Solatorobo: Red The Hunter (DS) Review
Posted by Justin Weinblatt on 11.08.2011
This oddly titled RPG may be the last great adventure for the DS.
Game: Solatorobo
Developer: CyberConnect 2
Publisher: X-Seed Games (North America), Nintendo (Europe)
Genre: Action RPG
# of Players: 1
Rated E 10+
It seems that Solatorobo is a game that's destined to be quickly forgotten. Solatorobo is a spiritual sequel to a 13 year old PS1 game that was never very popular, it's releasing on a dying system, and it has an incomprehensible name that tells us nothing about its gameplay. It's a shame that Solatorobo has all these strikes against it, because it may be the DS's last great adventure.
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter follows the story of the titular character, Red. Red lives in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals who live in the clouds and make frequent use of mech robots. With his sister Chocolat supporting him, Red works as a Hunter. Hunters take on various jobs throughout the world to make ends meet. While taking on a mission, Red stumbles across an ancient medallion with the power to awaken an ancient evil, and a young kid who is the last of a dead race.
Solatorobo's protagonists
If you've played any old school JRPGs, all of this should sound pretty familiar. Solatorobo borrows liberally from classic RPG cliches. You'll battle ancient guardians, awaked evil beings, complete odd jobs for random villagers, and so on so forth. Solatorobo has a vibe similar to that of Skies of Arcadia or Mega Man Legends. Like those games, Solatorobo features a whimsical sense of adventure, unrelenting optimism, and an incredibly likeable upbeat cast.
Solatorobo's gameplay is a unique take on the action RPG genre. Red spends most of the game in his mech. Battling enemies involves either picking them up and slamming them to the ground or grabbing an enemy's projectile and throwing it back at him. There is a simple joy in using one robot to hurl another robot into a third robot.
<3 Mechs
While the game's core battle system is fun, the game keeps things too simple for too long. Your options in battle are limited to grabbing things, throwing things, dashing, and jumping. You can alter your robot's stats with a Tetris like upgrade system that will be familiar to anyone who has played the later entries of the Mega Man Battle Network series. By arranging different shaped blocks on a grid, you can increase your robot's lifting power, attack power, defense, or speed. Unfortunately, you cannot add any attacks to your repertoire. You can only go through so many battles before they start to feel repetitive and limited. At a certain point in the game, you'll gain access to new abilities and new robot models. These changes to the battle system help to spice up the gameplay. I wish these changes came around about five hours before they did.
Solatorobo is a fairly easy game. Normal enemies will rarely pose a threat, and even bosses have a hard time breaking through Red's armor. The game's dungeons consist of very simple puzzles that feel more like chores than brain teasers. A little challenge would have gone a long way towards improving this adventure.
Gameplay takes place across several floating islands. Each island features a number of potential quests that Red can take on. Completing quests earns you money and Hunter points. Hunter points will unlock certain missions that are necessary for story progression. This streamlined system helps keep things moving at a brisk pace and divides the game into nice bite sized chunks which are perfect for portable gaming. Despite a lack of difficulty, the various missions are interesting and diverse. Sometimes you'll be asked to participate in a quiz show, other times you'll have to become a manservant to a pop star, and other times you'll simply beat down some pirates. You can make it through the game by completing about half of the available missions. If you wish, you can complete the other quests at your leisure after the main quest is complete.
For those who don't want to plow straight through the story, there are a variety of side quests to keep you occupied. In addition to the aforementioned missions, there is a battle arena sub quest, music tracks to collect, artwork to unlock, fish to catch, and a surprisingly robust racing minigame called the Air Robo GP. The Air Robo GP is Mario Kart style racer featuring flying robots, collectible power ups, and a nice variety of vehicles to race with. You can play this game locally with up to four people. If it were expanded, the racing mode would be good enough to support a full game. As it stands, it's a fun diversion.
Air Robo GP
The visuals of Solatorobo are a mixed bag. The game combines 3D environments with 2D character models. Only the protagonist Red is deemed worthy of a 3D model. The effect works very well when the camera is zoomed out, but during closeups the characters look downright ugly. On the plus side, each island you visit has its own unique theme that makes the game's world seem vast. The game's story is told mainly through talking head sequences that will be familiar to fans of Namco's Tales series. The 2D drawings in these sequences are well crafted with loads of personality. There are occasional cutscenes which are impressive considering the limitations of the DS.
Characters are the strongest part of Solatorobo's package. Red is a cocky hero who is somewhat of a doofus. He has an upbeat attitude and a heart of gold. Red is something like a cross between Vyse from Skies of Arcadia and Naruto, and he's a pleasant companion for your journey. He plays well off of his supporting cast which includes his bubbly and overbearing sister Chocolat, his solemn guide Elh, and the menacing yet comical Kurvaz group who serve as the game's antagonists. Even the game's supporting cast members are memorable. Even the most minor characters have their own personalities and quirks. The great cast of characters, the strong art design, and upbeat vibe make the world of Solatorobo a joy to explore. These elements help distinguish this adventure from the games that it draws inspiration from.
One of the errrr... interesting characters you'll meet on your journey
Solatorobo has a great traditional RPG soundtrack. The game's score is full of winds, brass, pianos, the occasional organ, and it has an epic orchestral feel. The score adds the perfect amount of tension to boss battles, brings the mood down for those painful soul searching moments, and helps to capture the joy of flight. Those who buy the game now will receive a CD containing the original sound track. When I first opened the game's package I casually tossed the CD aside, but once I popped it into my computer I found myself enjoying it far more than I thought I would. Some of the tracks here are truly remarkable.
The 411
Cyber Connect 2 surely went to great lengths to secure the funding for a sequel to the incredibly obscure Tail Concerto. The sequel they created is clearly a labor of love. This love can be seen in the game's amazing score, its vibrant world, and most of all in its lovable cast. Despite some small shortcomings, exploring the world of Solatorobo was a joy. Hopefully, Cyber Connect 2's devotion to this franchise will lead to another game, because I'd love to take another trip into this charming world. If you have a DS and enjoy old school RPGs, you owe it to yourself to check out Solatorobo.
Graphics
8.0
The combination of 2D characters on a 3D plane sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but the overall art direction is strong.
Gameplay
7.7
While hurling robots into one another is fun, Solatorobo could use more difficulty and variety in its combat.
Sound
9.0
A great soundtrack inspired by RPG classics helps set this adventure feel all the more epic.
Lasting Appeal
8.5
Solatorobo has a fairly lengthy main quest, and offers up lots of optional side missions along with a couple of worthwhile minigames.
Fun Factor
8.5
The cliched but fun storyline and a genuinely likeable cast will help you overlook a couple of gameplay flaws.
