Bad Bots (PC) Review

Today, ignoring the long and painful history that has brought us to this point in the video game industry, it's easy to take for granted the superb graphics of multimillion dollar titles. Everyone is so accustomed to mega-textured gigapoly models, expensive CG cut-scenes, and orchestrated soundtracks, that Bad Bots feels elementary, even in comparison to other indie titles such as The Binding of Isaac or Fez.

For instance, the movement frames of the characters in the game are almost uniformly two frames. Some characters do not even reach the level of two frame animation. Often enemies just stand in place with arms that pivot, whilst the main character runs with a comical high kick. Nothing reaches the elegance of the animation in a game like Mark of the Ninja.

However, every character in Bad Bots makes up for this with…character. The lead's grim jaw, the robots with their insane eyes and…well, all of the other crazed robots. The design of these - in large - reveals a genuine artistic agent behind the production, shackled by a lack of experience, tools, and budget. It is a frustratingly contradictory experience; on one hand interesting, on the other very limited.

This sort of existential conflict carries through not just the game's visual presentation but also its gameplay. Almost completely linear, the level design is punctuated by moments of compelling platforming - twisted little hallways of traps and tricks, and by areas that stretch the design in surprising ways, such as the "horde" rooms. At such times, the mind of the designer can be seen at work, and it is then that Bad Bots breaks out of the confines of its repetitive corridors into something better.

Then it falls back in...

Ostensibly a Metroid-style game, the game's progression is so linear as to really not be. Rather than gaining new abilities to open new areas, the game consists of mostly just running forward and shooting. While the game plays well enough, though, the lack of variety drags down the quality of that experience. Almost every corridor plays like the last. Unlike Metroid, which uses a wide variety of environmental designs - from puzzles to enemy gauntlets - to keep the pacing fresh, Bad Bots relies on one design: a long corridor full of enemies that often just stand there, or sort of bounce back and forth. That layout is then repeated again and again, for most of the game.

It's only the combination of fast shooting, a thin-yet-interesting story, and rare cut-scenes that keep the game bearable. Shooting fans may be able to carry through to the end, though, given that Bad Bots is not a very long game.

There are other areas where it is easier to pull the wings off the production, and justifiably so. For instance, the music is almost entirely non-existent. Only at special cinematic moments and during boss fights will the music spring to life. At all other times it's just the "clack-clack-clack" of the machine gun and footsteps - not exactly compelling.

On the technical side, the interface is aggravating, non-editable, and non-bindable. It is, by default, WASD and a mouse. For a left-handed user, of which 10% of the world is, this is an egregiously bad setup. Controller support exists, however is limited to the Xbox 360 or Xbox 360-compatible controllers. Even so, the mouse is far faster and more accurate compared to analogue sticks, and so almost a requisite.

A lack of vertical sync is evident throughout the game, as well. Screen tearing will often be present, marring the already rough presentation. There are more issues, yet this sampling is enough to give a good idea of what's in store when purchasing Bad Bots.