Review: Chibi Robo! (NGC)

Chibi-Robo was one of a handful of games on the release schedule for Nintendo’s under appreciated console in 2006 - and when we say a handful, we’re not talking figuratively. With the Gamecube pretty much a dead console, and the success of the DS and (at the time) the impending release of the Wii, it would be difficult to blame Nintendo for wanting to leave the machine alone rather than concentrate on ensuring the two new consoles would gain more appreciation than their last home machine. The games released for the ‘Cube would almost certainly be ignored by the masses, and would most likely only be bought by dedicated Nintendo fans. The main concern about these titles would be the quality. Pinball/warlord title Odama fared well with some (Gamestyle awarded it 8/10), but Chibi-Robo looked a little too sweet for Gamestyle‘s tastes. A game so incredibly cute and bright smacked of a title aimed squarely at a younger audience, and, on the surface at least, appeared to offer little different to many other titles on the market.

Fortunately, Skip Ltd have created a title with a surprising amount of depth. The garish colours mask a game filled with exploration and a surprisingly mature central story. The title character is a tiny robot designed to make life for its owners easier, be it by cleaning the house, helping to cook or finding lost items for the home’s inhabitants. Chibi is purchased by Mr Sanderson for his daughter, Jenny. Within the first five minutes you find out the gift is more for the gadget mad Mr Sanderson than Jenny, and Mrs Sanderson registers her disapproval at his money wasting. It seems the family are struggling financially, and this sets the tone for the rest of the game. As Chibi, the player finds themselves privy to all the family’s details, including arguments, potential divorce, and even Jenny’s denial - she has taken to wearing a frog mask and talks only in “ribbits”. It’s a strange theme to have in a title like this, but already marks it out from the run of the mill family friendly adventures available.

The main objective of the game is to earn happy points. The more you earn, the more Chibi can be upgraded (longer battery life, blaster, radar and so on) until he reaches the rank of Super Chibi Robo. Points are earned by picking up rubbish, helping characters with their problems and even just by listening to them as they pour their hearts out. In the daytime this only really applies to the family, but come nightfall, there are a whole host of strange inhabitants around. Sophie the chew toy, the Free Rangers (a squad of hard-boiled eggs) and Drake Redcrest are some of the everyday items who remain inanimate when the family are about, but have their own personalities and problems. It’s similar to Toy Story, especially space hunter toy Drake Redcrest, who has obviously been inspired by Buzz Lightyear. The day/night cycle adds some variety to the game, yet initially each half-day lasts for five minutes, although more time can be purchased in Chibi’s home.

Chibi’s home is the central hub of the game. This is where you purchase upgrades and find out your Chibi Ranking. This tells you how far you’ve progressed, and opens up some more abilities, allowing Chibi to move deeper into the house and find more characters to help. As the upgrades become available the player will be able to reach areas unattainable at the beginning of the game. Chibi’s initial battery life meant exploration was limited, as some wall sockets (which Chibi can plug himself into so as to charge his battery) could not be reached in time, resulting in Chibi’s power running out. As mentioned, the battery life is gradually increased, and needs to be as other abilities become available. Gamestyle soon realised certain rooms required further investigation as a new upgrade was installed, the blaster being a prime example of this. As soon as it’s available, you can blast areas marked with stickers to open up parts of a room. The first instance in which Gamestyle used this was in the living room, where a sticker covering a crack in the patio door gained access to the garden. It’s similar in structure to the Metroid series, albeit in a simplified way.

Chibi Robo is a great little game, although can become more of a chore towards the end. Earning happy points for an essential upgrade to advance the story can feel slightly monotonous, and dulls the appeal of the first few hours of play slightly. The story itself is enjoyable, filled with humour and a tinge of sadness, and pushes you to play further to see the outcome. Overall, Chibi Robo is a title which needs a little time to settle in to its groove. Once played for the first hour or so you may not be able to draw your attention away, and will probably find yourself playing for another hour or more. Chibi Robo’s goal is to make his owners happy, and you’ll find that’s just what he does.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Dan Gill