History VideoGame / Robotrek

{{Mons}} are cool. We know this. But what about robot mons combined with humor that pokes fun at the {{R|olePlayingGame}}PG genre? This is the basic premise of ''Robotrek'', known as ''Slapstick'' in Japan, released for the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem.

* DevelopersForesight: In one area, you're turned into a mouse and tasked with emptying the Hackers' coffers (5000 GP) in order to be turned back. As a condition of your new form, you're too short to use the Invention Machine and can't use items in battle, which nominally prevents you from making repairs or buying new equipment. However, each time you gain a level you can use the Portable Invention Machine, with which you can spend money to your heart's content. If you manage to reduce your total GP to less than 5000, the intended recipient comments on the lack of funds -- then takes everything you have left. If you manage to reach zero GP (which is a lot harder but still doable), he'll assume you're holding out and you'll have to find at least a little money to give him. Abusing this is a good way to afford your third robot.

** Punches. Their gimmick is having a high critical hit chance and critical hits override defenses. With a maxed out Punch 3 (obtainable a few hours into the game) which has a high critical hit rate and a focus on the robot's Power stat, you can easily dish out damage to two shot most bosses until the DiscOneFinalDungeon should you score critical hits. Or, if you crit on particular programs, ''one shot''.
** Axes. They are the most powerful melee weapon bar none, and trivially easy to make. If you have some money and know what you're doing, you can make a Lvl 9 Axe 1 fairly early in the game. With a little more know how, you can get Axe 3 before the third boss. You can also level any of the Axes up by combining it with Sword 1.

* MetalSlime: The Shells in the Rococo sewer. They can randomly block attacks, have very high defenses and tend to run away. Pretty much the only way to kill one is to hope you land a critical hit. Should you beat one, you get 30 EXP/Megs of data, about the same as the first two bosses.

* HumongousMecha: Gateau's Robot, the PreFinalBoss of the game. It would not look out of place in a MechaShow.

* InvisibleMonsters: As noted in PreexistingEncounters below, some set encounters only have the enemies show up when you approach, and some are outright invisible without the Chameleon Glasses.

%%* JustAKid

* AllThereInTheManual: Copies of the game included lists of ItemCrafting combinations, the possible attack {{Combos}} you can program into your robots, and the locations of the Inventor's Friend volumes.

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: The Japanese box art has the main character with a backpack full of scrap reading a book. The American box art is of a foreboding space station -- which spoils the last few hours of the game, though to be fair, you won't know that ''until'' the last few hours of the game.
* ArtificialHuman: [[spoiler:The protagonist's mother]]. But it's nothing significant anyway.

** The Bomb/Shot or Shot/Bomb combo. Usefulness tends to drop drastically after the first boss due to either resistance to shot attacks or RUN programs. They also use all of the charge gauge

** One in particular due to the awkward way it was translated was a book explaining the robots. It mentions that one is better at doing damage, but it was explained in a way that the robot had some mysterious buff. What it was trying to explain is the customization feature of the game, explaining you could have a robot who's sole role is being a GlassCannon if you wanted.
** When you confront hacker leader Blackmore, his pre-fight spiel says that he will "help you get revenge on Blackmore". So...he's going to help you beat himself up? [[note]]Considering he's listed under ThatOneBoss on this game's YMMV page, you almost wish he would.[[/note]] Or maybe he's just telling you to [[BringIt take your best shot]]; who can say?

* DoppelgangerAttack: Done by an early boss. Some enemies also have the ability to summon more of themselves, though the ones summoned are real and worth experience.

* AnAxeToGrind: A robot with an axe is a thing to be feared. Axes do more straight melee damage than any weapon, and do reliable damage compared to the occasional immunity enemies show to {{Sword Beam}}s.

* TranslatorMicrobes: At one point you must craft an item that allows you to speak with animals. And when you get turned into a mouse (see BalefulPolymorph above), you can automatically communicate with other mice (while still understanding humans as well).

* BalefulPolymorph: Mice. Later, you can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting become a mouse at will]] with the right invention.

%%* TheDollEpisode

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: The Japanese box art has the main character with a backpack full of scrap reading a book. The American box art is of a foreboding space station -- which spoils the last few hours of the game.

** When you confront hacker leader Blackmore, his pre-fight spiel says that he will "help you get revenge on Blackmore". So...he's going to help you beat himself up? [[note]]Considering he's listed under ThatOneBoss on this game's YMMV page, you almost wish he would.[[/note]]

* BossInMooksClothing[=/=]EliteMooks: Berets and Maskers. On the field they're invisible without a special item, which you won't have when you encounter them for the first time. They also do a ridiculous amount of damage. If you can defeat them though, you'll be generously awarded a lot of data.

** Punches. Their gimmick is having a high critical hit chance and critical hits override defenses. With a maxed out Punch 3 (obtainable a few hours into the game) which has a high critical hit rate and a focus on the robot's Power stat, you can easily dish out damage to two shot most bosses until the DiscOneFinalDungeon should you score critical hits.

%%* HeroicMime

* PreexistingEncounters: Random encounters are of this variety. Though in many cases the enemies don't appear until you get close to their hiding places. And a few are invisible.

* RareRandomDrop: Ludicrous in some instances. Those gel enemies and robots in the first areas of the game? They sometimes drop enough GP to build the next two robots.

* UselessItem: Most weapon types have a gimmick, but some of those gimmicks make the weapon useless. For example, Hammers, a melee weapon, has the trait of ''knocking enemies back.'' Another is that Shot type weapons have damage fall off the farther you're away from the enemy, making them more useful as a close range weapon than a long range one.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: The game's story is fairly interesting, but at times almost impenetrable due to all the Engrish.

** Sword 4. While you get it a few hours into the game, it effectively obsoletes all shot-type and bomb weapons because it hits every enemy per swing, does decent damage out of the gate, few enemies resist it, consumes little on the charge meter, and is easily upgradable by combining it with the relatively cheap Sword 1.

** Axes. They are the most powerful melee weapon bar none, and trivially easy to make. If you have some money and know what you're doing, you can make a Lvl 9 Axe 1 fairly early in the game. With a little more know how, you can get Axe 3 before the third boss. You can level any of the Axes up by combining it with Sword 1, though it's cheaper to get use level-ups from the battlefield capsules.

* FrickinLaserBeams: One of them shoots dragons.

* UselessItem: Most weapon types have a gimmick, but only a few weapon types have gimmicks worthwhile. For example, Hammers, a melee weapon, has the trait of ''knocking enemies back.'' Another is that Shot type weapons have damage fall off the farther you're away from the enemy, making them more useful as a close range weapon than a long range one.

* RareRandomDrop: Ludicrous in some instances. Those gel enemies and robots in the first areas of the game? They drop enough GP to build the next two robots sometimes.

* UselessItem: Every weapon type beyond the robot's starting ones (Sword, Shot, and Bomb 1) has a gimmick, but only a few weapon types have gimmicks worthwhile. Plus most of the long range weapons stop doing meaningful damage to the more dangerous mooks later in the game.

** [[GradualRegeneration Solar Pack]]: [[spoiler:Step 1: Get an Empty Pack which only (rarely) drops off of Biolions which are only found in the Bio Lab, which can be [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost]]. Step 2: Combine that with a Weather item that you learn how to make soon after. Enjoy an incredibly powerful item that you normally can't make for a couple entire dungeons yet.]]

** Otherwise, the bomb + shot/laser combinations for skill. One of them, dubbed "big bang", hits every enemy on screen, the usefulness drops like a rock after the first boss. The second one launches three times the bombs that hit random places.

* BossInMooksClothing[=/=]EliteMooks: Berets and Maskers. They're ALWAYS invisible (the first time you encounter them you won't have any means to see them) and do ridonculous amounts of damage compared to the rest of the enemies in area. They are worth a ton of data if you beat them though.
* BoringButPractical: Regular melee attacks are almost always more effective in boss fights than the Run commands that can be spammed against regular encounters.

* DiscOneNuke: Axes. They are the most powerful melee weapon bar none, and trivially easy to make. If you have some money and know what you're doing, you can make a Lvl 9 Axe 1 fairly early in the game. With a little more know how, you can get the third iteration before the third boss. And you can level any of the Axes up by combining it with Sword 1 (though it's cheaper to get use level-ups from the battlefield capsules). To give an idea of how broken axes are in the game, a critical hit with the three-hit-combo macro from the backside will '''ONE SHOT NEARLY EVERY BOSS'''.

* GuideDangIt: Upgrading and making equipment from combinations follows a fairly predictable pattern. But some equipment you may be scratching your head about how to obtain unless you have the supplemental materials (see AllThereInTheManual). Notable offenders include:
** Shield 4: [[spoiler:Scrap 7 + Scrap 9, you'll be able to make Shield 5 when it becomes necessary.]]
** Boots 5: [[spoiler:Scrap 3 + Scrap 9. But you probably spent the last Scrap 3 to make Boots 6.]]
** [[LifeDrain Hammer 2]]: [[spoiler:Scrap 6 + Solar Pack... of all things.]]
** Blade 4: [[spoiler:Scrap 8 + Smoke.[[note]]The second formula for this requires Blade 3 and Seed. You will only find the latter ingredient by looking in a specific spot in the forest near both versions of Rococo.[[/note]]]]

* UselessItem:
** For combat related purposes, pretty much every long range weapon after the second boss qualifies, where often times you'll find enemies in dungeons half way in that are practically immune to them... and that's all you'll fight. They sometimes aren't immune to combos using the same, but this takes longer to execute.
** For non-combat purposes, the Little Robot. Learning to make it is entirely optional, and it serves absolutely no meaningful purpose. It's not even included in the supplemental list of item combinations.
* WakeUpCallBoss: Two, in particular:
** Meta Crab introduces the fact that from here on, everything the player did to attack the other enemies without much in the way of retaliation is ineffective (i.e., you MUST start using Melee attacks).
** Big Eye cements what's necessary in boss fights from there on out. If you are ill-equipped for Big Eye, aside from grinding, the average player stands little chance. And even if you are properly equipped, Big Eye hurts like no other.

{{Mons}} are cool. We know this. But what about robot mons combined with humor that pokes fun at the {{R|olePlayingGame}}PG genre? This is the basic premise of ''Robotrek'', known as ''Slapstick'' in Japan, released for the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendo.

* TheLopsidedArmOfTheLaw: The Rococco police are ''incapable'' of dealing with the roving Hacker gangs or even rescuing kids trapped in a cave-in, while the Hero and his robot smack them around with impunity and duck in and out of danger zones like hopscotch. However, once the Hero tracks down all four of the Tetron stones the Hackers are tearing everything apart searching for and returns to Rococco, the cops grab him, accuse him of stealing the stones from the Mayor, and confiscate them... [[spoiler:whereupon the Mayor hands them over to the woman he's seeing, who's actually a Hacker boss]].

{{Mons}} are cool. We know this. But what about robot mons combined with humor that pokes fun at the {{R|olePlayingGame}}PG genre? This is the basic premise of ''Robotrek'', known as ''Slapstick'' in Japan, released for the {{Super Nintendo}}.

** Solar Pack: [[spoiler:Step 1: Get an Empty Pack which only (rarely) drops off of Biolions which are only found in the Bio Lab, which can be [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost]]. Step 2: Combine that with a Weather item that you learn how to make soon after. Enjoy an incredibly powerful item that you normally can't make for a couple entire dungeons yet.]]

* DeveloperForesight: In one area, you're turned into a mouse and tasked with emptying the Hackers' coffers (5000 GP) in order to be turned back. As a condition of your new form, you're too short to use the Invention Machine and can't use items in battle, which nominally prevents you from making repairs or buying new equipment. However, each time you gain a level you can use the Portable Invention Machine, with which you can spend money to your heart's content. If you manage to reduce your total GP to less than 5000, the intended recipient comments on the lack of funds -- then takes everything you have left. If you manage to reach zero GP (which is a lot harder but still doable), he'll assume you're holding out and you'll have to find at least a little money to give him. Abusing this is a good way to afford your third robot.

** Solar Pack: [[spoiler:Step 1: Get an Empty Pack which only (rarely) drops off of Biolions which are only found in the Bio Lab, which can be LostForever. Step 2: Combine that with a Weather item that you learn how to make soon after. Enjoy an incredibly powerful item that you normally can't make for a couple entire dungeons yet.]]

* LostForever: Several dungeons and past Rococo become inaccessible after you go through them, so any items you miss are gone for good.

* PowerUpLetDown: Unfortunately, many of the weapons in the game end up like this, once you've boiled down equipment combinations and strategies that work in pretty much any situation.
** A specific example: Blade 4, like Sword 4, can launch an attack that can hit all on-screen enemies once sufficiently leveled up and is the most powerful weapon in the game. Unfortunately, it can't be leveled up unless the player seeks out the equipment leveling capsules in battle (which is more tedious than anything). Worse still, it is useless against a large portion of the mooks you'll be fighting from then on, though the three-swing combo will kill some things one shot won't.

'''''Robotrek'' contains examples of the following tropes:'''

* AnAxeToGrind: A robot with an axe is a thing to be feared. See DiscOneNuke, below.

** Otherwise, the bomb + shot/laser combinations for skill. One of them, dubbed "big bang" hits every enemy on screen, the usefulness drops like a rock after the first boss. The second one launches three times the bombs that hit random places.

* ConspicuouslySelectivePerception

* CutsceneIncompetence
* DeveloperForesight: In one area, you're turned into a mouse and tasked with emptying the Hackers' coffers (5000 GP) in order to be turned back. As a condition of your new form, you're too short to use the Invention Machine and can't use items in battle, which nominally prevents you from making repairs or buying new equipment. However, each time you gain a level you can use the Portable Invention Machine, with which you can spend money to your heart's content. If you manage to reduce your total GP to less than 5000, the intended recipient comments on the lack of funds -- then takes everything you have left. If you manage to reach zero GP (which is a lot harder but still doable), he'll assume you're holding out and you'll have to find at least a little money to give him.

* DiscOneNuke: Axes. They are the most powerful melee weapon bar none, and trivially easy to make. If you have some money and know what you're doing, you can make a Lvl 9 Axe 1 fairly early in the game. With a little more know how, you can get the third iteration before the third boss. And you can level any of the Axes up by combining it with Sword 1 (though it's cheaper to get it from the battlefield capsules). To give an idea of how broken axes are in the game, a critical hit with the three-hit-combo macro from the backside will '''ONE SHOT NEARLY EVERY BOSS'''.
* TheDollEpisode

* {{Futureshadowing}}[=/=]HaveWeMetYet: The encounter with Napoleon in the volcano shrine.

* HelloInsertNameHere
* HeroicMime

* JustAKid
* KidHero
* KidWithTheRemoteControl

* AwesomeButImpractical: Quite a few, see PowerUpLetDown and UselessItem.

* AxeCrazy: A Robot with an Axe is a thing to be feared. See DiscOneNuke, below.

* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: In one area, you're turned into a mouse and tasked with emptying the Hackers' coffers (5000 GP) in order to be turned back. As a condition of your new form, you're too short to use the Invention Machine and can't use items in battle, which nominally prevents you from making repairs or buying new equipment. However, each time you gain a level you can use the Portable Invention Machine, with which you can spend money to your heart's content. If you manage to reduce your total GP to less than 5000, the intended recipient comments on the lack of funds -- then takes everything you have left. If you manage to reach zero GP (which is a lot harder but still doable), he'll assume you're holding out and you'll have to find at least a little money to give him.

* DiscOneNuke: Axes. They are the most powerful melee weapon bar none, and trivially easy to make. If you have some money and know what you're doing, you can make a Lvl 9 Axe 1 fairly early in the game. With a little more know how, you can get the third iteration before the third boss. And you can level any of the Axes up by combining it with Sword 1 (though it's cheaper to get it from the battlefield capsules).
** To get an idea of how broken axes are in the game, a critical hit with the three-hit-combo macro from the backside will '''ONE SHOT NEARLY EVERY BOSS'''.

* UselessItem: For combat related purposes, pretty much every long range weapon after the second boss qualifies, where often times you'll find enemies in dungeons half way in that are practically immune to them... and that's all you'll fight.