Rollaround

About

Rollaround is a grid-based puzzle game where you navigate 20 levels made of 9 interconnected screens. Each level tasks you with collecting specific numbers of colored crosses while avoiding moving enemies. You control a rolling object that can leap over holes with a button press and alter the environment by converting squares into crosses or holes. The layout shifts as you progress, requiring you to adapt to new obstacles like mystery squares that randomize effects and clock squares that freeze time. The game’s strength lies in its layered mechanics and escalating difficulty. Later levels demand precise planning as cross-collection targets narrow and hazards multiply. Players often note how simple mechanics like square inversion create complex problem-solving scenarios. With no scrolling and a focus on spatial reasoning, Rollaround leans into its cerebral side while keeping the pace brisk. The 1987 release showed how 8-bit systems could handle clever level design, even if some modern audiences find the control responsiveness a bit dated.