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Robo ReviewWhat a robot would do in the name of love |
By Elena Balan, Communications News Editor
29th of October 2007, 13:46 GMT
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Herocraft just followed the standard recipe when designing Robo, by adding all the ingredients that should instantly turn it into a success. You just take an old puzzle game concept, add some evolved graphics and an extremely cute character and there you have it! Hours and hours of pleasant fun for any type of player.
The name Robo sounds like a caress for the main character. It looks like a robot, but it proves to be as human as it gets. Its features greatly resemble those of a man and, surprisingly, it even falls in love. This is the main problem and the fact which builds the conflict, as Robo's beloved Eny has been kidnapped by the evil Discharger. Sounds like a real menace for an electron-based being, so he's on a race to save her. It's all done in the name of love, as corny that might sound, and it should make a great cause to follow throughout the game.
Of course, there is a great number of perils threatening at every step. There are many laser cannons set throughout the entire game, blocking Robo's access to the exit. In order to escape its beams, they must either redirect them with the help of some mirrors or block them by using rocks.
Sounds easy enough, but the fact that they don't just lie around might turn out to be a real problem. The player must strategically move each of the few rocks and mirrors that are supposed to help him make his way to the exit. One single wrong move might block a crucial rock that will no longer be available for moves, because of walls and other elements.
Another helpful feature is that the
player can also make use of bombs which are also placed there for a reason. Hitting them with a beam will make all laser cannons in the surrounding area explode and clear the way for Robo. This strategy puzzle asks for the same kind of logic as a game of chess, because players have to think ahead with a few moves before making a single one. Taking a rock or mirror to the wrong position can block it for the entire game.
There is a total of 78 puzzles to be solved, quite a challenge, especially when considering that each level will be more difficult than the previous one. This makes it a long lasting game, with a bag full of soliciting challenges that will virtually never end. The action takes place in four different worlds, which breaks monotony by varying the surroundings.
This includes a Tutorial, to get used to the commands and basic requirements of the game. The greatest thing about Robo is that the tutorial is almost useless. Anyone can just pick up the handset and start playing it, easily deducing the controls and game rules. Once all these are clearly known, the next three levels of difficulty come in, replacing Easy/Medium/Hard with Save Eny/A Nightmare/Escape. Challenges become more difficult with each level completed, which should make it next to impossible to find solutions after a while.
The graphics is only a basic one, with nothing impressive. Sure, there are warm colors and the humanized robot is pretty charming, but the game looks more like an old RPG, in the end. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as there are surely many gamers out there that still find this old design quite appealing.
Robo proves to be a mind challenging mobile game, which complies with the basic demands for such an application to be successful, while also little soliciting on the handset. The greatest thing about this mobile game is that it works perfectly on any Windows Mobile version, Plam OS, Symbian and some others as well. The character can be controlled with the help of the stylus, or with the navigation buttons. They respond just as great, making the choice of one over another only a matter of taste.
The game's concept is as simple as it gets and might turn out being just the right thing for providing fun without any expectation of wowing in terms of having a stunningly modern concept. Great mind challenges are always highly addictive, a warning that should prepare future players for the constant need of living up to the puzzles that keep coming.
Herocraft might have just struck another successful title with the release of the Robo game. It has all it needs to keep the handset user stuck to the phone's display, trying to solve the puzzles. The final goal is as cute as it gets, namely that of bringing Robo and Eny "together-forever, until their batteries discharge".
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Fair (2.8/5) |
5 vote(s) so far |
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