pawn shop, but who’s being particular?). I immediately bought it for just $5 and was a very happy person. Even after all this time, I can still load the game in and enjoy it along side my other classic games. I got a friend to play this game recently and even if he had trouble with the controls initially he still enjoyed the music and had to force him to change to the next game. I mean jeez, just a little Snake Rattle'n Roll and he's on it hard!