Faith, trust and a little pixie dust

You have to admire Jaleco for having the guts to create a game starring two cute, cherubic little fairies and release it into a target market comprised largely of adolescent boys. I have no idea how much money Rod-land made in the arcades or the proportion of male/female gamers who fed coins into the cabinet. Nevertheless, it was sufficiently well-received to be treated to various home computer/console ports and still has a tendency to crop up on contemporary platforms today.

It's easy to see why; Rod-land is as addictive a two-player, single-screen platformer as Bubble Bobble, and you don't say that lightly. A big part of the attraction is the satisfying way baddies are whacked out of the equation. First entranced by a magic wand, they are held transfixed to be swept overhead, smacking them down first to the left and then the right until they give up the ghost. There's nothing quite like it outside of pantomime wrestling. Then there's the sheer joy and sense of power engendered by the capacity to create and climb ladders at will wherever and whenever the mood strikes you. Critical since you can't jump to swerve collision or collect objects situated on higher ground. Floating downwards is, however, an option and that adds another significant design mechanic that hikes the fun factor exponentially. Mobilise a bomb in the right general direction of an opponent and watch them *boom* comic book style. Perfectly responsive controls and the instant feedback of well-balanced arcade action really make you feel you're in charge of your own destiny.

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