Rooftops & Alleyways Review: Parkour Playtime

While I am sure there are some folk who still fling themselves from rooftops and wall-run and ledge-grab, parkour felt like a thing of the past. Well, not according to indie publisher, Radical Theory, who released Rooftops & Alleyways this month.

In Rooftops & Alleyways, you play as a cat, the perfect animal for this type of urban sport, if you ask me. Despite the fact cats always land on their feet, Rooftops & Alleyways falls a little flat when playing in solo mode. Don't get me wrong, it is a fun distraction for a while, with time trials and trick modes to try, but I just didn't find myself drawn to the game in solo mode. Some games call to you, making you think about playing them in the middle of a work day, and you can't wait to load up when you get home. Unfortunately, Rooftops & Alleyways didn't do that for me, but it may do for you.

If you love mastering controls and figuring out the perfect move, Rooftops & Alleyways has what you need. It is totally skill-based and leaves behind any automated parkour-type situations like we see in Assassins Creed or Mirror's Edge, instead the way you move is controlled entirely by you. Be prepared to fail, learn from mistakes, and pick yourself up to try again. Success depends on your speed, timing, and creativity. It is clear that the developers have tried to create something new here, and that is really admirable. This game is bound to attract a certain type of gamer, particularly those who love mastering movement and showing off their newly-found skills to others.

I highly recommend doing both tutorials to get the basics of movement and tricks down, but after that the game needs you to explore the minimalistic open world environments for yourself. Get creative with your moves and timing, and get to grips with how each move, combined with speed and momentum, works for you. Rooftops & Alleyways has no story, no drama, no enemies, and the only person to beat is yourself (until you join multiplayer sessions, of course). It is more of a sandbox game than a game with clear tasks or achievements to unlock, which may appeal to some. Personally, I thrive on quests and challenges, so Rooftops & Alleyways doesn't grip me.

As far as aesthetics and soundtrack are concerned, this game is clean and pleasant to play. I like the smooth and minimal graphics that don't try hard to be realistic. The focus is on your moves, not on how pretty the sky is. Saying that, I liked the bit of customisation that is included like choosing colours of each piece of clothing and unlocking new items with feathers earned by completing stuff. The soundtrack in the background is non-intrusive, but can be turned off if you want to play your own tracks to help you get in the parkour mood.

It is a fun game to try out, with tricks that are fun to use but hard to master, and different environments in which to test out your new skills. The parkour is cool, and ultimately satisfying when you get tricks right and beat your own time in a trial. I just don't find myself wanting to load up and play for an hour like I do with other games. The thing is, it really comes alive with friends, and convincing others to buy a game is not easy! Most people have a few games in their rotation, so to ask them to purchase another is a bit of a demand right now.

If you and your friends are already into parkour or cats, or both, then Rooftops & Alleyways is definitely worth a go. The price tag of around $25/£20 is reasonable, and you will know within a hour of playtime if this is the game for you.