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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did RoboWarrior say? Byte-ing mad.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from RoboWarrior)
RoboWarrior
Cover art
DevelopersHudson Soft
EXA Planning
PublishersHudson Soft (JP)
Jaleco (NA, EU)
ComposerTakeaki Kunimoto
SeriesBomberman
PlatformsNintendo Entertainment System, MSX
ReleaseNintendo Entertainment System
  • JP: August 7, 1987
  • NA: December 1988
  • EU: November 1989
MSX
  • JP: March 18, 1988
GenreAction
ModeSingle-player

RoboWarrior[a] 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 1990 respectively.

Comtemporary reviews for RoboWarrior were mixed over its bombing gameplay and difficulty. An MSX port was released in 1988. A sequel, Blaster Master Boy, was developed by Sunsoft and released for the Game Boy in 1991.

Plot

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RoboWarrior takes place on an alien planet called Altile that was created by scientists as a solution to the overpopulation problem of Earth.[1] During a peaceful period on Altile, Robowarriors are decommissioned from Earth and the Xantho empire invades Altile and try to transform it for personal gain.[1]

The player operates a cyborg named ZED (Z-type Earth Defence).[2] 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. Some gameplay elements resemble those of Bomberman (1983).

The original Japanese plot of Bomber King is similar, but with some distinct differences. In the year 2036 on the planet Altile, the weather and climate suddenly drastically change due to some mysterious reason. The combat android Knight is sent to the planet to try and track down whatever force is causing the changes and defeat it.

Gameplay

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RoboWarrior is an action game where the player controls a cyborg named Z-Type Earth Defense (ZED).[3][4] 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. Sent by Earth in response to a distress call, ZED's mission is to fight the Xanthos and defeat its leader, Xur.[5] In the Japanese version, the protagonist is known as Knight.[6][7]

ZED carries two types of weapons, his bombs and a laser gun.[8] Both are mapped to two different buttons on the controller. Bombs are able to damage enemies as well as destroying the surrounding blocks, which is a primary method to create pathway through levels. The laser gun can only hurt enemies.[9]

Similarly to The Legend of Zelda (1986), the player can accumulate numerous items and weapons.[10] They are usually acquired by destroying blocks in the levels or purchasing them in shops.[9] The items can be selected and expended through the sub-screen menu that displays all the collected ones. Each item serves to help ZED survive various challenges and situations in the game. For example, in the underground levels, ZED can use either candles or lamps as a light source to reveal the level layout. The candles are more common than the lamps, but they don't last as long and don't provide ZED as much light.[5] In another example, ZED's energy meter functions as his health and decreases over time until its total depletion, which will kill him. It can be prevented by replenishing it with energy batteries. Other items include waterproof wellies that let ZED pass through water as well as missiles and super bombs.[8]

The player must guide ZED through Altile's levels, of which there are 27.[3]

It consists of five level formats and there are 27 levels in the game. 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. Other levels are mazes where the player must find and blast through weak points in walls to proceed. Periodically, the player engages a boss level. Multiple bombs are required to blow up certain unconventional areas.[11] Robowarrior also features water stages.[11][unreliable source?]

Enemies respawn in each stage allowing the player to stock up on bombs.[11] ZED is controlled via an overhead viewpoint and the player can move him in four directions.[1][unreliable source?]

Development and release

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RoboWarrior is a follow-up to Hudson Soft's Bomberman (1985), and was developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).[9][12] It was co-developed 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.[12] The soundtrack was composed by Takeaki Kunimoto.[13]

RoboWarrior was first released in Japan on August 7, 1987 under the title Bomber King.[9][14] The international versions were published by Jaleco. It was released in North America in December 1988 and Europe in November 1989.[15][16] The North American and European versions were made easier than the Japanese version: in Bomber King, the bomb explosion kills ZED in one hit, while in RoboWarrior, it reduces a significant amount of ZED's health but does not kill him instantly. The Japanese version has an exclusive Theme Song mode that displays lyrics for the game's main theme song.[12] Tying to this feature, Hudson Soft hosted a karaoke contest that encouraged players to record their performances of the song and sent them to the company, with the winners getting their enactments aired on television.[12][17] An MSX port was released in Japan on March 18, 1988.[18][19]

Reception and legacy

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Critics of Computer Entertainer recommended the NES version for its gameplay, which encourages the player to learn all the available powers and implement them correctly in battle.[3] Mark Caswell from The Games Machine gave it a negative review, finding it tedious due to the repetitive gameplay and level layout.[20] Computer and Video Games's Paul Rand likewise left an unfavorable review for its high difficulty.[8]

In retrospect, Steven Barbato from Hardcore Gaming 101 called the game "interesting but flawed", and found it difficult to recommend due to its frustrating game designs. Nonetheless, he found the game fascinating for taking the concepts of the Bomberman series and inserting them into wildly different environments.[12] 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.[21]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Bomber King (Japanese: ボンバーキング, Hepburn: Bonbā Kingu)

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 "Robowarrior for NES". Moby Games. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Video Game den | ファミコン | Famicom NES reviews".
  3. 1 2 3 "Nintendo Software". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 12. March 1989. p. 11. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved October 1, 2026 – via Video Game History Foundation.
  4. ↑ "Video Shorts". Nintendo Power. No. 4. Nintendo of America. January 1989. p. 82.
  5. 1 2 "Special Christmas Treat". Club Nintendo. No. 5. Nintendo of Europe. 1989. pp. 6–7. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ "New Soft Slub". MSX Oendan. Vol. 2, no. 5. Micro Design. May 1, 1988. p. 117. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ Hudson (1987), p. 3.
  8. 1 2 3 Rand, Paul (March 1990). "Reviews". Computer and Video Games. No. 100. EMAP. p. 95. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Bomber King". Famicom Tsūshin. No. 28. ASCII Corporation. July 24, 1987. pp. 30–31.
  10. ↑ "Sneak Peeks". Club Nintendo. No. 3. Nintendo of Europe. 1989. p. 19. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Robowarrior (Game)". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Barbato, Stephen (March 18, 2022). "RoboWarrior". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  13. ↑ maru (September 26, 2016). "8bitゲーム機用タイトル「キラキラスターナイトDX」が10月6日に発売決定。名だたるゲームクリエイターが参加したジャンピングアクション" [Kira Kira Star Night DX, an 8-bit Game Console Title And Jumping Action Game by Renowned Game Creators, Releasing on October 6]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  14. ↑ "ボンバーキング" [Bomber King]. Hudson Game Navi. Hudson Soft. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ Tilden, Gail; Sather, Pam; Phillips, Howard; Pelland, Scott; Sinfield, George; Owsen, Dan, eds. (1990). "Jaleco". Insider's Guide to the Nintendo World Championships. EMCI, Nintendo of America. p. 23. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Check It Out!". Club Nintendo. No. 4. Nintendo of Europe. 1989. p. 2. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ Hudson (1987), pp. 13–14.
  18. ↑ "Coming Soon". MSX Fan. Tokuma Shoten. March 10, 1988. p. 114. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Bomber King". MSX Magazine. ASCII Corporation. April 1988. p. 249. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  20. ↑ Caswell, Mark (March 1990). "Reviews". The Games Machine. No. 28. Newsfield. p. 51. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  21. ↑ McFerran, Damien (December 4, 2023). "Review: Sunsoft Collection 1 (Evercade) - It's Always Sunny With Blaster Master". Time Extension. Retrieved October 2, 2026.

Bibliography

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