Robot power

Nintendo 64, £49.99.

Nintendo 64, £49.99.

Those of you who remember Robotron 2084 (released in 1984) will have fond memories of it. It featured high-speed, addictive, fun gameplay. The idea was pretty simple too. You controlled a character in the middle of a square grid and, as each level started, a horde of robots swarmed around, chasing you from corner to corner. You had to be quick to run but also quick with your gun to fend off these mechanized creatures. For an added twist, civilians were thrown in and you got a nice bonus if you managed to save their bacon as well as your own.

On each level, things got increasingly difficult until it became well nigh impossible to avoid the robots' onslaught: you would need increased firepower against stronger and faster robots. You could collect various power-ups to help. These included flamethrowers, multiple firing and speed-up boots. All very simple and good fun.

Robotron 64 is much the same game but with improved graphics - but the improvement isn't anything like what might have been expected and, compared to other Nintendo 64 titles, the graphics are very basic indeed.

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For those who remember the original with some nostalgia, this might be worth a look. But to pay £50 for it? Nah.

Graphics: 40%, Sound: 74%, Gameplay: 76%