Robowarrior

Nintendo console exclusive

Robowarrior takes place on an alien planet called Altile. The player operates a cyborg named ZED (Z-type Earth Defence). In the game, ZED raids Altile to fight the Xantho empire and destroy its leader, Xur. ZED deploys bombs to clear a path through rocks, walls, and forests, while killing enemies and collecting items.

Released: 7 August 1987
Platforms: NES MSX
Genres: Shooter Puzzle Adventure
Developers: Hudson Soft
Publishers: Jaleco Hudson Soft
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Science fiction

About

RoboWarrior is an action video game developed by Hudson Soft and EXA Planning for the Nintendo Entertainment System. A follow-up to Bomberman (1985), it was released in Japan on August 7, 1987. Internationally, Jaleco published the game in North America in December 1988 and Europe in November 1989.

The player controls ZED, a cyborg on his mission to protect the planet Altile from the invasion of the Xantho Empire. The objective is to make way through the game's eight levels while overcoming enemies and obstacles. ZED uses his bombs and laser gun to create pathway and eliminate his foes. The player is able to utilize numerous items collected throughout the game, giving ZED additional tools and other beneficial effects.

›Story

Robowarrior comprises five level formats. In one, the player must obtain a key before the time limit expires. In another, the key is unavailable until the player acquires a crystal or chalice. Some levels are cast in darkness, rendering obstructions invisible unless the player has a lit lamp.

Still other levels are mazes in which a player must find and blast through weak points in walls to proceed. Periodically, a player engages a boss level.

Keywords

1980s

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

RoboWarrior is an action game with a focus on battling enemies and collecting items, similarly to The Legend of Zelda (1986). The player controls a cyborg named Z-Type Earth Defense (ZED). It takes place in the year 2395 on an artificial planet Altile, a colony constructed to help ease Earth's overpopulation. Altile is invaded by an alien race, the Xantho Empire, which takes over its weather-control stations and turns it into a barren wasteland, forcing citizens to flee underground.

Sent by Earth in response to a distress call, ZED's mission is to fight the Xanthos and defeat its leader, Xur. In the Japanese version, the protagonist is known as Knight.

Development

RoboWarrior is a follow-up to Hudson Soft's Bomberman (1985), and was developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was co-produced by EXA Planning, Aicom's predecessor, and Hudson. RoboWarrior draws elements from Starship Hector (1987), which had a similar main theme and ZED as a secret playable character. The soundtrack was composed by Takeaki Kunimoto.

RoboWarrior was first released in Japan on August 7, 1987 under the title Bomber King. It was the first of the three video games Hudson published under the Marucho Series product line, followed by Faxanadu and Momotarō Densetsu. The international versions were published by Jaleco. It was released in North America in December 1988 and Europe in November 1989.

Reception

Critics of Computer Entertainer recommended RoboWarrior for its gameplay, finding that it encouraged the player to learn all the available powers and implement them correctly in battle. Mark Caswell from The Games Machine gave it a negative review, finding it tedious due to the repetitive gameplay and level layout. Computer and Video Games' Paul Rand likewise left an unfavorable review for its high difficulty. In the September 18, 1987 issue of Famicom Tsūshin, RoboWarrior debuted on the magazine's Top 30 list at number nine.

In retrospect, Hardcore Gaming 101 called the game "interesting but flawed" due to its frustrating game design, but found it fascinating for taking the concepts of the Bomberman series and inserting them into wildly different environments. A sequel, Bomber King: Scenario 2, was developed by Sunsoft for the Game Boy and released in Japan in 1991. It was localized for overseas release as part of Sunsoft's Blaster Master series, being published as Blaster Master Boy in North America and Blaster Master Jr. in Europe.