Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy
| Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Gabriel Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Infogrames |
| Series | Robot Arena |
| Engine | Havok |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | February 25, 2003[1] |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) |
Single-player Multiplayer |
Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy (commonly referred to as Robot Arena 2 or, informally, RA2) is a computer game developed by Gabriel Entertainment and published by Infogrames. It is the sequel to Robot Arena. Compared to its predecessor, it has many new features, such as the Havok physics engine, fully 3-D environments (robots are now able to leave the ground), and the player's ability to completely design their own robot. This includes chassis design, weapon placement, mechanics, and paint, etc. Weapons are nearly completely customizable, including weapons that mount on various attachments, such as poles, disks, and tri-bars. There is no credit system, parts can be taken for free as long as the weight limit has not been reached. Nearly every type of weapon in robotic combat is doable, but servo motor based weaponry (e.g., hydraulic crushers, lifting devices, etc.) typically does not work. Although not well received from a marketing standpoint, this game has a dedicated fanbase and a community that is still active today.[2]
Gameplay
Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy is an Action game. The player controls a radio-controlled robot which battles it out with other robots in order to win. Ways to win a battle include destroying the opponent's control board, Immobilizing the opponent(such as flipping them over) or simply having the most points at the end.
Different types of arenas are available to play, either being a standard map, a tabletop map, or a "king of the hill" map.
Different game types are available in single player, where either the player can play against 1 opponent, 3 others in a battle royale, or select appropriate teams for each robot.
The main game mode is League mode where the player competes against fifteen other teams in nine events. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of the season.
Multiplayer is also available, where up to four players can pit their designs against their opponents. Online play was also supported which is facilitated by GameSpy, but the GameSpy servers no longer function due to a lack of use.
There is also a Free build mode in later editions of the game.
Reception
The game received very positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Most said that it was better than any of the Robot Wars games and is the best robot combat video game ever released. The graphics were decent for its time while the physics were much more realistic than the ones seen in the Robot Wars games. Currently it has its own fanbase on a site called Gametechmods. People make online tournaments and build robots to enter them.
Notable Online Tournaments:
- BBEANS (Bot Battle for Eminent Autonomous Supremacy) by Clickbeetle
- RA2T#1 + RA2T#2 by JimXorb
Some have even gone to levels with Mods that change the game completely with custom robots, arenas, components, teams, backgrounds and music.
Notable Robot Arena 2 Mods:
- DSL Total Conversion by DarkRat, Starcore and Lu-Tze, additional help from Firebeetle, goose, Vincent and ACAMS
- Starcore AI Packs by Starcore
- AceUplink Battlebots AI Pack by various AceUplink.com members
- RFS AI Pack by Radio F Software, additional help from TheDisturbedOne
- Official Robot Wars Mod by HereticBlue, additional help from Craaig and various others
Sequel
A sequel, Robot Arena 3, is in development and is due to be released on 26 May, 2016 on Steam.[3]
References
- ↑ "Release date". IGN. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ http://beetlebros.gametechmods.com/ra2techs.htm
- ↑ http://store.steampowered.com/app/363530