Gato Roboto review

Exceptional

by snuts

A beautiful omage to the old Metroid games and retrogames in generel.
Te movement feels crisp and the artstyle is on pont. 

I do like a lot about this game and I also like how it's a pretty glaring example of a game other than Axiom Verge or Environmental Station Alpha that's more Metroid than Vania. I don't mind the length (Carrion, another pretty short game, is one of my favorite Metroidvanias). The issue is that the length is a detriment to the backtracking and ability-gated design. There's really only two transformative power-ups - the missile and screw attack, both shamelessly taken from Metroid, which is fine - and one other ability that you don't really use outside of the dungeon its in. There's some combat power-ups that require completionism, which I guess is ok in a short game, but feel like ticking boxes by the last couple collectibles. I usually prefer short games but this is an odd one that would have benefitted from one or two more areas and another power-up or two and connect them all more intricately.

Absolutely loved the visuals, animation, humor, and the unlockable "skins" are a nice touch. But I feel like it lacks testing. I gave up on it when I accessed an area by mistake, that I was not equipped to reach yet, and I couldn't get out, so I was just trapped in a limbo being unable to move back or advance.

This is a solid little game, the problem is it's a solid LITTLE game. It took me less than three hours to pull 84% completion and I have no interest to return to it. Plays a lot like a Metroid title (maybe a little too much at times) but it's just very basic. Unremarkable.