Robotron X

PlayStation console exclusive

The arcade classic is taken to the next level, this time in 3D. The super-enhanced hero Ugene is once again called into action to save the last human family against the hordes of relentless Robotrons. Battle through 100 different levels, gaining new power-ups and abilities as Ugene survives wave after wave of the unrelenting hordes. While Ugene may face the familiar Robotrons, there will be new additions and tricks that the killer robots will use against the last surviving human family. Ugene must protect them at all cost while racking up the highest possible score!

Released: 1 November 1996
Platforms: PlayStation Windows
Genres: Multidirectional shooter Shooter
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: United States
Age ratings: USK 12 ACB G ESRB T

About

Robotron X is a twin-stick shooter video game co-developed by Leland Interactive Media and Player 1 and it was released by Midway Games in November 1996 for the PlayStation. It is a 3D version of the 1982 arcade video game Robotron: 2084. GT Interactive published a Windows port in 1997. A Nintendo 64 version was released in 1998 as Robotron 64, and Crave Entertainment bought out the publishing rights to the N64 version.

Keywords

aliens
high score
polygonal 3d
swarming enemies
two controllers for one player

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Robotron X features updated graphics and audio, and also multiple different angles for the camera.

Reception

While the game uses gameplay similar to the original, Robotron X was not as well-received, though reviews for it ranged from mixed to positive. Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams felt that the moving camera featured in the 3D environment was a negative, and that the original overhead perspective format of a single screen actually presented all the information a player and relied more on the skill of the player. They felt that the moving camera angle obscured playing field areas which would make it hard for the player to avoid being shot when an enemy appears suddenly. Some critics cited this as the game's one major flaw.

John Vince felt the same way, stating that gameplay suffered due to missing important aspects that the original had. Rollings and Adams instead attribute the late 1990s fad involving classic video game remakes in part to the release of Robotron X, though at the time of that release it was believed this fad was already in place.