Robocalypse

Did You Know?

• An iOS port titled Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem was released nearly a year after the original.
• A sequel, Robocalypse: Beaver Defense, was released for WiiWare in June 2010.
• The game is controlled entirely with the stylus and touchscreen, with optional button controls.

Plot

At Thermidoom Labs, scientist Flaxen Hayer discovers her robots share a product line with toasters. While nerd Myron Mako discusses safety issues with his boss, the evil robot Demolisher emerges from the factory with an army intent on destroying the world. Flaxen is skeptical of creating a counter robot army, but Myron reveals he has a brain scanner and uses it on World War II veterans as a template for new robot intelligence. The counter army has early success before the battle moves to a desert. Myron's forces cannot stop Demolisher from taking a mine and stealing fuel from oil wells, but they secure an orphanage. Demolisher pursues the heroes to a safe house and kidnaps Flaxen. Efforts to rescue her allow Demolisher to activate a secret nuclear missile silo, devastating much of the planet. Myron survives by hiding inside his commander robot Commando Joe. His army fights back across a nuclear winter wasteland, destroying transmitter towers that could reprogram his robots. A showdown occurs between Myron's forces and Demolisher, who uses decoy clones. Myron kills Demolisher, who reveals he answers to an alien master. Myron discovers the master is Flaxen, an alien queen in disguise who arranged the robot uprising to facilitate an invasion. Myron's army raids the alien staging cave, kills Flaxen after she reveals her true appearance, and destroys her invasion technology. Myron laments losing a beautiful woman, then finds a remote control device from Flaxen with a message about using it as a time machine to prevent her plan and pursue a romance.

Reception

Critics generally liked Robocalypse, earning it a 79.8% on GameRankings and a 79 on Metacritic. IGN's Daemon Hatfield gave it an Editor's Choice, praising the real-time strategy game's controls, AI, and what he called truly unique humor. GameSpot's Mike Feinburg also liked the tight controls and humor but found the AI clumsy and frustrating. The game won Best Game for Portable Systems at Moscow's KRI conference and earned IGN nominations for Best Strategy Game, Best New IP, and Most Innovative Design.