Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots (video game)
Encyclopedia
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots is a fighting game
, developed by Full Fat
and published by Zoo Digital in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance
. The game is based heavily on the 1964 toy of the same name
, and involves the player taking control of a brightly-coloured plastic robot and engaging in close combat
with an opposing robot. The first robot to inflict enough damage to cause his opponent's head to pop up is declared the winner. The game is notable for garnering significant negative criticism for its gameplay mechanics and inherent lack of difficulty, poor-quality visuals and repetitive 'button-mashing' gameplay. Chris Adams of gaming website IGN
said in his review of the title that 'it is the single worst game I've ever played on the Game Boy Advance'.
has been depleted, the player must press the L and R trigger buttons alternately in order to deliver a knockout blow.
The game has multiple different colored characters, each with different stats(however most of them are the same). It should be noted that in the character selection, each robot has different heads, but are all the same in-game.
, and obtaining an aggregate score of 21/100 on Metacritic
. Robots is the lowest scoring GBA title on both IGN and Metacritic. The chief issues reviewers found with the game were bland, repetitive graphics and backgrounds, a lack of challenge in the AI opponents (Frank Provo of GameSpot commented that the CPU 'can be beaten with your eyes closed') and the absence of a multiplayer mode via a Game Link Cable. Critics also noted the lack of well-differentiated gameplay modes, and a resultant lack of longevity in the title, with one commenting that you can 'play through everything the game has to offer in about 20 minutes'.
GameZone
gave Robots a mediocre score of 5.4/10, claiming that as the game was intended to be a budget title, the gameplay issues can be overlooked to an extent. Their review summed up the game as having "some small of fun if played in short bursts, otherwise it's an exercise in repetition and mindless button mashing".
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
, developed by Full Fat
Full Fat
Full Fat is an independent UK video game developer. The company was founded in 1996. The company's speciality has been developing games for hand-held devices including Nintendo's Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Dual Screen , and Sony's PlayStation Portable...
and published by Zoo Digital in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. The game is based heavily on the 1964 toy of the same name
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
Rock'em Sock'em Robots is a popular two-player action toy and game, designed by Marvin Glass and Associates and was first manufactured by Marx toy company in 1964. It features two dueling robot boxers mechanically manipulated by the players, and the game is won when one player knocks the head off...
, and involves the player taking control of a brightly-coloured plastic robot and engaging in close combat
Close combat
*Close combat is a generic term for both Close Quarters Battle and Hand to hand combat.*Mêlée generally refers to disorganized close combat.*CQB is an acronym for Close Quarters Battle, such as that which occurs in urban warfare....
with an opposing robot. The first robot to inflict enough damage to cause his opponent's head to pop up is declared the winner. The game is notable for garnering significant negative criticism for its gameplay mechanics and inherent lack of difficulty, poor-quality visuals and repetitive 'button-mashing' gameplay. Chris Adams of gaming website IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said in his review of the title that 'it is the single worst game I've ever played on the Game Boy Advance'.
Gameplay
As is common to fighting games, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots pits a player-controlled character, in this case, the titular robot, against one controlled by the game engine or another human player. The primary buttons of the Game Boy Advance are used to perform punches, and holding down the buttons allows the player to unleash a more powerful attack. Once the opposing robot's energyHealth (game mechanic)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
has been depleted, the player must press the L and R trigger buttons alternately in order to deliver a knockout blow.
The game has multiple different colored characters, each with different stats(however most of them are the same). It should be noted that in the character selection, each robot has different heads, but are all the same in-game.
Reception
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots was panned by critics in general, receiving 1.5/10 from IGN, 2.2/10 from GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
, and obtaining an aggregate score of 21/100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Robots is the lowest scoring GBA title on both IGN and Metacritic. The chief issues reviewers found with the game were bland, repetitive graphics and backgrounds, a lack of challenge in the AI opponents (Frank Provo of GameSpot commented that the CPU 'can be beaten with your eyes closed') and the absence of a multiplayer mode via a Game Link Cable. Critics also noted the lack of well-differentiated gameplay modes, and a resultant lack of longevity in the title, with one commenting that you can 'play through everything the game has to offer in about 20 minutes'.
GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
gave Robots a mediocre score of 5.4/10, claiming that as the game was intended to be a budget title, the gameplay issues can be overlooked to an extent. Their review summed up the game as having "some small of fun if played in short bursts, otherwise it's an exercise in repetition and mindless button mashing".