Snake Rattle n Roll

Snake Rattle n Roll

Overview & History

Released by Rare in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Snake Rattle n Roll is a delightfully bizarre isometric platformer born from the creative minds of Tim and Chris Stamper. Straying far from standard run-and-gun tropes, the game follows a pair of cartoon serpents named Rigsby and Slither on a surreal gastronomic quest. Their ultimate objective is to scale a massive 30-level mountain, but to do so, they must first gorge themselves on mutated lifeforms until they reach the required weight threshold to trigger the exit door. Complemented by David Wise’s iconic, toe-tapping surf-rock soundtrack, this cult classic combined challenging vertical navigation with whimsical, tongue-in-cheek humor, earning its place as one of the most mechanically inventive and visually striking titles of the 8-bit era.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional side-scrollers, Snake Rattle n Roll utilizes a distinct isometric perspective that complicates depth perception and spatial awareness. Players maneuver their serpents across floating checkerboard tiles, navigating hazards like bottomless pits, slippery ice, and mechanical traps. The core gameplay loop revolves around using your snake's tongue to lash out at bouncing, balloon-like creatures known as Poddiloids. Eating these enemies increases your body length by adding segments, but you must constantly monitor your weight using the onscreen bathroom scale. Once you hit the mandatory weight limit, the exit bell unlocks. Along the way, players can collect hidden bonus items, dodge hostile objects, and hunt down elusive red foot icons that grant temporary speed boosts or extra lives. However, lingering too long summons a relentless, invulnerable creature akin to a fishhook or a massive shark that instantly swallows the slow-moving snake, forcing the player to lose a life and start the stage over.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause