Chibi-Robo GC [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

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squidblatt

02-10-2006, 02:55 PM

I just got this game today, and haven't really put in enough time to give it an unreserved recommendation, but I'm so pleased with it that I feel compelled to create this thread in its honor.

I should point out that in order to appreciate this game, you need to, like me, enjoy quirkiness and downright dorkiness for its own sake; this is not a title that is going to make you look cool or get your adrenaline pumping. it's a cutesy game that puts you in the role of a tiny robot who performs cleaning and other household services for a loveable but slightly dysfunctional family in need of a little organization in their lives. As Chibi, your job is simply to make them happy. It's a feel-good concept that is a breath of fresh air to me, and to anyone feeling a bit cloyed with the constant stream of violent and "mature" games on the market.

The gameplay itself is not the best I've encountered, but it's relaxing and actually improved my mood - almost like a mild form of therapy. The closest comparison I can think of is Pikmin. If you combine Pikmin's collection and puzzle elements with a light platformer, you've got a close match to Chibi-Robo. At least in the small amount that I've played so far.

If you're a fan of off the off-the-wall concepts, don't miss it. If you want something that's challenging or if you can't tolerate the "kiddie" tone that has characterized much of Nintendo's offerings this gen, then you might want to pass. Since this is a Nintendo published title, I don't know if the price will fall shortly, but I doubt sales will be strong, so those of you on the fence might be rewarded by waiting for a price drop. I never, ever pay full price for games these days, but this one just grabbed my attention, and I'm glad it did.

joshnickerson

02-10-2006, 07:11 PM

I'll probably pick it up this weekend. Fry's has it on sale for $40.

dbiersdorf

02-10-2006, 10:24 PM

I can't believe Nintendo thinks people are going to buy this for $50. I went to Target the other day and just shook my head. Wouldn't you think Nintendo would have learned from the abysmal performanes of games like Geist, and Battalion Wars. Hell even Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, which had a famous character plastered on it sold like ass. $40 would have been acceptable, but even then Chibi Robo is more of a gimmick, budget line title more then anything, I see a glim future for this little guy. I'll pick it up for $20, nothing more.

pacmanhat

02-10-2006, 10:40 PM

-^Cro�Bow^-

02-11-2006, 06:21 AM

squidblatt

02-11-2006, 08:39 AM

I plunked down the $50 at one of my local Circuit Cities...

Best $50 thus spent this year...I'm very happy with the game and I think the gameplay is loads of fun. I haven't ever played Pikman but if the style of gameplay is similar...I may just have to grab those too.

It's not exactly the same as Pikmin, but there are elements that remind me of it. For example, in Pikmin the "treasures" you collect are pieces of litter that are sometimes in places that, while visible, aren't immediately accessible. Part of the game is figuring out how to get to them, or remembering them when you acquire the ability. There is also a day and night cycle in both games, but they play out differently. Also, the inhabitants of each gameworld are colorful and bizarre.

The differences are that Chibi-Robo has platform elements that are absent in Pikmin, and, of course, it's Chibi-Robo himself you are controlling rather than giving orders to a horde of other creatures as in Pikmin. So, I think parts of Pikmin will be familiar, but they don't fit comfortably in the exact same genre. But if you're enjoying the silly tone of Chibi-Robo, then I bet you'd enjoy Pikmin.

@ dbiersdorf: I don't disagree with you, but what do you mean by "gimmick"? Chibi Robo doesn't seem any more gimmicky than any other character to me. He does his thing just like Master Chief, Solid Snake, Mario, and all the rest do theirs. I don't think it's a budget title for any other reason than that the concept will probably be a difficult sell, at least in the US. Maybe it's niche, but I don't see any shameless gimmicks. But like you said, 50 bucks is too much to expect for people to shell out for an unknown, odd, and "kiddie" title like this. I hope it sells well, but I suspect it won't. If it were released earlier in the GC life, maybe it would have become a sleeper hit over the course of a few years.

importaku

02-11-2006, 09:03 AM

I really cant understand all this negativity. LOL OMG you have to pay $50 for a game (poor you) try living in the crappy old UK where a game will set you back as much as �39.99 ($69.99) for a gamecube game.

Are you guys really this cheap that you expect games for next to nothing??

Chibi robo was one of my most favourite games of last year due to the fact that it plays so different from everything else. The thrill of trying to reach those inacessable places, or hunting for the task stickers.

Towards the end i had a perminant smile on my face as it was just so charming, i loved my stay in the sanderson household & i pop back from time to time to see them all.

squidblatt

02-11-2006, 09:39 AM

Are you guys really this cheap that you expect games for next to nothing??

Both God and the Constitution entitle us to free gas and video games. I don't expect someone from outside the Promised Land to understand.

importaku

02-11-2006, 09:52 AM

LOL dammit im moving to the us then :D

jajaja

02-11-2006, 09:57 AM

I really cant understand all this negativity. LOL OMG you have to pay $50 for a game (poor you) try living in the crappy old UK where a game will set you back as much as �39.99 ($69.99) for a gamecube game.

Hehe same here. $50 for a new game is cheap. GC games here is about $75. When N64 games was out they cost over $120.
Also GBA games is cheap in USA, usualy $29.99. We have to pay like $60 - $70.

But when the games are printed over there its natural that they are cheaper. Maybe they make less money than us too, dont know. Like you cant sell a game for the same price worldwide, you must adjust the price after income.

Mayhem

02-11-2006, 10:42 AM

T'is true... the minimum wage here in the UK for example is almost twice what it is in the US.

However having been on here for almost 6 years now, I know a lot of the folks are cheap bastards ;) :P

What I find so irresistible sometimes (and Importaku can back me up here regarding NTSC-UK) is that people selling import games in the UK secondhand can sell them so cheaply at times. I recently picked up second hand copies of Tony Hawk's Wasteland, King Kong and (cough) Hello Kitty Roller Rescue for under a tenner each, US version.

I also just paid a fiver for a copy of Jedi Knight II on the Cube, US version. It normally goes for $30-40 on eBay at least.

suckerpunch5

02-13-2006, 12:56 AM

Wait, wait, wait. It's not all just cleaning. You end up saving the world, right? I haven't played it to far, but like "Lost in Blue," thing are not all they seem. At least, that was my impression.

But everyone is right, I imediately thought it had a "Pikmin" feel, with the babbling speech, the "mother ship" rest area, picking up litter, and environmental type puzzles. Not bad. gotta play it more though.

-hellvin-

02-13-2006, 01:41 AM

The game looked pretty awesome, I was checking it out at work. I might pick it up at the end of the week. Should be 40$ with my discount. Resident Evil DS looks pretty tempting as well, that'd be 25 with discount ;D.

Crush Crawfish

02-13-2006, 04:38 PM

I'm definitely picking this one up, though I'd like to clear out a bit of my backlog beforehand. It sounds like an incredibly weird, unique game.....and is therefore something I must play. I'm hoping it gets a price drop soon.

-^Cro�Bow^-

02-13-2006, 05:27 PM

For those looking for a price drop..I hear that Toys R Us has this game for $10 bucks off...so that would be 39.99 instead of the $49.99 I paid for it last week...oh well...I'm still having a blast with it..and think it was worth the money I paid even then!

InsaneDavid

02-13-2006, 07:42 PM

However having been on here for almost 6 years now, I know a lot of the folks are cheap bastards ;) :P

...until they post stuff for sale in the Buying & Selling forum, then all of a sudden everything is big money. LOL

Back on topic - I gotta check out this game...

THATinkjar

05-21-2006, 02:18 PM

It comes out in the UK on Friday. I wouldn't mind hearing a few more thoughts, guys...

djbeatmongrel

05-21-2006, 07:57 PM

chibi robo is definitely one of the best games of '06 so far. i played it all the way through and enjoyed every minute of it. its definitely a must buy for GC owners and lovers of quirky games

THATinkjar

05-22-2006, 03:52 AM

Excellent. I've pre-ordered. I'm pretty excited. I love the whole... you're tiny, the house is huge thing. It'll seem like I'm climbing Everest, but just to scrub a carpet clean of a sauce stain! Honestly, I can't think of anything better to do with my Friday evenings! LOL

Come to think of it, there are heaps of GameCube games I still need to pick up. I think I'll make this a priority next month.

Hams

05-22-2006, 06:56 AM

I intend to get a copy. I like a different approach to gaming. Im going to hang back an wait to see if i can get it locally before importing from the uk. Anyone know if the Australian release is going ahead?

THATinkjar

05-22-2006, 08:28 AM

Hams

05-23-2006, 05:17 AM

Anyone know if the Australian release is going ahead?

Nintendo Australia's Chibi Robo page was last updated in early March, this year. No release date announced as yet, I'm afraid. You can check the page here (http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=889).

Thanks for the post. Im paranoid thats about it for gamecube games in Australia. I could imagine it being repackaged as a Wii game where you use regular joystick control (that could mean a long delay, or maybe it never drops). Most stockists hardly have any gc games anymore let alone recent releases. Ds is a different case though. The new Batallion Wars i've only seen once at target. It only lasted 2 weeks and was never restocked. I guess its a sign of the times. I read somewhere today that the GC version of the new Zelda is only coming out in North America. Hope they do a Pal version. I was looking forward to playing the harder version on my faithful ol' black box. Otherwise i will have to get my import on' and load up the freeloader. We'll have to see.

PapaStu

05-23-2006, 08:45 AM

I really doubt that they are going to make a special Wii version of the game. Way too much reprogramming for such a small region, especially when a UK PAL version is already out there.

Now I really liked this game alot. My only 'kinda' downside is that without the small strategy type guide that we played with (one from an issue of Tips N' Tricks) we'd have been lost. Most of what you need to do is really not told to you, and with such a short battery life for much of the game, I bet we played way more than we really needed to (not that its a complaint, the game is short). Also, it seems like it takes a long time to get thru about 3/4 of the game, and then there is no stopping the last 1/4 as it will just snowball, leaving you no more time to try and collect the random stuff in the house, or to do any more of the side missions until after the game is done.