Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition

Brothers Until the End
By Brett Wolfe
Reviewed By Xbox One
Released on August 28th, 2018 on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch (Also Available on PC, PS4, PS Vita, and Wii U)
Developer: Thinice Games
Publisher: Ratalaika Games

Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer developed by Thinice Games and published by the fine folks at Ratalaika Games. It tells the story of Volt and Watt, two robotic brothers lost in a world where they are not wanted. Realizing they were mistakenly marked as defective, a journey ensues to prove their worth and show that nobody can dictate the life of two devoted robots. Trials and tribulations await them…are you strong enough to complete these horrifying trials? Or will you be crushed under pressure before your adventure even truly begins?

This interesting industrial-inspired experience consists of twenty-eight levels of intense unadulterated robotic action. The goal of each stage is to get both Volt and Watt to the ending with enough power to open the door. Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, it is not too bad at the beginning, but as you progress throughout this dilapidated factory, conserving your battery becomes more and more important. Earlier on, the path is rather straightforward, a jump here, a skip there, maybe one or two obstacles. Nothing that would drain your battery as fast as your phone on that all-day Netflix binge. However, do not get too comfortable, the hazards are coming and there are a lot of them. From lasers and wheels that sting a little bit to deadly spikes and pounding hammers that do not give you a chance, one shot, one kill!

Do not let that dissuade you though, even these are not too bad. Aimed at the younger generation and casual gamers, Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition is very forgiving. While they through a sneaky trick in here or there, there is nothing that would be devastating to your gameplay. The levels can be completed very quickly, ranging from thirty seconds to four or five minutes at most. Trust me when I say, the worst feeling would be getting lost or reaching the end with just not enough energy. I can hear you thinking to yourself, well I will just take my time and plan out the best path, no deviations. Sure, I mean it isn’t a race against the clock or is it…?

While the levels are not timed per say, this title includes a feature that makes the game so much more interesting. At the beginning of each level, one of the brothers is locked behind a gate with a lowering ceiling of impending doom above him. It is up to you to scour the land for a way out before it is too late. This is one of my favorite aspects because it promotes speedy exploration to areas you may not discover otherwise. Once freed, it is the two of you against the world, until one of you gets locked up again, robots just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

The overall gameplay mechanics are similar to most side-scrollers on the market. Go from point A to point B, preserving energy and solving puzzles. I found most of the hindrances felt like a simplistic Portal experiment. Pushing boxes on switches to open a door or lift a platform. Some could provide a bit of a challenge, but that would usually stem from bizarre physics. I have never seen a block fly that far just because I put it on an elevator, I am telling you that thing probably broke the sound barrier. I am lucky I still have my eardrums. Luckily for all of us, there is local co-op, so your best bud is able to help you get our little friends to salvation. This is how I recommend playing the game. While it is enjoyable by yourself, controlling both robots can become a little confusing and I ended up just taking one to the end, then rinse and repeat with the other. It is very doable by yourself, hell I beat the game without a friend, but the few stages I played shoulder to shoulder (I may need a bigger couch, I know) were tons of fun.

The visuals and soundtrack of Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition didn’t really do much for me. I barely noticed the sounds beside the occasional bang, ting, or slam of heavy machinery littering your path or distant factory noise to aid the background, it was just average overall. The visuals provided me with a very similar feeling. The graphics in the foreground were crisp, while still delivering a cute, cartoony aesthetic. The characters were cute, the environment looked brutal, but the background was were my issues laid. The blurry transition seemed rushed and while I understand the sense of scale, I could not help, but feel like it could have been a bit better.

I have been doing a good number of platformers lately and I use to find them grueling and centered on impossible jumps or ridiculous time constraints, but lately, the genre has been shining a new light on me, growing on me one might say. I was very pleased with the experience I was provided in this small title. Was it the best game I have played? No, of course not! However, it did the one thing video games are supposed to do, entertain the player, and it did that pretty well.

In the end, Twin Robot: Ultimate Edition was an interesting game albeit a shorter one. Priced at $8 USD, I would not hesitate to pick this title up. Whether you are looking for some coop action or just want to chill it as a loner, there is a little bit for everyone. Indie games nowadays can be pretty hit or miss, I would give this one a chance when you can.

*Note: A copy of this game was provided for the purpose of the review.

Final Score: 6.5/10

+Fun Coop Gameplay
+Colorful Graphics in the Foreground
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-Blurry, Uninteresting Graphics in the Background
-Average Soundtrack
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