With apologies to the song, Ballroom Blitz, but this seemed like a natural …

“And the droid in the back said
Time to attack and it turned into a RoboBlitz
And the NEOD in the corner said
Bot, I wanna warn ya, it'll turn into a RoboBlitz”

It is such an innocuous little title, downloadable and simple in design. A somewhat short game, RoboBlitz, from Naked Sky Entertainment, is very much a directed experience. You have a robot named, imagine this, Blitz. He, or it, is on a space station that suddenly comes under attack from the megaNOED and its metallic cohorts. The station is disabled and Blitz needs to go from level to level to power up the big gun to repel the invaders.

Ok, the story is nothing new, and even the puzzles that this game features are not overly innovative or fresh. However, RoboBlitz is a wonderful visual treat that plays very well, has challenge, and is entertaining from the opening sequence.

Built on the Unreal 3 engine, the game is a lush, three-dimensional romp that is not only a shooter but also doubles as a game that tests cognitive as well as reflexive prowess. There are six areas to work through, and up to three challenges on each level.

The game also has some moments of obviousness that are a slight grin, certainly, on the part of the developer. If you want better weapons, you need to collect Upgradium. The weapons go from the simplistic arm-spinning attacks to jumping and pounding targets with barrels you have had Blitz pick up, to homing fireworks that hit targets, zoom them up into the air and destroys them in a shower of sparkling 4^th of July-style fireworks. You do have a voice telling you what you need to do next. There are plenty of enemies, but not all rely on you using your arsenal of weapons.

In an early level, you encounter a NOED that is floating above a bed of molten something (metal or otherwise). This is blocking the barrels needed to continue to power up the Space Cannon. You have to destroy the NOED, but it seems to shrug off your various weapons’ fire. What is needed (yep, hints are available, but can be disabled) is to pick up the barrels, which explode when in the molten bed, and then spin throw them to a point beneath the NOED. They go boom and weaken the NOED.

Although the levels are arcade-like in design, that does not stop the game from being mindless. Nope, there are touches of humor sprinkled throughout the game. Leave Blitz unattended for a few minutes and he will start spinning around to look at you before finally collapsing in a heap, dead asleep.

Much like the linearity of the program, how you solve problems is very specific. You must move this barrel or that, to open up a new area, then go to point B to trigger the way to the next step. The missions are graded out not only on the kills and Upgradium you collect but timed as well. But while you do have to solve the puzzles in a certain manner, some latitude is given to enable you to be a bit creative in how you accomplish the task.

Tied to the whole gameplay mechanic is a control scheme that is simple and has a very minor learning curve. And the game’s physics are top-drawer. You can’t push a heavy load as well as you can pull it, and environmental elements will play havoc on navigation at times.

The look of the game is wonderful. The Unreal 3 engine is wonderfully utilized in this title, rendering out a game that is, for lack of a better word, gorgeous. And in the version that GZ received, there was an Unreal 3 editor attached. You can have a lot of fun with it and even advance the look of Blitz.

The sound is a solid adjunct to the visuals and help propel the game along.

If there is a downside to the game, it is the actual game length. The FPS moments are standard but the real fun of the game comes in exploring the station and figuring out the puzzles.

Now here is the real caveat of this title – it retails for $14.95.

Ok, the game does not break any barriers when it comes to the story or game elements, particularly the shooter elements, but taken as a whole, this is a wonderful little game that is worth the price tag and one of the better-looking PC games to come along in a while.

Gameplay: 7.8
A minor learning curve, and some stock FPS elements in a linear game experience, still the game is easy to jump into and play. The overall length of the game is much too short, though.

Graphics: 8.8
Some of the elements are a bit disappointing, like the lava, but this is still a remarkable visual experience.

Sound: 8.0
Fun, light and a great support for the visuals

Difficulty: Easy
While the game requires you to think and then react, there is nothing here that is overly challenging.

Concept: 7.0
Linear and nothing too innovative in terms of level designs or the FPS elements, but still this game does succeed at entertaining.

Overall: 8.3
It’s short, but it is a delicious bit of eye candy and rather fun to play. The price tag is a gift for a game that looks like this does. RoboBlitz is easy to play and a delightful little game. Give props to Naked Sky for a job well done.