Robot Squad Simulator: The Doctor’s Assessment

SUBJECTIVE:

Robot Squad Simulator presents for review and allows the player to become a pilot of Robot Squad. Robot Squad is a unit of specialized, remote-controlled robots tasked with carrying out missions too dangerous or complicated for humans.

OBJECTIVE:

• Single-Player
• 4 Robots. Two land-based, one aerial, and one underwater
• First-Person or Third-Person Perspective
• 16 Campaign Missions
• 6 Training Missions
• 10 Upgradable Robot Accessories

ASSESSMENT:

The Good:

Robot Squad Simulator is a game which should be a perfect match on the Switch. Using remote control robots to defuse bombs or conduct reconnaissance is a simple, yet appealing mobile game concept. With little in the way of a plot or story, Robot Squad is a family friendly game which can be easily picked up and put down with ease.

Two early missions task the player with defusing bombs and with rescuing civilians. The player must dodge sniper fire and navigate environmental hazards. The music does a great job of building suspense in these missions and is reminiscent of blockbuster action movies. Successful completion of each mission rewards the players with the money and experience needed to upgrade their robots. For the most part, the story missions are straightforward but entertaining.

The Bad:

However, there is a severe lack of polish on this port. Robot Squad has significant UI, camera, and control issues. The UI uses yellow and white as indicators for menu selection. For whatever reason, I could not adjust to this choice in design. I would find myself “lost” in the menu even after hours of play time. Additionally, I found the font, which cannot be adjusted, to be too small even for someone without troubled eyesight.

The control and camera issues make for a frustrating experience. Before I made it to Mission 5, I experienced two game crashes. I even quit multiple times due to the maddening control scheme. Similarly, I had to restart missions because the robot would get stuck on the environment. Fortunately, the game gives you the ability to switch between the first and third-person perspectives. This was often necessary because of tight environments and bad camera angles.

To be fair to the developers, a PC to handheld port from PC is difficult. Especially considering the computing limitations and few options for inputs. I suspect this game plays much better on the PC than the Switch.