Character is what this game has in droves. The dialogue between NPCs and yourself make for some really silly comedy. Your overprotective TV pal, Telly, will always cry if you manage to get injured and bosses you around when you’re not (and even makes messes himself, the dirty little imp). If ever more proof was needed, you just watch that little fellow scrub those floors and you will understand. Just letting Chibi Robo stand there with his blank blinking expression simply fills your face with a big wide happy grin.
The sound within the game is just as uplifting, with just about every single action warranting a jingle, theme tune or some random sound effect to keep your head away from reality. Scrubbing floors results in an amusing banjo twang, while a lighter squeaky sound will emit from Chibi’s foot depending on what surface you’re running on. The music is as crude and corny as the graphics, but suits the nature of the whole experience well.
The missions and side-quests rarely get tiresome – quite the contrary, cleaning and tidying up after people never seemed so absorbing! There are times when the missions can really stump you, leaving you with nowhere clear to go. At these points it does all start to wear a little thin when you just want to move on. Thankfully these moments are very few, as incidents like that occur usually when you have to obtain something during the following time segment.
You can buy various items that can aid your game, such as different length timers for each day and night segment, so periods of waiting for evening can be cut short by buying a timer for a shorter length of time. There are various gadgets and utilities you can buy and create that can help you do a better job of things too – a tiny toothbrush can be used to scrub floors, while a kid’s spoon allows you to dig and plant seeds, and an arm cannon can be revealed to destroy evil robot spiders intent on killing Chibi Robo. Add to this the large array of wacky costumes you can wear too (and pose in!), such as an outfit of the aforementioned Space Hunter Drake, a ghost costume and a frog suit, and you begin to understand that Chibi Robo is a game after your heart just as much as the Sandersons’. Hell, we’re already smitten with the cleaning-obsessed little jerk. Every home should have one.
SPOnG Score: A-
The inevitably epic Zelda: Twilight Princess will ensure Gamecube goes out with a bang, but since that’s not exactly exclusive anymore it’s safe to say that Chibi Robo really is the Gamecube’s great gaming swansong. An utterly charming and completely addictive gameplay mechanic means you’ll never be playing this game with a sullen face. Skip’s first title warms the cockles of our hearts – this is a gamer’s game through and through, and no self-respecting player who is disillusioned with originality in this day and age can afford to miss out on this gem.
mik well 24 Jun 2008 18:20