Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Interceptor Entertainment
Publisher: Apogee Software

The problem with most remakes of old titles is that they struggle to convert the charming, pixel-based aesthetic of the original game to the texture-mapped polygons employed by contemporary engines. This new ROTT title proves that it's possible to side-step this pratfall. The enemy and texture designs immediately evoke memories of the original title; it's a pleasant ugly-duckling, exactly like its forebear!

The only way to make the Lee Jackson and Bobby Prince songs from the first game sound better is to remix them with lots of electric guitar and double bass. Sure enough, that's exactly what Andrew Hulshult has done, and boy is it fabulous. Sound effects are a little flat, but the voice acting-- particularly the intentionally useless "mission briefings"-- is absolutely hilarious.

The player movement and physics are incredibly faithful to the original title's. As well, the single-player maps do a reasonable job of immitating the flow of the first game's, although they do get a bit too puzzle-oriented as they progress. The multiplayer is delightfully chaotic-- reminiscent of the old Quake "Rocket Arena" mod, but with at least six different rocket launcher variants.

The level design isn't perfect, but this new ROTT hits on absolutely everything else. The aesthetic is not only faithful but avoids elitist indie-land hipsterville; the physics are fantastic; the multiplayer is sheer joy; the game fills the totally-neglected corridor shooter niche; and seeing as how the title is based on Unreal engine, expect a smorgasbord of community-made single and multiplayer maps.