Robopon Sun, Star, and Moon Versions
{{Infobox video game
| image = Robopon Sun Version.jpg
| caption = "Build 'em, Collect 'em, Trash 'em!", Robopon Sun Version's tagline.
| developer = Hudson Soft{{efn|Developed in collaboration with Red Company){{cite web | title=Red Entertainment Works page | url=https://red-entertainment.co.jp/en/gallery/cat02/663.html | access-date = 22 November 2023}}}}
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Hudson Soft|NA|Atlus}}
| released = Sun and Star Versions
{{vgrelease|JP|December 4, 1998}}Moon Version
{{vgrelease|JP|December 24, 1999}}Comic Bom Bom Special Version
{{vgrelease|JP|December 24, 1999}}Sun Version{{vgrelease|NA|December 11, 2000{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2000 |title=Atlus Ships Robopon Sun |url=http://gbstation.com/archives/dec00-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605010846/http://gbstation.com/archives/dec00-1.html |archive-date=June 5, 2002 |access-date=May 14, 2024 |website=GameBoy Station}}}}
| genre = Role-playing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Game Boy Color
}}
Robopon Sun, Star and Moon Versions{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo foot|Robot Ponkottsu|ロボットポンコッツ|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}}} are handheld role-playing video games for Nintendo's Game Boy Color. Of the three games, only Sun was released in North America in December 2000 by Atlus, while their original Japan releases were by Hudson Soft. The games focus on a boy, named Cody by default, and his adventures on his island with his robotic friends. They mostly resemble the Pokémon series of video games,{{cite web | author=Craig Harris | year=2000 | title=Robopon review | url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/165/165299p1.html | access-date=October 14, 2007}} but also bear similarities to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game Robotrek, published by Enix (now Square Enix).{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
Story
File:Robopon for GBC begins.png
Within Robopon Sun, Star, and Moon versions, the player assumes the role of a child named Cody, whose grandpa is retiring and gives him the family business, a Robopon dispatching company.USA's Robopon Sun Version instructions page 6 Cody travels around Porombo Island collecting Robopon and battling against the "Legend 7", the top-ranked Robopon collectors on the island.{{cite web | author=Christopher Koeppel | year=2000 | title=Robopon preview | url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2000/082300a.html | access-date=October 14, 2007}} Each time Cody successfully beats one of the Legend 7, he takes his or her place in the ranking system.
Gameplay
File:Robopon for GBC Battle.png
Gameplay revolves around collecting, software upgrading, equipment swapping, and battling robotic characters in a similar manner to the Pokémon game series. To power up the Robopon, the player could add software and parts to them. Parts had varying amounts of space to store software and determined what sort of attacks the Robopon could use. For example, a Robopon could have an "Armgun" or a "Punch" part, and this software adds certain elements to the attacks. Furthermore, software could be added onto other parts, creating more powerful additions. For example, by equipping a "Thunder" software to a "Punch" part, the Robopon would be able to use "Thunderpunch". Software could also be mixed together to create special attacks - by mixing "Fire" and "Thunder" software, the Robopon would have the special move "Zapp!!". This software could also be removed. If the player did so, the attack abilities it gave the Robopon would be removed as well. Because only Sun was released in the US, not all of the original 153 Robopon were available because the others were located on the Star Version that was never produced in the US.Walkthrough and FAQ by Katman at GameFAQs.com http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gbcolor/file/575974/11884
Robopon cartridges have an Infrared panel on their top edge that allows them to trade information using waves much like a TV or VCR remote, allowing the cartridge to react to different objects. For example, pointing a remote control at the cartridges and pressing a button might boost the Robopon's stats, or open a chest within the games.instructions page 29 This feature was called the "GB Kiss".{{cite web | author=Matthew Wanlin | year=2000 | title=Atlus Releases Robopon: Sun Version | url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/121000a.html | access-date=October 14, 2007}} The game included over 150 different Robopon to use, with the first 2 releases and then over 168, with the release of Moon version,Moon version, box back side though some had to be upgraded, similar to Pokémon's evolution stages. The Robopon were classified as either Arm, Move, or Boot. Arm tended to have high offense, Move were fast, and Boot had the highest stats overall. Boot Robopon could not have their parts or software changed.
Japanese releases
File:Robot Ponkottsu, Sun, Star and Moon Versions.JPG
While the USA only received the Sun Version, the Japanese first had the two main releases, then nearly a year later got the Moon Version release. The Japanese version of the GB Kiss features a letter writing/sending feature, that can be accessed from the main menu, which can also send messages over the telephone.Japanese instructions, for Sun, Star and Moon versions, pages 42-48 For the USA release, only the sending Robopon feature is included on the GB Kiss. These versions are also compatible with the Japanese exclusive game Robot Ponkottsu 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel with the Nintendo 64's Transfer Pak.{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/robot-ponkottsu-64/ |title=Robot Ponkottsu 64 |date=June 2, 2018 |access-date=December 3, 2022 |first=Joshua |last=Jankiewicz |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204002038/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/robot-ponkottsu-64/ |url-status=live}} Another version, Robot Ponkottsu: Comic Bom Bom Special Version, was released in Japan on December 24, 1999.
Sequels
Two Game Boy Advance sequels were made; Robopon 2 Cross Version and Robopon 2 Ring Version, in a manner similar to that of the release patterns of different generations of Pokémon games. These games stars Cody traveling to another island but forgetting his Robopon. Subsequently, he has to find new Robopon, but instead of catching them he has to make them by finding different types of batteries and combining them in a method known as "Sparking". The game featured four-on-four battles, where all the Robopon the player had on him would battle against four opponent Robopon.
A Robopon game called Robot Ponkottsu 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel was made for the Nintendo 64 but was never released outside Japan.
Manga
There were three manga series Robot Ponkots (ロボットポンコッツ), Robot Ponkots 2 (ロボットポンコッツ2), and Robot Ponkots Go! (ロボットポンコッツ豪!) created by Hataru Tamori which were all serialized in Comic Bom Bom from the late 1990s to early 2000s. They are unusually risque for children's manga, as the majority of the female characters are depicted as having enormous breasts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/robopon-2/|title = Robopon 2 – Hardcore Gaming 101}}
Reception
Sun received a 7.0 from IGN, stating that it was a decent game, but played like a clone of Pokémon. The game received an average review of 2 out of 5 from Nintendo Power, with one 3-star review, three 2-stars, and one 1-star.{{cite magazine |author= |date=January 2001 |title=Now Playing |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |issue=140 |page=134}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IGN|type=gameboy|id=015/015299|name=Robopon Sun Version}}
{{Robopon}}
{{Konami franchises}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robopon Sun, Star, And Moon Versions}}
Category:Game Boy Color-only games
Category:Games with Transfer Pak support
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Role-playing video games