Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo! (Japanese: ちびロボ!) is a series of platform video games developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo.
| Chibi-Robo! | |
|---|---|
 Chibi-Robo! series logo, used since Zip Lash | |
| Genre(s) | Platform, adventure |
| Developer(s) | Skip Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | GameCube, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS |
| First release | Chibi-Robo! 2005 |
| Latest release | Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash 2015 |
Games
| 2005 | Chibi-Robo! |
|---|---|
| 2006 | |
| 2007 | Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol |
| 2008 | |
| 2009 | Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji! |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder |
| 2015 | Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash |
Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo![lower-alpha 1], fully titled Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!, is a platform-adventure video game for the GameCube developed by Skip Ltd. with collaboration from Nintendo. The game was first released in Japan in 2005, and then released in North America and Europe the following year. Originally conceived as a point and click adventure game, it was put on developmental hold until Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto gained interest in the title and overhauled its production.
The player takes on the role of the eponymous character, Chibi-Robo, a 10-centimeter-tall robot that has a power plug for a tail. Gameplay revolves around navigating a household and collecting "Happy Points". These points are accumulated by completing various tasks from housework to helping solve the dilemmas of the Sanderson family and the numerous living toys that inhabit their household. Every action by the game's battery-powered protagonist consumes energy, requiring the player to recharge using the home's electrical outlets.
Chibi-Robo! was generally well received, with praise for its premise, charming storyline, and sound design. However, some gameplay mechanics and the quality of the graphics drew criticism. Sales of Chibi-Robo! were modest, but it did spawn three sequels. For the Nintendo DS, Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol was released in 2007 and Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji! was released in 2009, the latter being a Japan-exclusive. An entry for the Nintendo 3DS launched in Japan in 2013 and 2014 in North America, entitled Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder. The original Chibi-Robo! also saw a Japanese re-release in 2009 for the Wii as part of the New Play Control! series.
Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol
Chibi-Robo! Park Patrol[lower-alpha 2] is a video game for the Nintendo DS developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel of the original Chibi-Robo! for the GameCube.
Unlike the previous game, Chibi-Robo! Park Patrol takes place almost entirely outdoors, and puts the player in the role of the titular character Chibi-Robo, a four-inch-tall robot tasked with revitalizing a park. The player does so by growing seeds into flowers by watering them with a squirter, and then spreading more seeds by causing the flowers to dance using a tiny boombox. The player can also alter the terrain, build and repair various structures, visit the accompanying town, and defend the park from noxious Smoglings, bits of pollution which can kill flowers.
Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji!
| Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Skip Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) | Hiroshi Moriyama |
| Producer(s) | Kensuke Tanabe Hiroshi Suzuki |
| Programmer(s) | Masahiko Kikuchi Keisuke Takanashi |
| Writer(s) | Kouki Sakamoto Sayoko Yokote |
| Composer(s) | Eishin Kawakami |
| Series | Chibi-Robo! |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Platform, adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji![2] is a video game developed by Skip Ltd. for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the third title in the Chibi-Robo! series published by Nintendo. The game is preceded by Chibi-Robo!, originally released on the GameCube in 2005, and Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol, released for the Nintendo DS in 2007. A complete fan translation for the game was released in 2015, titled Chibi-Robo! Clean Sweep.[3]
The gameplay in Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji! is similar to the original Chibi-Robo!. The player takes control of the titular character, a 10-centimeter-tall robot whose job is to clean the inside of a house to make his family happy.[1] Chibi-Robo is owned by Jenny from the previous game, who is now all grown up and living in a house with her son Keith and dog Lucky. The game introduces a tiny vacuum cleaner that Chibi-Robo can use to suck up dirt while connected to a power outlet and a tiny sifter used to find gems which can be turned in for money. The player can use the money to buy furniture for the house over a home shopping network using the telephone.[1] The main difference from the original games in the series, is that instead of just having power outlets which let the player charge Chibi-Robo's battery, they need to put rubbish into a trash compactor to get electricity for the outlets.
The game received a high 34 out of 40 from Weekly Famitsu magazine in Japan.[4] It was the fifth best-selling game in Japan during the week of its release, selling 35,000 units.[5] It fell to number nine the following week, selling 23,000 copies.[6] Regional sales of the game totalled 130,092 units in 2009.[7]
Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder
| Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Skip Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) | Keita Eto |
| Producer(s) | Kensuke Tanabe Hiroshi Suzuki |
| Designer(s) | Sayoko Yokote Kazuomi Suzuki Maya Katsurashima |
| Programmer(s) | Fumihiro Kanaya |
| Artist(s) | Fumikazu Tanaka |
| Composer(s) | Hirofumi Taniguchi Soshiro Hokkai |
| Series | Chibi-Robo! |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo eShop) |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Platform  |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder,[lower-alpha 3] known as Chibi-Robo! Let's Go, Photo! in Europe and Australia, is a video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console via the Nintendo eShop. It is the fourth installment in Chibi-Robo! game series developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo.
Unlike past entries in the series, Photo Finder doesn't focus on cleaning or performing helpful tasks, but rather, a brand-new new mechanic that involves the 3DS's augmented reality capabilities. The game revolves around collecting everyday objects, known as NostalJunk, and placing them on display in a museum. The game still has cleaning functions, as with Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure! and Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, but Photo Finder turns said cleaning sections into missions Chibi-Robo can access at any time using the Chibi-PC. These missions are jobs that several of the supporting characters send via e-mail, and range from cleaning out a garage, to blasting wasabi into various sushi on a conveyor belt. Based on your performance, you are rewarded varying amounts of Happy Points, which function once again as the game's currency. Happy Points can then in turn be traded in for silhouette films that show outlines of household objects, which can be purchased from the shop, which can also be accessed from the Chibi-PC.
Once a film is purchased, the player is then able to shoot a photo with the 3DS's built in camera. The screen will show the silhouette of the household object, and the player's goal is to find an object that matches the outline. After lining the object up with the outline, the player has ten tries to take a picture that most matches the outline. The object's quality is measured by a percentage in the top right corner. If an object is below 60%, it won't transfer. If it's between 60% to 99%, it has a chance of either being transferred, or becoming a NostalDud. However, if the object has 100% accuracy, it will not only transfer no matter what, but all following objects created with the film will be cutouts, which means that an object won't have to match the outline of the film.
The game also involves exploration stages that can be accessed after unlocking new jobs. These areas allow the player to dabble in more traditional Chibi-Robo gameplay. However, rather than unlocking or buying new items in order to better clean and traverse the area, necessary tools are received upon entering the area. Trash and dust piles litter the vicinity, and Chibi-Robo has the option to either clean it up, or just explore the area. However, in order to leave the area, Chibi-Robo must dispose of the collected refuse in a Recycling Machine located near the exit. The compactor will then reward you for your efforts; the more trash you pick up, the more Happy Points are rewarded.
Like before, Chibi-Robo relies heavily on battery power. Due to his limited battery size, he must constantly watch his Watts meter and conserve his energy by all means possible. Once Chibi-Robo loses all of his Watts, he will power down and collapse on the spot. If this happens during a job, Chibi-Robo will be returned to Mr. Curator's desk and receive no Happy Points. There are two ways to recharge: by plugging into the outlet on Mr. Curator's desk, or by finding a battery hidden in one of the many explorable areas.
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash[lower-alpha 4] is a Nintendo 3DS game. It was released in Japan and North America in October 2015, and in Europe and Australia in November 2015. Unlike past games, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a sidescrolling platformer with emphasis on combat and exploration. In this game, Chibi-Robo uses his tail-like cord as a whip to attack enemies and latch onto objects. Certain collectibles can increase the length of Chibi-Robo's cord. A Chibi-Robo amiibo was also produced to interact with the game.[8]
The game's reception was quite negative as the levels were considered to be slow and tedious.
Notes
- Japanese: ちびロボ！, lit. "Mini-Robo!"
- Known in Japan as Sakasete! Chibi-Robo! (咲かせて!ちびロボ!, lit. "Make It Bloom! Little-Robo!")
- Known in Japan as Jissha de Chibi-Robo! (実写でちびロボ！, lit. Chibi Robo! With Live Action!)
- Known in Japan as Nagenawa Akushon! Guruguru! Chibi-Robo! (なげなわアクション！ぐるぐる！ちびロボ！, lit. Lasso Action! We are Going Around! Chibi Robo!)
References
- Spencer (July 2, 2009). "New Chibi-Robo Is Like Classic Chibi-Robo". Siliconera. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- おかえり！ちびロボ！ハッピーリッチー大そうじ！, lit. "Welcome Home Tiny Robo! Happy Rich Cleaning!"
- https://gbatemp.net/threads/english-translation-for-okaeri-chibi-robo-happy-richie-%C5%8Cs%C5%8Dji.402028/
- RawmeatCowboy (July 14, 2009). "Famitsu - review scores (updated with Punch-Out!! hatred)". GoNintendo. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- Graft, Kris (July 30, 2009). "Japanese Charts: Dragon Quest IX Continues Reign". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- Graft, Kris (August 6, 2009). "Japanese Charts: Monster Hunter 3 Dethrones Dragon Quest IX, Gears 2 Debuts". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- "GEIMIN.NET／2009年テレビゲームソフト売り上げランキング（ファミ通版）" (in Japanese). Geimin.net. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
- Kuchera, Ben (June 1, 2015). "A new Chibi-Robo! game, complete with amiibo, is coming to the 3DS". Polygon. Retrieved June 1, 2015.