Rock of Ages
2011 · ACE Team
Has it aged?Why ↓
Rock of Ages is a boulder-driving action game crossed with tower defence, and smashing wins the argument. You steer a grinning rock downhill through historical art styles to batter an opponent's gate, then switch to a bird's-eye view to place towers, exploding barrels and cows in their path.
A rock-solid combination of rock-rolling action, deep strategy, and captivating art and music from different ages of history, this is a game of crush or be crushed!
The publisher’s description, from its Steam store page.
What it looks like
the trailer, then the store's own shots
The verdict
Play it for the short campaign's ridiculous demolition, not for a demanding strategy contest. The cut-out characters and art-history scenery wear better than the floaty boulder physics; lining up a destructive downhill run is more satisfying than arranging another defensive chokepoint. The boss fights are a weak interruption, but the combination of slapstick artwork and competitive gate-smashing earns its place.
Play it if
You like steering through obstacle courses, finding a faster downhill route and turning scenery into rubble. You will enjoy a campaign that moves between historical art styles, especially if animated cut-outs and fart jokes sound like a welcome alternative to solemn historical spectacle.
Skip it if
Anyone who needs precise, weighty ball physics or elaborate tower-defence tactics to stay interested. The boulder feels floaty, and the defensive obstacles do not provide enough strategic depth to make planning the main attraction.
Common questions
- Does falling off the course destroy my boulder?
- No: a giant hand puts it back on the track. That costs time while your opponent races towards your gate; having the boulder destroyed is a separate, much harsher outcome.
- Why do I need to revisit courses for keys?
- Some campaign progress requires keys collected on the courses. If you missed them while racing towards the gate, you may have to return to earlier levels.
- Should I spend my money on boulder powers or defences?
- Both draw on your funds: obstacles impede the enemy, while powers such as spiked armour and super-jump help your own rock. Each power can only be used once per track, so treat it as a deliberate expenditure rather than a permanent upgrade.
- Can two people roll against each other on one screen?
- Yes: split-screen multiplayer supports two gamepads.
What everyone else said
we link, we don't reprintHas it aged?
How does it hold up today? Based on recent reviews, how opinions have changed since launch, player activity and updates.
% positive each month, last 4 years.
Reviews via Steam ↗Peak: 105 in Oct 2012.
Player counts via SteamCharts ↗A little less liked than at launch, but still well liked.
The developer posts no update notes on Steam, so we can't tell.