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Robotrek,(JP) is an RPG that was released for the SNES in 1994.It was developed by Quintet and Ancient, being published by Enix.
Directed by Masaya Hashimoto, director of Soul Blazer (1992), produced by Shinji Futami, the producer of Illusion of Gaia (1993),Kazunori Takado as assistant producer, Reiko Takebayashi as scenario writer, who later worked on Terranigma (1995), the music composed by Ayako Yoda and the sound produced by Yuzo Koshiro.
Gameplay[]
Robotrek is able to stand out from other RPGs of the time due to its Pokémon-esque gameplay style (two years before Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan). The main protagonist does not fight at all. Instead, he commands robots to fight for him. Robots are stored in a Poké Ball-like object (カプセル|Capsule).The player can create up to three robots. The player sets their stats, color, name, etc. All enemies can be seen on the overworld map, and walking into them starts a battle. Before acting, the player must wait for their robots' fuel gauge to fill up. One robot fights up to three enemies at a time. Switching robots costs a turn. After a battle is over, robots will earn 'Megs of Data' (experience points), and enemies will sometimes drop money on the overworld map.
Inventing[]
Crafting items is one of the main game mechanics. Weapons can be created or strengthened through this process. Combining one weapon with another of the same type is one way to increase their power. Weapons will also gain levels.
Plot[]
On the planet of Quintenix (Paradise Star in Japanese), where the situation has long been peaceful, a group calling themselves "The Hackers", headed by Blackmore, suddenly starts an uprising against the population by disrupting the peace of the town of Rococo (and elsewhere). The main character (who appears to be nameless) is the son of a famous inventor, Dr. Akihabara, who decides to move to Rococo. The main character soon sets off to find out that The Hackers want Dr. Akihabara for a sinister purpose, as Akihabara refuses an offer to join them. The story unfolds to the point where The Hackers' ultimate goal is the Tetron, a mysterious stone that allows viewers to observe events past and future and travel through time.
The Tetron is later found out to be an invention of the main character's ancestor Rask (Rusk) and one of his friends, Gateau, finds the Tetron's potential as the key to controlling the universe by controlling time. Rask disregards that potential and hides the Tetron in shards throughout Quintenix. Gateau, who—presumedly—formed The Hackers later on, obtains the Tetron and attempts to proceed with his plan for universal domination, starting with Rask's home planet of Choco (Chocolate Star). It is up to the main character to stop Gateau in his space fortress.
Reception[]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7.4/10 |
Robotrek received unfavorable reviews upon release. GamePro said that the game "unsuccessfully tries to push the envelope of its genre [role-playing]".
On "Cross Review " of the game magazine "Famitsu Tsushin", Robotrek was won the "Silver Hall of Fame" with a total of 30 points (40 points in total)
In "Family Computer Magazine". The evaluation was 22.4 points (30 points in total)
Sales[]
Robotrek sold rather poorly in both Japan and North America. It sold about 65,000 units in both regions combined.
Trivia[]
- Robotrek's Japanese name: スラップスティック|Surappusutikku (Slapstick), is a reference to its humorous tone, however, it's relative since in the game find again themes; such as is creation and destruction, human ambition, the use of science for good and evil, the theme of immortality that is implicit in Nagisa an assistant android with the resemblance to the deceased mother of the protagonist, problems between neighbors and among others.
- In the Japanese manual the main character is initially called "Hero" (主人公) which is for the player to name him as desired and feel that they are the protagonist. In the manual, he was named "Enix" (エ ニ ッ ク ス).
- Scrap 9 and Scrap 10, when combined with some equipment or other scrap, create the most powerful weapons in the game.
- The Hackers are parody of Shocker Combatants from Kamen Rider.
- In the Japanese version you can see a deleted scene for the American version: After saving Polon, a scene begins two hackers in a black background began are talking about seemingly of something inappropriate.
- The "Blade 4", in the Japanese version is called "SoulBlade" (ソウルブレイド), which could be the replica of the legendary weapon of the hero of Soul Blazer, with the technique of launching bullets shaped Firebird/Phoenix.
- The form of Tetron (bipyramid) resembles the "Shrine of the Master" from Soul Blazer and the crystals of Angkor Wat from Illusion of Gaia.
- Inside the Count Polinky's mansion you can see knight's armors similar to the enemies of Stormrook from ActRaiser 2, but without the axe and shield. However, in this stage you can learn create Axe 1 (Inventor's Friend Lv 9).
- In the Clock Tower of Count Polinky's mansion where there is an enmity of some dolls with the mice of the place, this part of the game could be a reference to Soul Blazer in parody form.
- On the South Isle, a native scares the main character with a joke similar to that made by the dog from GreenWood's Restaurant in Soul Blazer.
- In the Japanese version, the chicken on the farm of Robotrek is called "Catherine" (カトリーヌ), which is mentioned in Terranigma by a boy watching the chicken race, also are the only Quintet Super Nintendo Entertainment System games where chickens appear and the main character can talk to them.
- "Rococo Town" (ロココ町) is a reference of the art style that originated in Paris in the late 17th and early 18th century. In Terranigma, Ark buys for 800 Gems: "Rococo Apartment" (ロココアパート).
- In the computer of the Hero's house and that of his father, mentions ActRaiser 2 and Illusion of Gaia (in the Japanese and American version).
- With the CyberJack, the player can enter the computer in dad's house and meet the Development staff of Quintet. This secret is present in Actraiser 2 and Terranigma, too.
- The outside of Gateau's space fortress is shaped similar to that of the Tower of Babel.
- In the American manual the story section has variations between languages. Example: "The technology on Rococo is slightly more advanced than the technology we have here on Earth" in Japanese version: "The civilization of Rococo town is a little more advanced than the present Japan"(ロココ町の文明は今の日本 より少しだけ進んでいますが).
- Is one of the games that appears in the Quintet Quiz of Neotokio from Terranigma in the Japanese version.
- In both the Japanese and American versions, a girl's dog and her grandmother's have the name Turbo (タ ー ボ), a name given to the dog that appear in Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma.
- In one video "Brute Press" VHS Vol.24 July 1995 (【非売品】ブルートプレス Vol.24 1995年7月号) published Terranigma Beta version. The sound effects can heard is the same of the Robotrek.
External links[]
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