Robodunk Review

Robodunk
Developer: Jollypunch Games
Publisher: Jollypunch Games
Website: https://robodunk.com/
Genre(s): Action, Indie, Sports
Platform: PC (also available on Nintendo Switch)
Age Rating: PEGI 3
Release Date: 25/09/2023
Price: £13.49

A code was provided for review purposes

Dunk is Life

Robodunk is the latest game from Jollypunch Games. The game is a mix between NBA Jam and a roguelike. I have played a decent number of sports games but often find they disappoint, as they rarely have personality. After watching the trailer of Robodunk I began to think this would have the personality I was looking for. Did it? Find out in this Rapid Review.

For starters, Robodunk featured a decent bit of lore. Specifically, after each fight, text segments would describe different game components. This included the characters, the stages, and even philosophies about how robots work in this fictional world. These segments were a lot more interesting than I thought. Many of them featured interesting commentary on people and their beliefs without explicitly saying anything. This worldbuilding was completely optional, and the text could have been skipped, but I found it not only served as an enjoyable break from the gameplay but also the writing was interesting.

However, I did not begin Robodunk to discuss the lore. Sure, it turned out to be interesting, but what I cared about was the gameplay. Thankfully, it was good. I worked alongside a teammate to beat two others in a game of basketball completely revolving around dunks. Though this seems incredibly simple, the developers implemented a lot of depth into the core gameplay loop that encourages strategy and quick thinking, keeping this game engaging and at the forefront of my mind.

Where’s the Depth?

Specifically, when making a dunk, I had to charge my jump. When I charge my jump for longer, I score more points. This forced me to consider whether I had enough time to get one more point or to cash in and score now. Neither the charging nor the scoring required much mechanical depth, but the decision-making behind it had me feeling completely stimulated throughout.

This is reinforced because the arena is constantly flooded with projectiles and traps. From meteors to turrets, there is always something ready to take me out. This can, of course, be toggled, meaning if I wanted to play a more traditional match, I could. However, I enjoyed playing with them. These hazards made the game unpredictable but were easy to work around with proper planning. They made the game a lot of fun. They were designed well.

This sense of urgency and proper decision-making is further reinforced with each robot’s abilities. See, in addition to scoring, I can pass and shield. When shielding, without specific upgrades, I cannot charge my jump, meaning I had to use it carefully. Moreover, passes can be intercepted by the opposing team. Robodunk is not as simple as just passing it repeatedly until an opening appears. Each decision must be made carefully.

Robots have other strategies, too. In addition to these more offensive-focused techniques, each robot can bash other robots, resetting their jump charge and removing the ball from their possession. Similarly, each robot has a special technique that can be used to disrupt opponents. These are cool, too. One creates a turret to fire at the enemies, while another places an electrical hula hoop on the floor to impede enemy progress. The combination of these elements makes robots fun to use and creates engaging combat.

So, How Do I Start?

Another great component of Robodunk comes from the variety of different modes I could play. The main campaign was what I initially sunk my teeth into. It was a rogue-lite experience where I played the traditional Robodunk basketball, but I could upgrade and unlock new characters over time. There was also a wide variety of different perks that made each game distinct. These upgrades gave me new powers, like the ability to dunk from further away or a magnetic shield that aims to shock my opponents. This mode was a lot of fun. It even featured checkpoints and unlockable content for future runs.

While I enjoyed it, I did find that unlocking new things took an unnecessary amount of time. Specifically, if I wanted to play as a different character, I had to use the same points that I would if I were to get new upgrades or upgrade existing characters. Though this is not necessarily a bad thing, I found it discouraged me from experimenting with new characters, as I wanted to enhance the abilities of my preexisting characters so I could beat the game. Still, this is a minor gripe about an excellent game.

Moreover, even if that was too much to handle, there are two additional modes to explore. Of course, there is a standard multiplayer mode. This can be used to face off against robots or your friends, and it worked exactly as I would have wanted it to. It features a lot of customization, too, so it is easy to sink a lot of time into. Additionally, there is an endless mode that features many components from the rogue-lite campaign but without an end or permanent upgrades. This was also a lot of fun and an excellent warm-up before heading into the main story.

From the Jumbotron

To supplement the core gameplay, Robodunk features an amazingly charming aesthetic. Each character is animated in a way that looks like stop-motion LEGOs, which comes across super cleanly. Additionally, exceptional care is taken to ensure that each dunk is satisfying. For example, when I land a space dunk, the hoop itself completely explodes, the score is displayed on the ground, and all enemies nearby get launched. Each of these things helps make Robodunk even more exciting.

Similarly, the music is lively and exciting. It helped keep me engaged in the combat by inspiring fast-paced action. This was not a major selling point of the game for me, but it certainly was nice.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Robodunk. The high-octane nature of the title combined with solidly implemented mechanics and engaging character designs create an experience I had a lot of fun with. While I sometimes found progression tedious, Robodunk is a game I was happy to experience. I can easily recommend this game.

Rapid Reviews Rating

4.5 out of 5

4.5