''Robotron X'' is a

multidirectional shooter Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs ) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of charac ...

video game released by

Midway Games Midway Games Inc., known previously as Midway Manufacturing and Bally Midway, and commonly known as simply Midway, was an American video game developer and publisher. Midway's franchises included '' Mortal Kombat'', ''Rampage'', '' Spy Hunter'' ...

in November 1996 for the

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a di ...

. It is a 3D version of the 1982 dual-stick shooter ''

Robotron: 2084 ''Robotron: 2084'' (also referred to as ''Robotron'') is a multidirectional shooter developed by Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar of Vid Kidz and released in arcades by Williams Electronics in 1982. The game is set in the year 2084 in a fictional wo ...

''.

GT Interactive GT, Gt or G-T may refer to: Arts and entertainment Games * GT Interactive, an American video game developer * GameTrailers, a video game website * ''Golden Tee Golf'', golf video game * Gran Turismo (series), ''Gran Turismo'' (series), a series ...

published a Microsoft Windows port in 1997. A

Nintendo 64 The (N64) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo. The successor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was released on June 23, 1996, in Japan, on September 29, 1996, in North America, and on March 1, 1997, in Europe and ...

version was released in 1998 as ''

Robotron 64 ''Robotron 64'' is a 1998 multidirectional shooter for the Nintendo 64. It is a port of ''Robotron X'', which itself is an updated version of the 1982 dual-stick shooter '' Robotron: 2084''. The game was originally scheduled to be released by Midw ...

''.

Gameplay

In addition to the graphical update, the game includes new audio and multiple camera angles.

Reception

While the game features similar gameplay as the original, it was not as well-received, though reviews for it ranged from mixed to positive. Authors Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams considered the moving camera in the 3D environment a negative update. They felt the original format—an overhead perspective of a single screen—presented the player with all the necessary information and relied on the player's skill. The moving camera angle, however, obscured areas of the playing field and could result in the player being shot by an enemy that suddenly appeared. Some critics cited this as the game's one major flaw. Vince echoed similar statements, stating that the gameplay suffered from the loss of important aspects from the original. Rollings and Adams, however, attribute the fad of classic

video game remake A video game remake is a video game closely adapted from an earlier title, usually for the purpose of modernizing a game with updated graphics for newer hardware and gameplay for contemporary audiences. Typically, a remake of such game software sh ...

s in the late 1990s in part to ''Robotron X''s release, though at the time of that release it was believed this fad was already in place. ''

Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...

'' reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it three stars out of five. Aaron Curtiss for the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

'' wrote that "For fans of the original, this one is better--although the original is still available on Williams' Arcade's Greatest Hits. For newcomers, Robotron X is the kind of game the critics decry as mindless. But it sure is fun." Bro' Buzz for ''

GamePro Gamepro.com is an international multiplatform video game magazine media company that covers the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software in countries such as Germany and France. The publication, GamePro, was originally la ...

'' said that "for Robotron hunters seeking something X-tra, X marks the spot." Malcolm Mayhew for the ''

Fort Worth Star-Telegram The ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'' is an American daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. It is owned by The McClatchy Company. History In May 1905, Amon G. Carter ...

'' gave the game 2 1/2 stars and called it a "Good idea, bad execution."

Reviews

*''

GameFan ''GameFan'' (originally known as ''Diehard GameFan'') was a publication started by Tim Lindquist, Greg Off, George Weising. and Dave Halverson in September 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and import video games. It was notable for its ex ...

'' #49 (Vol 5, Issue 1) - January 1997 * NowGamer - Mar 01, 1997 *

PC Zone ''PC Zone'', founded in 1993, was the first magazine dedicated to games for IBM-compatible personal computers to be published in the United Kingdom. Earlier PC magazines such as '' PC Leisure'', '' PC Format'' and '' PC Plus'' had covered games ...

- Aug 13, 2001 *

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

- Dec 01, 1996

References

External links

Review at Tripoint

{{Robotron: 2084 1996 video games GT Interactive games PlayStation (console) games Twin-stick shooters Video game sequels Video games developed in the United States Video games scored by Aubrey Hodges Windows games