Game Reviews

Robots Love Ice Cream

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| Robots Love Ice Cream
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Robots Love Ice Cream
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| Robots Love Ice Cream

A few years ago, while trying to cut cream out of my diet, I found that the only thing I missed was ice cream.

Everyone loves ice cream. So when a game turns up with the claim that Robots Love Ice Cream, well, it doesn't sound quite as zany as the developers probably intended.

Indeed, the game as a whole isn't nearly as fun as its saccharine coating would suggest.


That's my priority in a power-cut, too

The game's name might paint a picture of a quirky puzzler or a cheerfully wacky adventure game, but it's neither. What you get instead is a slightly sludgy take on Space Invaders.

You take control of an ice cream truck, and it's up to you to fend off waves of robots as they swoop down on your tiny planetoid. Every now and then one particular type of robot will try and steal your ice-cream, demanding that you drop everything and scoot around to fend off its advances.

Control is a simple matter of virtual 'left' and 'right' keys under your left thumb, and 'jump' and 'fire' controls under your right. As you're on a little planetoid, you'll keep rotating around endlessly, so there are no barriers to your movement.

However, it all feels a little cumbersome.


Cool ride. Sweet wheels. etc etc.

Variety comes from a steady drip of new robot enemies with distinctive attacks, as well as your steadily increasing arsenal of ice cream-themed treats, from rapid fire popsicles to scattershot sundaes.

It's just a shame that the shooting doesn't feel as fun as it looks. It simply lacks punch, and as you encounter enemies with thicker armour it becomes a frustrating grind to get through the levels.

You can spend money to level-up your weapons and obtain new ones, but it doesn't come quickly or easily enough. It's all a bit of a chore.

Sadly, Robots Love Ice Cream is the type of confection that promises everything on appearance, but disappoints when it comes to the eating.

Robots Love Ice Cream

A game that promises much with its cute art style, but delivers a disappointingly flat take on Space Invaders
Score
Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.