Rocco's Island

Game Summary:

  Rocco's Island: Ring to End the Pain is a puzzle game set in an adventure. The player manipulates the mysterious Evelyn through challenges after she awakens, washed up on an island. After Evelyn accidentally sets off the island's self-destruct bell, she sets off on a journey to reverse the countdown. Riddles, and puzzles move Evelyn along the path so that she can collect four keys to reverse the island's self-destruction. The bell rings each time the player loses a match-three minigame and if the bell rings 35 times, the world ends and the player's game resets. The four keys are held by the elemental leader of each connected island. Evelyn navigates the ruler's problems along with her personal sad backstory.

Critical Evaluation:

  Evelyn starts the game unable to speak and without any memory of how she got there. As she progresses through the game, she remembers past trauma that includes a young girl talking to police and how she was bullied at school. The first monarch she encounters reflects on his melancholy from witnessing the death of everyone he cares about due to his immortal magic. Rocco's Island: Ring to End the Pain is recommended for ages seven and older, and a few platforms even suggest the game can be handled by ages four and older. Given the mature themes of death and trauma weaved into the narrative, I would suggest a tween or teen audience as the minimum age. The matching mini games are not difficult and may be the reason for the lower age recommendation. The animation is beautiful and creepy, and to match the theme of an apocalyptic adventure, the puzzle games should be made more difficult for older audiences.  

Creative Use for a Library Program

   Game Hour in the Library: In the teen section, provide physical match three games for players to challenge themselves. Similar to Rocco's Island: Ring to End the Pain, there can be a mix of matching games and riddles. Provide snacks and refreshments. If there is no physical teen section, specify that this program is for teens only. 

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: 

Rocco's Island: Ring to End the Pain does not have a history of being challenged. As a free, mobile game it would not be a library material, more of a reader's advisory item. It is rated for general audiences. 

Reason for Inclusion: 

I like puzzles and beautiful games. And as an adult, not into gaming, I do not have any separate gaming systems to play on. This is an exercise in finding accessible games for teens that also lack gaming equipment. Rocco's Island: Ring to End the Pain is available for purchase on computers, but the pocket version I played is a trial that is free to download on any smartphone. With the trial version I was able to play until reaching the first key in the game, roughly a quarter of the storyline.