Reviewed on Nintendo Switch

One look at Robolt and you might be reminded of those old school 2D platformers on MS-DOS. And you know what? It might as well have been released back in the early ‘90s, because it feels like a product of an older generation. Unfortunately, the reasons for that are not positive in the slightest.

Robolt is mundane and monotonous. Its gameplay is robotic (no pun intended) and uninspired. It requires no real skill, and it lacks any and all entertainment value. This is about as bad as a game can get. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it from a design standpoint as all of its moving parts work as intended — but it’s just so lackluster and uninspired that it’s not fun to play at all.

Left to Right with No Real Reward

When it comes to most 2D platformers, there’s that sweet spot you’re looking for: that mix of both rewarding gameplay and satisfying challenge. Robolt lacks all of that. You simply run and jump from left to right, shooting enemies and avoiding traps along the way until you get to the exit — and in some cases, until you reach a poorly designed boss that you can easily blast your way through.

An in-game currency that you collect along the way will let you upgrade your character in between stages, but these upgrades only make the game even more mindless. They certainly don’t add a substantial RPG element to the game. It got to a point where I was so overpowered that I was just moving along the stages essentially on autopilot, shooting baddies or sometimes just outright avoiding them and speeding through the levels.

Obtaining these upgrades never felt like a reward, either. This is because you don’t really have to try to collect the in-game currency. It’s just sort of there, given to you for no reason and allowing you to passively grab it as you go along.

The 16 levels in Robolt can be cleared in under an hour, so at least the game won’t waste too much of your time. But honestly, you could spend that hour doing anything else or playing any other game, and you’ll be much better off.

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly

Some games have a retro charm to them even if they don’t look especially nice. Robolt is just a bad game to look at with bland visual design and a weak aesthetic. There’s simply no personality there, and it’s as disappointing to look at as it is to listen to, with boring, forgettable music that doesn’t do anything for the overall immersion.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly who a game like Robolt is for. It does nothing interesting or exciting in terms of its 2D platforming and shoot ‘em up gameplay. Its audiovisual presentation is extremely lackluster. It’s over before you know it. And it’s not enticing to revisit for any reason.

You should avoid Robolt. Don’t pay it any mind. Don’t even think it exists. I know I’m going to forget it sooner rather than later. This is one I won’t be looking back at — ever.

Score: 2 out of 10

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