Rochard has been launched on the Mac App Store, offering a 70% discount, for just $2.99!

If you are not sure if your machine will be able to run the Mac version of Rochard, these are the Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
• Processor: 2.6 GHz single core
• Memory: 1 GB
• Hard Disk Space: 3 GB

…and these are the Suggested Requirements:

• OS: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
• Processor: 3.0 GHz dual core
• Memory: 2 GB

Rochard is now available on Steam for all Windows-equipped PCs at a price point of $9.99 / £7.99 / €9.99.

Rochard was released PSN recently, and we gave it a positive review- a score of 8/10. Author Kartik called it “complete value for money” and said that it is “a lot of fun to play.” You can read our full review through the link above.

Here are the Minimum and Recommended Requirements for Rochard on PC.

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP SP2
Processor: 2.6 GHz single core
Memory: 1 GB
Hard Disk Space: 3 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card DirectX®: 9.0c
Sound: Integrated audio interface
Additional: Notice that the game does not run on most of the integrated video cards such as Intel GMA. It also requires at least 256 MB of video memory to run smoothly.

Suggested Requirements:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: 3.0 GHz dual core
Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 3 GB
Video Card: GeForce 8 series, ATI Radeon HD2xxx DirectX®: 10.0

There’s something about these 2D side scrolling platformers that makes me really enjoy them a lot, and it’s the same case with Rochard. Think of Shadow Complex set in space and you get Rochard. I really like the way the game looks, especially with all the unique gameplay mechanics that game features. One thing is for sure, it is a very pretty game. It’s a well-made PSN exclusive that features some high production values. So what’s the big deal about the game? A lot, actually.

You play as John Rochard, a chubby, overweight miner, who is having a tough time when it comes to his career. But that all changes, when he discovers a rich asteroid to mine and as usual things go wrong. And from there starts the journey of John Rochard, as you will encounter some pretty thoughtful puzzles featuring gravity manipulation and also has some cool toys to play with, like a gun that can manipulate objects. It will be your main tool in this game and it is damn awesome to boot. It isn’t that revolutionary, as there have been games that do the same things as Rochard but the execution here is quite good.

Some of the combat sequences feel really intense as this game is no slouch when it comes to difficulty. It reminds me of Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 where I had to slightly struggle with the controls to pull off perfect moves. But you’ll get used to it. Although, it has to be said, those low gravity jumps are really a pleasure to pull off and gives you a lot of thinking time as to what to do next, when you’re stuck in tight spot. You can sometimes mistime a jump, as I encountered a lot of scenarios where that happened.

It features basically two components – puzzles and combat. Puzzles are really clever and sometimes require you to do a lot of things to get past a section. Sometimes using even the objects like crates for making a high jump or manipulating a lot of objects in general with your special gun. It’s quite challenging and I like that. Combat can be tough, as I mentioned above, but the learning curve isn’t that high. If you play a lot of 2d side scrollers such as these, it will be a breeze.  Rochard is a dull character but you won’t mind that a lot as the overall sound design especially when you kill enemies, fire your gun or just do random things is beautifully done, and is very vital for the immersion factor.

The game’s colour palette really spruces up the visuals, and combined with good looking effects like smoke, then entire image projected on your screen is a treat to look at. The main thing that stands out is the lighting. Almost, everything you do in this game from combat to using the gun will display some phenomenal lighting, and it’s not overdone as well. It looks just right. The voice acting, especially Rochard’s character will bring a smile to your face as it is really suited to the character’s physique. All the supporting cast is voiced really well, and while the overall plot of the game isn’t that Oscar worthy, it will still keep you interested in the game.

There are a lot of collectibles here as you would expect which gives you certain upgrades, but also requires you to backtrack. I’m generally not a fan of collectibles, but I can see why people like it. It also increases the replayability of the game along with multiple playthroughs, so for a downloadable game which is nicely priced, I see no reason why you shouldn’t get it. If PS3 owners are looking for their Shadow Complex equivalent, then this is a game that they need to buy. The game is a complete value for money, filled with interesting puzzles and is a lot of fun to play.

This game was reviewed on the PS3.

Rochard features a modest hero, nefarious villains, big explosions, even bigger stunts and hilarious one-liners. The game allows players to change gravity at will to solve environmental puzzles and advance through each level. By using the main tool of the game, the upgradable G-Lifter, players can lift and maneuver boxes and heavy objects around the environment and can eventually swing, jump and propel themselves huge distances throughout each level.

For more on Rochard please click here

Rochard was released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in September, and now the PC version release date has been announced. It is set to release on November 15th on the PC. The game has been received well by critics so far, and our review will be up soon as well.

Rochard takes gamers on a gravity-bending adventure packed with puzzles, action, humor and a rich story full of fascinating alien mysteries.

Rochard is a fun, original experience designed to test players’ wits and coordination,” said Samuli Syvähuoko, Founder of Recoil Games, Ltd. “We’re incredibly excited to bring this game to PC users, since it’s a natural fit for gamers across consoles as well as on PC.

“We can’t wait to see PC gamers take Rochard through his adventure and watch the fun ways they use the game’s mechanics to manipulate gravity and solve all of the challenges and puzzles.”

Rochard follows the story of the humble astro-miner John Rochard as he and his mining team discover an ancient structure hidden deep in an asteroid, mankind’s first proof of extraterrestrial life. Soon after, John’s team goes missing and space pirates attack the mine, and John quickly realizes there are dangerous forces at work, determined to use the mysterious discovery for their own means.

Using only his wits, everyday mining tools and a healthy dose of sarcasm, John must fend off the pirates, save his team and solve the mystery behind his discovery.

Check out the trailer.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Recoil Games have released a new video which gives some great insight into how Recoil created and perfected the game’s physics engine.

For more on Rochard, please click here.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Developed by Recoil Games, Rochard is a fun and original space adventure game that features a resourceful hero, ominous villains, rugged machinery, big explosions, even bigger stunts and sharp one-liners. The game tests players’ coordination and wits as they use gravity to their advantage, changing it at will to solve environmental puzzles and advance through each level. By using the upgradable G-Lifter, the main tool of the game, players can lift and maneuver heavy objects around the environment, and can eventually swing, jump and propel themselves huge distances throughout each level.

For more on Rochard please click here.

Check out this launch trailer for Rochard. The game came out yesterday in the US and today in the UK.

“Rochard rocks the indie scene with a witty storyline and unique gravity-bending action gameplay that should only be experienced on the PlayStation Network,” said Christopher Sturr, executive director of business development and corporate strategy at SOE. “With a focus on creative design, Rochard is a truly inspired title that defies design boundaries and presents a sarcastic twist to the puzzle-platforming genre.”

“We are incredibly proud of Rochard and the praise we have received for the game from across the globe, including two ‘Best of’ awards from press at this year’s Gamescom 2011,” said Samuli Syvahuoko, CEO of Recoil Games Ltd. “The time has finally come to put our clever and distinctive action adventure in the hands of gamers— and we couldn’t be more excited. When floating through low gravity, solving puzzles and tossing boxes at space pirates, we are confident players will find Rochard to be a fun game to sink their teeth into this fall.”

Sony have  announced at GamesCon the release date of Rochard on PSN. The game releases on:

• September 27 in the US (price $9.99 USD)
• September 28 in Europe (price 9.99€)

You can check our interview with the developers of Rochard over here.

We spoke with Tommaso De Benetti, Marketing manager and Juhana Virtanen, Lead Designer on Rochard.

Check out the full interview below.

GB: So first, for our readers who might not know, what is Rochard about?

Recoil Games: Rochard is a scifi sidescrolling platformer. The gameplay focuses on manipulating both gravity and environment with the help of a couple of cool devices. John Rochard, our astro-mining protagonist, can for example alter Earth-like gravity to modify weights and trajectories, or grab and throw objects with the G-Lifter, his beloved handheld gravity tool. He uses a variety of everyday-mining tools to clear a path through the environment and when things get hot, he can also modify the G-Lifter to shoot his enemies or throw explosives at them. But he is no space marine: his job consists in extracting a mineral called Turbinium from asteroids. The company he works for is called Skyrig: unfortunately he has been unlucky with the extractions for almost 4 years in a row, and he’s currently the leader of the worst team in the universe…Needless to say, his boss is not very happy about it.

The tone of the game is lighthearted, but we tried to pack it as much as possible with action. The game features explosions, space bandits, ancient legends and some good plot twist. Also, the soundtrack is composed and performed by Markus “Captain” Kaarlonen from Poets of the Fall. The band itself plays the piece you can hear in the trailer. We know POTF have really passionate fans, and Rochard’s music will definitely please them. Expect something ’80s-oriented and quite southern-sounding though!

GB: From what we’ve seen of this game, it looks like Dead Space meets classic Metroid, starring Mario in the lead. Was it a conscious idea to pay a sort of homage to those games?

Recoil Games: Some of the comparisons are fair, but other similarities weren’t deliberate. For example somebody spoke about John as a mix between Mario and Isaac Clarke, but we didn’t do it on purpose. It just happened. Of course, it doesn’t bother us at all, but we think players will be a bit surprised by John’s personality. He used to be a reckless hot shot, but after a disastrous accident that costed his previous team’s life, he became a different man. We tried to come up with a hero that is not the usual stereotype and we hope the stellar vocal performance of Jon St. John conveyed that in all the right ways.

About Metroid: at Recoil we are all gamers, and of course we hold the classics close to our heart, like most gamers. Some game design lessons from the past are hard not to take into account even when doing something new, so yes, you can say we have been inspired by the classics. You always gotta respect what came before!

GB: How has working with Sony been? What kind of support have you gotten?

Recoil Games: Because the game is based on quite unique mechanics like the gravity control we got pretty free hands with the content and creative side of the game. The most valuable support from SOE was definitely their QA. The guys back there are just awesome. Not only as QA personnel but also as gamers. I’ve got videos to back my words. 🙂

GB: How would you evaluate your experience with the PS3 and with PSN?

Recoil Games: The console itself is great to work with. About PSN…so far so good, but of course we will have to wait for the release of the game to pop the champagne. We are confident that Sony has done a good job after the security problems earlier this year.

GB: Can you please tell us a bit about the gameplay? How different it will be from other similar games available on the PSN and XBL?

Recoil Games: We dare to say “quite different”. Later in the game players will be able to shoot, but the game is very much puzzle-centric. Each room is a different challenge. Sometime you can overcome it just with a vulgar display of power, but most of the times using your brain is the best weapon. It’s also often the most rewarding way to deal with the enemies. There’s also good replay value there, meaning that each puzzle can be solved in a multitude of ways making use of the different weapons and environmental tools available to John. We think Rochard stands to platformers as Portal stands for the FPS genre. It looks like one but it plays different.

GB: Recently some screens were released for Rochard. And I observed there were a lot of boxes scattered here and there, which led me to believe that there might be some rag doll physics involved. If yes how will it affect gameplay or make it better?

Recoil Games: Absolutely. We can proudly state that Rochard is the first Unity-powered PS3 game. Using the Unity engine allowed us to implement realistic physic both in the way characters interact with the environment and the way objects behave. When you couple this with the G-Lifter and the possibility to alter gravity, you get a better picture of what are the tricks up John’s sleeve.

GB: Any plans to bring Rochard on Steam or Xbox Live?

Recoil Games: There are big plans for Rochard, that I can say.

GB: After Rochard is done, what’s next for you?

Recoil Games:  Rochard is a really good IP, and there’s plenty of room to work in the same universe. So, if the game performs as we hope…(you can figure out the rest ^__^)

GB: Is there anything else you want to tell us about the game?

Recoil Games:  Rochard is a gamer’s game, with a style that can appeal both to Pixar-lovers and seasoned players (for example, it’s packed with references from the ’80s!). We poured our heart in it, and we know is good value for your money. Give it a chance!