Game:

Robotrek (1994)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 1:11:50

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Here is my playthrough of Robotrek done live on IGTV. Due to storage restrictions I only recorded the final Dungeon.

Follow me on instagram @CabinSNES_fever to join me live or via my reviews and uploads to witness me take down all the games currently in my SNES colleciton, following on from having already beaten all 234 licenced UK releases for the NES. I only use original carts, no cheats & no save states.

REVIEW:
-Another great RPG from the golden generation of Quintet & Enix. However I think its fair to say that from the teams many successful collaborations, Robotrek is likely the least spoken of. It may simply be coincidence that it also happens to be the only entry that adopts the turn-based formula to attack common with Square RPGs. Given what made the 'Quintet trilogy' of Soul Blazer/Gaia/Terranigma so endearing, with their real time combat & 'kill all' level up mechanics, its surprising Robotrek adopted turn based fighting instead.

The inclusion of movement within battle screens adds another dimension of strategy to encounters that keeps things a little more interesting given attacks from behind inflict far more damage than the front.

Robotrek's unique attributes however are also some of its flaws. With any RPG, especially turn based ones, depth usually comes from the supporting cast. Here, the only playable character doesnt even fight, instead you must construct battle robots to do the dirty work for you. They desperately lack character & It feels a missed opportunity that only one type of Robot is available.

The variety in item payload is high and with a heavy influence on building & creating new items via combining others, the combinations in attack, particularly through the addition of programmable special attacks makes for a very technical type of RPG. The demand will likely deter more casual players especially given gameplay can be quite challenging at times!

As with all RPGs, level enough & things become very easy (above clip). However at numerous occasions my 'metal asses' were up against the wall. Mercifully, the inclusion of an item that allows you to save the game almost anywhere makes the pain of dying minimal, as long as you remember to use it regularly!

Robotrek does enough to call itself a good RPG but where it pales in comparison is when sat beside the sheer excellence of many other Snes RPGs in the library, not least those from Quintet themselves. While its demand on item management & creation maybe too high for some players, those that commit the time are rewarded with a very serviceable adventure all the same.