RoboCo

Ever since the events or lack thereof at the turn of Y2K, humans have been wary of robots and technology. Yet despite this, we rely on it for pretty much every task that we complete in a day. For example, you are probably reading this preview on your laptop or your trusty mobile device. What we are getting at here is that we would be lost without our tech. Well, RoboCo is a game that really leans into that narrative, having the player design and build robots to help hapless humans go about their daily lives without crumbling under the pressure of having to do mundane tasks with their own two hands.

This game plays like other games of this nature such as Kerbal Space Program, Autonauts, Robocraft, Totally Unreliable Delivery Service and Terra Tech. This game aims to offer a cute and cuddly way to build gadgets and gizmos away from the high octane world of mech suits and Gundam action. However, is this a good plan or has it blown a fuse? We find out in our preview of RoboCo.

Gadgets and Gizmos Galore

Firstly, let’s take a look at the visuals on offer here. They are in a word, fine. The art style aims to provide a cute and cuddly aesthetic which is in line with games like Kerbal Space Program and Totally Unreliable Delivery Service. However, even though this is clearly not the main focus of the game, the visuals do feel a little lazy, unrefined and underwhelming sadly.

However, when we take into account that a lot of the work the developer has done has been on the core gameplay, we can almost excuse this. The gameplay is a delight for those that enjoy relaxing trial and error based building. The game aims to give you a 3D plane to build just about anything you like with the tools provided, not unlike Kingdom Hearts III’s gummi builder. It gives you the freedom to be creative and that is exactly what you want from games of this nature. The game gives the player a set of tasks to achieve and at a base level, the core mechanics are accessible even for a casual player. However, thanks to the sandbox nature of the game and the level of complexity that is catered for here, you can make your projects into incredible feats of engineering brilliance if you have the time, know how and execution to pull it off. In short, it’s easy to play but tricky to master and that exactly as it should be.

The Verdict

Overall, we think that RoboCo is an excellent concept that on a technical level, has been carried out expertly. The visuals and the complexity barrier will be a turn off for some. However, for robot enthusiasts, this will be a dream come true. We think this is a game that serves a small community and as a result, we think it will see modest success on release.

Pros:

• Accessible building mechanics and UI
• Allows players to be as creative and complex as they choose

Cons:

• Visuals are underwhelming
• There is a barrier to success for casual players as the game progresses