Fast-Paced Arcade-y Shooter with Online Play
Robotopia is a cheerful sidescrolling shooter with a color palette remniscent of the arcade, in which you control a robot who can fly, zapping a huge variety of opponents and bosses. The single-player game has scads of challenging levels (ten in the demo); you level up over time and can purchase new weapons and equipment, for an RPG-like experience. And once you've gotten good at the controls (see below), you can go online* and battle others in deathmatch, "capture-the-flag" or "bounty-hunting" play.
Unlike many shooters, Robotopia isn't entirely about shooting; there are a variety of moves that require keystroke combinations to use, so there's something of a streetfighter-like aspect to it, too (though not to the extreme of more recent fighters, which have so many special moves that mastering them approaches the difficulty of learning to play a piano). Add in music that somehow combines the feel of house techno and the sound of old arcade games, and you have a unique and quirkily fun little game that will keep shooter fans occupied for quite a while.
Try it. You'll like it. (Well, if you like third-person shooters.)
The developer says:
Robotopia is an all action, fast paced shooter that takes you online to stage epic battles that span across a beautiful multi-scrolling world. Here you can play flag games where players battle to hold points across the landscape. Or play as a bounty hunter where allegiances can be made as players fight for robo currency. Either way you are going to be caught up in some intense action, making strong allies and fierce enemies. If going online immediately seems a bit daunting, immerse yourself in the one player game that is designed to train you in the art or robo destruction. Here you will meet a variety of drones and soldiers who will test your skills and increase your robot's performance through an RPG-style experience system. Through the stages you will realize there are many moves to master such as the teleport technique and the deadly and spectacular energy blade that can deflect your enemies bullets as well as cause some serious cutting damage.
Features
- Fast, playable and chaotic; massive online or single player gaming
- Fully upgradeable and totally customizable robots grow with your skill level
- A beautiful world of unique style and immense detail
- Highly compelling puzzle game which rewards players with gold
- Shop allows players to purchase formidable and tactical weapons
Reviews
"...Robotopia has old school charm to spare. First, it’s got side scrolling action to take you back to the 80s. Then, it’s updated enough for you to play it online against your other pals. Your robots get more powerful as your skill level improves. Finally, if you don’t want to play online, the single player aspect feels more like an RPG than a shooter."
- VH1 Game Break
"Robotopia takes a solid, classic premise and updates it with RPG elements, varied weapons, and crisp graphics. It’s too bad, then, that the game is very difficult and there is almost no documentation to help beginning players. This is one of the most brutal games on new players that I’ve played in quite a while, and only those players adept at platform games will find Robotopia enjoyable instead of frustrating."
- 5/8, Out of Eight PC Game Reviews
Documentation to Help Beginning Players
While Robotopia has a pretty good tutorial, there's no in-game help for the controls. So here's what you need to know:
Movement: Cursor arrow keys
Shoot: CTRL
Bombs: TAB or SPACE BAR
Spider Bomb: F1
Sniper Bomb: F2
Magnet Bomb: F3
Power Bomb: F4
(hold shift+bomb key to lay corresponding Mine)
Advanced moves:
Grab Wall: hold "Q" against a wall (recharges energy very fast!)
Create Barrier: "\" +direction(needs 50 gold)
Teleport: press "Delete" key
Super Jump: Down then UP+Shift
Summersault: Down then left or right+shift
Z Dive: "Z" whilst air-born
Vert Bomb: Down then UP+Space Bar or TAB
Sword moves explained:
These are the most vital moves!!!
Regular Slice: Down, towards + CTRL
Electric Smash: Down, towards (VERY fast!) + CTRL
Uppercut: Down, UP+CTRL OR Down, towards + Tab (bomb key)
Overhead Hack: Up, towards + ctrl OR down, towards (hold and wait)+ctrl
MISC keys:
View Status/Online scores: ENTER
Return to previous screen: ESC
Chat Online: T
View entire Chat: R
* NOTE: The online mode is not working at the moment but the developer is working hard to resolve this.