I've been checking in on Sonic Robo Blast 2 since the early 2000s. It's one of those "computer lab games" that I always tried to stealthily play during class instead of actually learning anything, and the negative trajectory my life took thanks to Sonic the Hedgehog is due in part to fighting with Robo Blast 2's squirrely controls when I should've been preparing for the future. It's fine. If I get an F on this paper I'll speed thok my teacher directly in the nose.
I'm all growed up now, a fully formed man of 30-something years, and yet Sonic Robo Blast 2, which has been in development since 1998 and is recognized as the first 3D Sonic fan game, is still getting updates. The game isn't even complete yet, but it's practically an institution in itself within the fangame community. There are whole mods that build on top of Robo Blast 2 which could be considered games in their own right, like the more recent SRB2Kart. Somehow, after all these years, Sonic Robo Blast 2 is more accomplished than I am, and I'm a wholeass real human being. Incredible stuff.
Robo Blast 2 is constantly evolving and changing shape, and version 2.2 (which released back in 2019) is one of the most extensive overhauls the game has ever received. Whole zones have been rebuilt, new acts and enemies have been added, slopes have been introduced, and new menus give the game a sharper looker. This all results in a far more polished and cohesive experience than previous versions, though some zones feel a little too indulgent and as a result, they drag on a bit too long. Castle Eggman has a lot of interesting gimmicks, but both acts feel like running a marathon, and Egg Rock's challenging platform sequences start to wear thin given how much zone there is.
However, none of these zones are difficult to navigate, and jumps over bottomless pits are generally easy to negotiate thanks to Robo Blast 2's tight controls, which at times feel better than some of Sonic Team's own titles. Even the special stages, which are modeled after NiGHTS into Dreams, feel better to play than the games they're aping.
These motherfuckers must've taken all their online courses at Westwood College, because the controls aren't the only thing that have been tightened up between versions. Graphically, 2.2 is Robo Blast 2 at its peak. It reminds me somewhat of the ill-fated Sonic X-Treme with its clash of 2D sprites against 3D environments, and mechanically it very much feels like a sort of bridge between what would have been had Chris Senn not been driven to the brink of death and the Adventure games, which did not drive Yuji "three hots and a cot" Naka to the brink of death. Anyway, listen to Deep Sea Zone's theme, which is a real jam. Love a good water level track, and this one is up there! Game looks good, sounds good, feels good too.
Robo Blast 2 is surprisingly lengthy, with huge zones, tons of secrets, unlockable levels, and alternate routes that provide a hefty amount of replay value. That's not even getting into all the add-ons and mods that fans have been pumping out over the years. Despite its robustness, it is still an incomplete game, and I'm not in the habit of rating stuff that's in development. I have no idea what version 2.3 will look like, or version 2.5, 2.8, or 3.0. Robo Blast 2 has been kicking around for over twenty years, and in that time there's been a number of constants and an even greater number of variables. This current version is a must play for anyone who enjoys Sonic the Hedgehog and indulges in fan content, and even if you don't, then I think it's still worth checking out to appreciate the effort put in by an incredibly dedicated and hard-working community.
I'm all growed up now, a fully formed man of 30-something years, and yet Sonic Robo Blast 2, which has been in development since 1998 and is recognized as the first 3D Sonic fan game, is still getting updates. The game isn't even complete yet, but it's practically an institution in itself within the fangame community. There are whole mods that build on top of Robo Blast 2 which could be considered games in their own right, like the more recent SRB2Kart. Somehow, after all these years, Sonic Robo Blast 2 is more accomplished than I am, and I'm a wholeass real human being. Incredible stuff.
Robo Blast 2 is constantly evolving and changing shape, and version 2.2 (which released back in 2019) is one of the most extensive overhauls the game has ever received. Whole zones have been rebuilt, new acts and enemies have been added, slopes have been introduced, and new menus give the game a sharper looker. This all results in a far more polished and cohesive experience than previous versions, though some zones feel a little too indulgent and as a result, they drag on a bit too long. Castle Eggman has a lot of interesting gimmicks, but both acts feel like running a marathon, and Egg Rock's challenging platform sequences start to wear thin given how much zone there is.
However, none of these zones are difficult to navigate, and jumps over bottomless pits are generally easy to negotiate thanks to Robo Blast 2's tight controls, which at times feel better than some of Sonic Team's own titles. Even the special stages, which are modeled after NiGHTS into Dreams, feel better to play than the games they're aping.
These motherfuckers must've taken all their online courses at Westwood College, because the controls aren't the only thing that have been tightened up between versions. Graphically, 2.2 is Robo Blast 2 at its peak. It reminds me somewhat of the ill-fated Sonic X-Treme with its clash of 2D sprites against 3D environments, and mechanically it very much feels like a sort of bridge between what would have been had Chris Senn not been driven to the brink of death and the Adventure games, which did not drive Yuji "three hots and a cot" Naka to the brink of death. Anyway, listen to Deep Sea Zone's theme, which is a real jam. Love a good water level track, and this one is up there! Game looks good, sounds good, feels good too.
Robo Blast 2 is surprisingly lengthy, with huge zones, tons of secrets, unlockable levels, and alternate routes that provide a hefty amount of replay value. That's not even getting into all the add-ons and mods that fans have been pumping out over the years. Despite its robustness, it is still an incomplete game, and I'm not in the habit of rating stuff that's in development. I have no idea what version 2.3 will look like, or version 2.5, 2.8, or 3.0. Robo Blast 2 has been kicking around for over twenty years, and in that time there's been a number of constants and an even greater number of variables. This current version is a must play for anyone who enjoys Sonic the Hedgehog and indulges in fan content, and even if you don't, then I think it's still worth checking out to appreciate the effort put in by an incredibly dedicated and hard-working community.
DeemonAndGames
5 months ago