Roly Poly
- Puzzle
- Platform
Mouse
Flash
HTML5
Roly Poly is an puzzle platform Flash game released on June 13th, 2006[1] by Nitrome. An HTML5 port of the game was released on November 11th, 2022[2].
The goal of the game is to guide a hedgehog named Poly to the designated finish line by rotating it through a maze within a given time limit. This rotation mechanic was revisited in 2015 with the release of Beneath The Lighthouse for mobile devices.
Descriptions[edit | edit source]
Nitrome.com 1.0
Use the mouse to drag and rotate the level. Get the hedgehog to the end of each level avoiding the spikes and traps![3]
Nitrome.com 1.2
Tilt and roll the hedgehog through 30 exciting rotating levels![4]
Nitrome.com 2.0
Twist the world to roll our hero to the end of each crazy maze.
Controls[edit | edit source]
Mouse - Click to move maze
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
In each level of Roly Poly, the player has to navigate Poly to the goal at the end of the level. Poly cannot be directly controlled, rather, the player has to rotate the level with the mouse in order to move Poly through it, who behaves functionally like a ball.
Levels[edit | edit source]
The levels in Roly Poly are grouped into three categories: easy, medium, and hard. Each category has ten levels, which are given their own special names. The first level of each category is unlocked by default.
Easy[edit | edit source]
1: Round The Bend[edit | edit source]
With no hazards present, the player simply has to roll Poly around a large hump and towards the checkered finish line, as the introductory gameplay.
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2: To and Fro[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player has to roll the hedgehog left and right to land on the platforms. Tilting too far will result in hitting some spikes.
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3: In A Spin[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must carefully roll the hedgehog around a square spiral shaped area avoiding lightning at the edges.
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4: Moving Day[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player can ride on a moving platform to the finish.
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5: Rhubarb Crumble[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the hedgehog should roll along the course quickly so not to fall through the crumbling bricks.
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6: Switched[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must hit the highest up switch, then the middle switch, and then the switch closest to the start. The hedgehog must be quick to get through the maze before time runs out.
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7: Trigger Happy[edit | edit source]
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The player has to move quickly to get through the area, so not to stay on a trigger too long.
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8: Key To My Heart[edit | edit source]
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The hedgehog has to quickly collect the two keys so not to get hit by the spike traps, then flip onto the middle area, and last flip out while over the finish.
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9: Hole in One[edit | edit source]
In this level, the player must flip the stage slowly, so that the hedgehog rolls to a point under the finish. Then the player must quickly flip the stages so that the hedgehog falls into the finish.
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10: Ball and Chain[edit | edit source]
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This is the last level of the easy group. The player must roll the hedgehog around the course, but not hit the balls on a chain.
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Medium[edit | edit source]
11: Target Practice[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must dodge some giant arrows on the way to the finish.
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12: A Turn for the Worse[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must roll in timing to dodge four balls on chains.
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13: Having a Blast[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must roll carefully so that the hedgehog and the bomb never collide in the maze.
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14: Flick of The Wrist[edit | edit source]
In this level the player must slowly roll around the center area and rotate the game quickly so that the hedgehog can turn corners.
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15: Between the Lines[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must manage the hedgehog's speed so that it slowly rolls to the finish without touching the moving lightning in front or in back of it.
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16: Pipe Dreams[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must roll to the finish while avoiding some crushers.
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17: Baby Steps[edit | edit source]
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In this level, the player must slowly roll, using the small blocks as support, and then quickly rotate the board to cause the hedgehog to fall through the finish.
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18: Dangerous Ground[edit | edit source]
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Time: 59 seconds
Poly needs to obtain a key while rolling over many paths of triggered switches in order to quickly reach the finish line.
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19: Wheel of Fortune[edit | edit source]
Time: 59 seconds
Reaching the finish line may be as simple as rolling along a large curve, but a wheel of eight spike balls makes this task more difficult. The player has to make sure Poly is not between where the spikes might land or they will have to restart the level.
A very easy method to completing this level is to remember one thing: where a spike ball lands during one out-extension, it will not land the next time. Using this method, the player can effectively get to the end quite quickly.
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20: Stepping Stones[edit | edit source]
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Time: 29 seconds
The only safe path to reach the finish line is to roll Poly across two sets of four tiny bumps, being careful to avoid any hazardous spikes. Rolling Poly across the first set will help him reach the first end, then moving the circle to the left will help him reach the finish line.
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Hard[edit | edit source]
21: Duck and Cover[edit | edit source]
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Time: 59 seconds
Like level 11, Poly needs to dodge some giant arrows while taking cover in the gaps put in the level. Two arrows at a time will shoot across the screen to the left, while two more arrows will come across the screen to the right at the bottom of the screen, where the finish line is.
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22: Don't Look Back[edit | edit source]
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Time: 29 seconds
The player must move the circle as quickly and accurately as possible while avoiding a spiral of spikes covered by crumbling blocks.
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23: Boxed In[edit | edit source]
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Time: 3:59 seconds
Four keys scattered across the circle must be obtained in tiny compartments determined by moving doors. A few of these doors have electricity beaming in them, so the player has to be careful of the area Poly gets enclosed in.
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24: Bumpy Ride[edit | edit source]
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Time: 59 seconds
The path to the finish line is locked, so the player needs to roll over a series of bumps with trigger spikes as well as avoiding stationary spikes to reach the key. Then, the player must start Poly out on the same path he came from, except this time, taking a turn for the finish line.
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25: On Higher Ground[edit | edit source]
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Time: 1:59 seconds
This level introduces retractable spikes, which periodically retract and then stick out again. The player needs to navigate Poly safely when the spikes retract to navigate through the curvy pathway and reach the finish line.
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26: Mind the Gap[edit | edit source]
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Time: 59 seconds
This level is more fast paced as opposed to the other levels previously played. Most of it is made up of spikes. The player must use three fast-moving platforms to quickly roll on and reach the finish line.
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27: High Voltage[edit | edit source]
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Time: 1:59 seconds
The path to the finish line in this level is divided into tiny sections determined by moving doors. When the doors closed, certain compartments emit electricity in them. This is randomized, and the player has to make sure they are in the right compartments so Poly will not get electrocuded. One quicker way of doing this is when that compartment last emit electricity. Poly should enter that one and so on.
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28: U-Turn[edit | edit source]
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Time: 2:59 seconds
As the name suggests, the level is shaped in a U pattern, with three pipes on either sides of the level and one at the bottom of the "U" shape. The player must make that journey around the U shape in order to obtain the key. Once the key has been taken, Poly must make it back the way he came from. To make it in the finish line, the player should tip the hedgehog in the center of the U, being careful not to hit the spikes on either sides of the wall.
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29: Down Under[edit | edit source]
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Time: 59 seconds
While avoiding the spikes, Poly starts his journey on a short but fast moving platform to reach a moving door. Once the door opens, Poly can drop through and make his way to an open area, where two moving platforms on the same line meet. Then, while avoiding all the spikes on either sides, the hedgehog has to be rolled on the moving platforms in order to reach the finish line.
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30: Pins and Needles[edit | edit source]
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Time: 2:59 seconds
The last level of the game, Poly navigates his way through a long maze of retracting spikes in order to reach the finish line, which completes the game.
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Ending[edit | edit source]
This collapsible box contains a spoiler! Use [show] to reveal.
Interactive objects[edit | edit source]
- Finish line - The goal of each level.
- Levers - Activate gates when Poly rolls past them.
- Keys - Activate locked gates when Poly collects them.
- Crumbling bricks - Bricks that get destroyed once Poly rolls over them.
- Moving platforms - Move around to transport Poly.
- Gates - Prevent passage to certain areas until they are opened.
Hazards[edit | edit source]
- Spikes - Sharp objects that stay still on the ground.
- Lightning - Electricity that appears and disappears, temporarily preventing passage to certain areas.
- Spike traps - Spikes that appear once Poly rolls over them.
- Ball on chains - Spiky balls that turn around.
- Giant arrows - Arrows that are shot out of the walls.
- Bomb - Bombs that roll alongside Poly when the level is tilted.
- Pipes - Retracting rectangular objects that attempt to crush Poly.
Development[edit | edit source]
Mat Annal mentioned in an interview with FreeGamesNews that Roly Poly's game mechanic came from playing around with a ball-in-a-maze puzzle and thinking how it would be more interesting if it had moving interactive objects[5]. The game was developed in 1 month[5] and was called Furball during development[6]. Of the three Nitrome games made so far, Hot Air, Sandman, and Chick Flick, Roly Poly was the hardest to develop[5].
Credits[edit | edit source]
| Design | |
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| Programming | |
| Music | |
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Unused and beta content[edit | edit source]
Present in the game's files are five images of text, which were likely used for buttons for making levels. However, it is possible that they may hint that at certain points of levels, the player would have to activate hazards.
The second text contains an underscore, which is never used in the game. The third text does not seem to correspond to anything in the game, and likely used for a message if the game crashes.
Electricity
Door_Unlock
Crash
Spike appear
Arrow shoot
Music[edit | edit source]
The music for Roly Poly was composed by Lee Nicklen on May 2006[7], roughly a month before the game's release. The music for the game was made available for listening on Kayotix[7], Lee Nicklen's website, with the tracks being watermarked so that the listener would have to purchase the songs through Nitrome's Shop to listen to them without interruptions. The music was later made available to stream for free in Soundcloud[8].
The naming of the tracks may differ between Kayotix and Soundcloud.
| Official links | File | Heard in | |
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| Kayotix | Soundcloud | ||
| Menu Theme Song | Menu Song | Menus | |
| Main Game Theme Song | Main Song | Levels | |
Cameos and references[edit | edit source]
Cameos in other Nitrome games[edit | edit source]
-
Roly Poly is not featured in other Nitrome games.
Cameos outside Nitrome games[edit | edit source]
- Classic - Poly makes an appearance in the skin holding a chick balloon.
- Horror - Poly makes an appearance in the skin with a zombie-like look.
- Party - Poly makes an appearance in the skin.
- 100th Game - Poly, with its Skywire design, makes an appearance in the skin.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Logos[edit | edit source]
Logo as seen on the slider animation
Logo as seen on the Nitrome 1.0 icon
Icons[edit | edit source]
Nitrome 1.0 icon
Nitrome 1.2 icon
Nitrome 1.5 icon
Nitrome 2.0 icon
Search engine thumbnail
Screenshots[edit | edit source]
Menu
Slider animation
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- This is the first Flash game by Nitrome that has a resolution of 550 by 550 pixels.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nitrome.com October 4th 2006 - News: 13-06-06 - Roly Poly [Date is written in Day/Month/Year format]
- ↑ Nitrome on Twitter: [1], 11 Nov 22, retrieved 19 Jan 23.
- ↑ Internet Archive Wayback Machine: Nitrome - Roly Poly, 21 June, 2006, retrieved 12 September, 2024.
- ↑ Internet Archive Wayback Machine: Nitrome - Play Free Online Games, 16 November, 2006, retrieved 12 September, 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 FreeGamesNews.com: Matthew Annal (Nitrome) interview, On/before June 21st 2006, retrieved 16 Sept 2014.
- ↑ Nitrome Music by Lee Nicklen on Facebook: [2], 12 April 2012, retrieved 16 Sept 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Roly Poly site on Kayotix
- ↑ Roly Poly playlist by one of Lee Nicklen's accounts on Soundcloud
| v • d • eRoly Poly | |
|---|---|
| General | Roly Poly • Poly |
| Hazards | Spikes • Lightning • Spike traps • Balls on chains • Giant arrows • Bomb • Pipes • Triplet spike traps |
| Interactive objects | Finish line • Levers • Keys • Crumbling bricks • Moving platforms • Switch and key gates • Wooden and metal gates |