ROTii Demo

Playing as a robot is always fun in video games, especially if you have the possibility to use a few special abilities or take advantage of the robot’s powerful body. Platformers can be designed in a multitude of ways, which is why there are hundreds of games out there that somehow feel different even if they feature the same gameplay mechanics at their core.

ROTii is a simple platformer in which you play the role of a small robot trying to overcome basic obstacles around weird environments. There are also a few enemies that make your life harder along the way, but thankfully the robot is well-equipped to deal with them. Unfortunately, the experience gets a tad repetitive along the way, not to mention confusing every now and again.

The robot has a vacuum that can be used to trap the enemies and shoot them back out, which is how most of the encounters go in the game. On the other hand, the vacuum can also be used to move objects around, which comes in handy if you need to reach platforms that are too high up. Sometimes you are required to solve some puzzles as well.

These puzzles are not particularly tough, but they require a bit of tinkering before a solution can be found. They have basic concepts at their core, but the presentation is fairly weird, so it might take you some time to figure them out. The levels also get tougher to navigate as you manage to advance, with more enemies and even boss fights waiting for you, just like in a classic platformer.

As for the graphics, you shouldn’t expect too much in this regard, given the 2D perspective and basic artwork. It’s a shame that the artists didn’t try harder, but then again you can focus on the gameplay and try to get over this. At least the controls are snappy and responsive, which makes it easy to get acquainted with the mechanics and practice your reflexes.

In the end, ROTii is not a bad game, but it lacks the spark to distinguish itself from every other platformer on the market. Moreover, the dull graphics and unimpressive story only add to the issue, at least if you cannot get over the repetitive environments.