I, Robot is a slow-burning but classic arcade title. When first released, it fell painfully flat. However, 40 or so years have passed, and we now have a sequel. Though this has the same name, it is not a remaster, a reimagining, or anything in between. Instead, it uses its predecessor to influence the psychedelic madness.
This vibrant arcade puzzle/shooter was developed by Llamasoft Ltd and published by Atari. It is a single-player experience that is hectic, confusing, and often unfair. However, once you get to grips with the mechanics and discover many secret elements, you’ll become addicted.
I, Robot is weird as hell.
I’m not sure how they designed the core premise, but I, Robot is weird as hell. A horned robot must move across an array of stages while avoiding enemies and a giant evil eye. If the overbearing eyeball spots you, it will not hold back. The result is death, possible failure, and the end of your high score.
The eyeball overlord does not wish for you to jump. This sounds easy, but each narrow pathway demands you leap from location to location. Moreover, there are enemies to avoid and special bonuses to aim towards. In short, there is plenty to see and do as the madness unfolds.
2 core playstyles.
The main action evolves on narrow, maze-like levels. As you walk across each tile, it changes colour. The aim is to light every tile before the eye shoots you or the enemies get you. Furthermore, there are special tasks for bonus points. Staying alive, avoiding the eye, not killing, and so forth are some of the objectives.
Once you convert each tile, you jump to another stage. This rinse-and-repeat approach should have been mundane, but it wasn’t. As the levels progress, you take on a random “on-rails” shooting event. This fast-paced and often vomit-including level was testing but fun. Additionally, it broke up the gazing madness of an evil eyeball overlord.
I, Robot is vibrant, sharp, and brilliantly dated.
I’m a sucker for dated games. I know they don’t test modern machines, but I don’t care. The vivid colours, sharp lines, and simple stage design are great to look at. Moreover, the basic enemies and overbearing overlays add to the madness. Though this is retro, the developer has added a nice modern polish. Subsequently, it runs smoothly, and it isn’t rough around the edges.
The audio is as brash as the visuals. I, Robot’s arcade pedigree shines through at every moment. Loud music, louder sound effects, and weird noises punctuate the action. It is deafening, uncomfortable, but brilliantly retro.
No hand-holding.
I, Robot doesn’t explain a thing! Minor instructions are displayed on the screen, but you must decipher their meaning. Moreover, there are secret mechanics to discover as you explore each level. This lack of guidance could put people off. However, if you are familiar with the original, you will have no complaints.
Rinse and repeat gameplay should become tiresome. Luckily, there are so many short, sharp levels that you rarely get bored. What’s more, you can select any stage you like to test your skills and replay your favourite. As such, this has plenty of replay value and longevity.
I, Robot is a trip down memory lane.
Lovers of the original will adore this sequel. It utilises every core mechanic and adds some incredible elements. If you are new to the franchise, you’ll enjoy rapid and often unforgiving gameplay that’ll test your patience and skills. Accordingly, although it’s tough, I recommend buying it here! Can you defeat the evil eyeball? Avoid its gaze, hit every tile, and maximise your high score.
