I cannot overstate how important the gaming ecosystem of the 90s was for the current state of consoles. Fighters, JRPGs, sports games and more made their foundation here, and, for better or worse, evolved from that point. The sidescrolling titles of the 16 bit era are fondly remembered, and they also serve as interesting blueprints for the future of gaming. For Nobuya Nakazato, who created some of the best Contra titles in the series (and one of the most overlooked RPGs, Vandal Hearts), it’s incredible that he first created a novel adventure where a possum with a suit of armor and a rocket pack came hurtling into our hearts. Now, Sparkster the possum has returned thanks to Konami and Limited Run Games with Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked.

For those unaware, the trilogy of original Rocket Knight games (the 2010 Rocket Knight is quite absent here) involves you, the hero, moving forward, slashing bad guys, platforming around and also exploding with rocket fuel in order to save Princess Sherry from various kidnappers.  While Sparkster’s sword is quite dandy and generally gets the job done, it’s his rocket-propelled movements that really make a difference. Not only does it allow him to reach higher platforms and surmount various barriers, it also serves as a handy attack in both the “shoot straight ahead like a bullet” form and “spin like a blade ball of death” style. You’ll use both over the course of the game in order to destroy any manner of baddies, from simple wolves and pigs with armor to full on mechanized bosses of the highest caliber.

Fans of all polarizing factions can come here and rejoice and lament the included games. As it’s the original three, that means you get Rocket Knight Adventures, Rocket Knight Adventures 2 and Sparkster, the SNES version of the first installment. Die hard Mega Drive/Genesis fans are going to hate the SNES version regardless, and it’s easy to see why. When the original Rocket Knight Adventures was released, it had a bit of grit to the pixel design and format, giving it a bit more of a grungy appeal that seemed to work well with Sega kids. The buttons were well mapped to the Batarang shaped controller, and the response was brilliant. Not only that, but players were able to see an evolution in gameplay as things moved forward: you really felt that Sparkster had to contend with brand new approaches in order to succeed as the games progressed.

The first Rocket Knight Adventures stacks up so well compared to Sparkster, not least of all because of the graphics. While players might initially think the rounded sprites and colors of Sparkster are more kid friendly and appealing, it has a sort of washed out tone that never really goes away. The gameplay is handled in the same approach as Rocket Knight Adventures, but placed into a different level layout that can honestly be confusing when compared to the initial title. Though the music of Sparkster is really dynamic and captures the soundchip of the SNES wonderfully, the game overall just feels lacking. It’s the same length, but no bells or whistles exist, just Nintendo trying to ride the coattails of a Sega success story.

Moreover, Rocket Knight Adventures 2 is a massive improvement over the first installment, and I refuse to hear otherwise. First and most importantly, the change of the rocket pack now being given a dedicated button instead of sharing space with the normal attack is a lifesaver, especially as the rocket pack now functions better. The slot machine mechanic is goofy but adds this element of risk/reward that feels relatively optional, and I honestly enjoyed spinning frequently. Lastly, the hidden Keys to the Seal give you both a chance to become massively powerful AND achieve the “true ending” of the game, and I’m all about that approach. It’s a little shorter, yes, but it has so much power and impact behind the delivery that I’m very much along for the ride.

As a full package, Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked has a mixed landing on my heart and my mind. Yes, the core games are solid, and the ability to play these legally on modern hardware is a godsent. The rewind function that exists within each game can be infinitely helpful. After all, the different difficulty levels pull no punches, and a lot of bosses are hazardous for their first encounter, even as a player who visited them many years ago. For those who are comfortable with the beatdown of boss town, there’s boss rush available for each of the titles, letting you go for the gold in the masochistic Olympics. There’s no input lag, no massive slowdown, no strangeness in the ports…it’s a good job.

Yet these sorts of releases have Limited Run Game’s reputation behind them, and a lot of players aren’t going to be able to get their hands on the now very sold out physical editions. So, instead, we look towards the digital package, which is a tad lacking. The jukebox is great, don’t get me wrong: I really enjoy being able to bump the music at any time, and it’s easy enough to load it up on Steam and just let the window work in the background while I do other activities. Additionally, the museum lookback at the different manuals, including the original Japanese versions, is spectacular. The bemoan of the loss of gaming manuals is a tad trite at this point, but it still stands as a valid thing: we used to love those tangible, paper explanations of what we would play when we got home from Funco Land.

But that’s it. That’s the beginning, middle and end of the package: three great games that are thirty years old, a front end for some MP3s and photographs of books. There’s one filter for the gameplay and a few boarders, but you cannot fastforward the games nor can you activate cheat codes easily (which is one of my favorite parts of Cyber Citizen Shockman). Additionally, on Steam, there is zero Steam overlay. No achievements, no cards, and not even a damn opportunity to take screenshots, which makes talking about the game and promoting it rough. That also means, in the same vein, that you’re paying ten dollars a piece for these games, which is a hefty price tag in the grand scope of things.

I don’t want to dissuade players from picking up Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked. If you loved these games and want to replay them on your current rig without emulation, go for it, the games are here and they run great. But I also don’t want to encourage players to pay money for something that feels very lazy in the grand scheme of things. We’ve seen Limited Run Games do amazing things with modern ports and remasters, so I’m left scratching my head why Sparkster and company were given such a spartan treatment. Don’t deny yourself a wonderful gaming experience, but also temper your expectations: if it looks like a throwback title and talks like a throwback title, you’re probably getting a throwback title – and nothing else.

Graphics: 6.5 The opening animation shows potential for some real reworking that could have been done, but all three games retain their original sprites and pixel work, which look about as good as you’d expect from thirty year old games stretched out onto modern hardware. Not godawful, but certainly showing their age.	Gameplay: 8.0 Still some of the best execution of the non Sonic variety, getting used to the floaty nature of Sparkster and the ballistic, sometimes erratic habits of rocket travel is a task unto itself. But, once you remember (or learn for the first time) the fundementals, it’s the most bang for its buck of a generation.
Sound: 8.5 Music is still a wonderfully scored element, further bolstered by the option to listen without needing to play thanks to the jukebox portion. If you love the chippy feeling of the 16 bit era, you’re going to adore this soundtrack.	Fun Factor: 7.0 I gripe about the overall package, but all three titles (yes, all three) have merit and some reallly good times to be had. While I would have loved a bit more in terms of flair or goodies, the total delivery is a careful, thoughtful construct; I just wish there had been more in terms of bells and whistles.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked was provided by the publisher.