Robotrek

Robotrek has similar gameplay to that of most RPG video games, with the notable exception that the main character is not the combatant; rather, the robots he invents are, making it more similar to Pokémon and Dragon Quest Monsters. The robots are highly customizable, in aspects such as equipment, special attacks, body color and name. The player is allowed to build a maximum of three robots. Unlike many RPGs, the player must invent or create the robots' equipment, use "Program Points" to set the robot's attributes (as opposed to these attributes being set by the game), and program special attacks in a macro-like fashion, although certain commands do special effects instead.

Battles are engaged by contact with the enemy on a map. The player usually attacks first, unless the enemy has caught the player's side or from behind. Battling in the game takes place on a battlefield under a variation of the ATB system, in which the player must wait for a gauge to fill up before acting. Only one robot may fight at any time up against at most three enemies; the player can switch between robots at the cost of a turn (like in Pokémon).

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.

Robotrek was developed by Quintet and published by Enix. Ancient handled the game's audio. Quintet had previously developed the ActRaiser series, Soul Blazer, and Illusion of Gaia, all released by Enix on the SNES. Quintet first collaborated with Ancient on ActRaiser 2.

Robotrek was directed by Quintet president Masaya Hashimoto, who supervised the staff during the project. After assisting on the overseas marketing of ActRaiser, Shinji Futami was promoted to producer for several Quintet games including Robotrek. Reiko Takebayashi served as both the chief designer and scenario writer for Robotrek, while Shigemi Kita was its main programmer. The game's original concept was devised three years prior to its release and actual development took a year and a half.

Robotrek received mostly average review scores from printed media at the time of its release. Reactions to its gameplay were mostly positive. Nick Rox of GameFan, Dean Mortlock of Super Play, and Doug Brumley of Game Players all viewed the ability to invent items and build customizable robots that fight in the protagonist's place as innovative or original. Rox recommended the game as "a totally different and refreshing RPG experience."

Mortlock appreciated the ability to invent objects and add new robots as the game's one saving grace. He compared this latter feature to recruiting and maintaining a traditional RPG party, but admitted "at least they're trying to be different." These gameplay attributes, coupled with linear storyline progression, led Brumley to conclude that Robotrek was "a fun choice for players without much RPG experience." However, GamePro negatively assessed that Robotrek "unsuccessfully attempts to push the envelope of its genre," criticizing the inability to send more than one robot into battle at a time and the trial and error involved in creating hybrid weapons and items.