Robo Dude Review

Brick breaking games are considered a staple of the arcade genre. The tedious rhythm that swells behind the ping pong of the ball as it’s sent from paddle to objective is one that leaves fans of the game addicted. Now place that on the iPad and a recipe for ruined free time is formed.

Robo Dude allows for two modes of control: touch or tilt. Dealer’s choice here, but the most engrossing way to play the game is through the tilt control. Touch the screen to release the ball or activate power-ups and explosives. The power-ups run the full gamut of brick breaker standards (multi-ball, paddle expander, paddle shrinker, projectile, magnet, etc.) while adding a few newbies to the pile (the laser bomb and guided ball being the most useful). The responsiveness of the game is mostly solid. The paddle travels from right to left smoothly, with only a few odd hiccups between stopping and bouncing. None of which are game breaking.

In the realm of aesthetics, Robo Dude has a nice, brassy, steam punk flavor. The old screws and brushed metal make the game feel robotic, true to its namesake. The techno music that supports the busting is a nice bonus. It’s too bad that tracks repeat too often and typically don’t last long enough.

Stop there and this game is nothing more than another so-so brick breaker. But Robo Dude has two things going for it that separate it from the re-done arcade classic pack. Throughout the game, players can collect gems in order to buy power-ups between levels. These purchasables lead to quicker completion times and even more breaking.

That’s the second thing; busting the large variety of bricks, exploding weapons and blasting objects on the board are the best part of this game. The graphical reinforcement, the screen sized explosions and the solid sound effects make the brick breaking magic. The stimulation caused by objects busting and flying all over the screen acts as a reward system unto itself. This only furthers the potential for addiction, completing the visually striking package.

Solid gameplay, a nice reward system, strong graphics and the addictive nature of the genre make Robo Dude an excellent distraction from real life. Especially for brick layers.