Good Robot (PC) Review

Aside from the typical gameplay expected from a 2D shooter, Good Robot blends in elements from the roguelike genre, creating an experience that changes on every playthrough. Navigating the abandoned ruins of the below-ground civilisation once home to the last remnants of humans, one robot takes on dozens of varieties of robots, each with their own unique patterns, weapons, and strategies.

While the enemy robots tend to be pretty binary in their positioning and attacks early on, they grow in complexity as the robot progresses throughout the non-linear stages. Some are content to simply attack alone, while others wait in groups to swarm all at once. Reaction time is heavily tested here, and it's easy to be completely overwhelmed by the bullets coming from every possible direction onscreen. While the action does slowly ramp up over time, it's not long before the term "bullet hell" becomes applicable.

To fight back, there's a large variety of weapons to equip, all with various features ranging from spreading shots, to powerful explosions. Along with a subweapon, there are a lot of options to fit divergent playstyles, and it's genuinely exciting to find a new one to pick up. Enemy robots and in-game stores sell them, so there are many chances to try out different combos.

Each level contains stores at the beginning and end of each level. Hat stores, interestingly enough, sell hats, which provide one-time damage prevention at a low cost. Stores at the end either sell weapons and health restoration, or upgrades such as improved shields and weapon power. Due to the randomised nature of the levels, it can be difficult to find that one perfect upgrade at exactly the right time, which, while frustrating, does add a level of suspense between pit stops.

True to its roguelike roots, each death in-game is permanent, so managing health levels and staying out of harm's way is very important. While foes do drop money for upgrades, sometimes it can be more worthwhile to skirt around the edge of combat slowly picking them off, as opposed to charging in, guns blazing. While some encounters don't always give that choice, prudence in picking fights will save many a playthrough in the long run.

In addition to the smaller robots that populate each stage, larger bosses appear every few levels, and they're a real treat. They definitely switch up the pace, and make for a much more confrontational fight, requiring a more head-on approach to conquer. They're certainly a shining point, and they make for a good way to break up the sometimes pedestrian pace of the regular levels.

The bosses, weapons, and hats all have unique and clever blurbs attached that do a lot to add to the immersion, but without ramming it in obnoxiously. The music also adds a lot of atmosphere, and with the bright visuals against a subdued background, it's a surprisingly relaxing, while still extremely engaging, experience.

The controls are a bit less well executed, though they are, at the very least, responsive. While using a controller is by far and away the more comfortable option, aiming weapons is a lot less precise using the right joystick than, say, the mouse. While the keyboard and mouse combo is still an excellent option, and still feels very fluid to control, it's a lot harder on the hands during long sessions, given the amount of on-the-fly moves that are often required.

The screen is also on the small side, and while it can be enlarged, it doesn't change the area that the mouse can move over, resulting in some odd interactions with menus. It's still possible to navigate using the other keys, but it's another awkward spot in the systems. While the controls are overall spot-on, there are a couple of issues that probably could have used a second look.