Tiny Wonder Studio, the new development team behind the upcoming koROBO, has stressed that the project is very different from the Chibi-Robo series and that fans shouldn't go into it expecting a similar experience.
This comes via a new interview from our friends at VGC, during which co-directors Kenichi Nishi and Keita Eto (third co-director Hiroshi Moriyama wasn't present), alongside Hirofumi Taniguchi (music and VFX), all sat down to discuss the new game. When asked what prompted the team to create a spiritual successor to Chibi-Robo, Nishi shut down the comparison immediately.
"Before answering your question, just to make this known, after announcing the game the other day, a lot of people have referred to this game as being heavily inspired by or a heavily similar game to the Chibi-Robo series. But I think that’s just because they’re looking through these lenses that are tainted with their experience of having played Chibi-Robo. And actually, this is its own very different sort of game."
Toward the end of the interview, Nishi reiterated the team's intention to create something new, requesting that fans go into it with "a fresh pair of eyes" and not "be influenced by anything that’s come before it".
In an amusing final comment, he also highlights the fact that koROBO is not being developed in collaboration with Nintendo:
"The only thing that’s different this time around is that we’re not doing this with Nintendo, which means if we make something that’s really good, we are amazing. And if we make something that doesn’t come out as good, well hey, then Nintendo is pretty amazing."
The koROBO Kickstarter is now live if you wish to support its development. At the time of writing, it has managed to raise just over half of its £100,000 goal.
What do you make of koROBO so far? Are you pleased the team is going in a slightly different direction? Let us know your thoughts with a comment.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 15
Chibi Robo never die!
I think that's completely fair. Obviously, many, like myself, will be interested in this because of its heritage, but I think it's healthier (and you will enjoy yourself more down the road) if you take it as its own thing.
Besides, I appreciate some of their work more broadly just outside of Chibi Robo so always interested in what they are up to.
There are definitely some similarities, but at the same time there are some quite notable differences judging by the description on Kickstarter.
Regardless, I'm going to support it, fingers crossed koROBO will be good and when it comes to Chibi-Robo I hope we'll eventually see at least re-releases of it if not even a new game!
I get that the developers want fans to judge this on its own terms but it's a bit much at this point to ask that they don't approach it as a Chibi-Robo game when from the main character to the gameplay, to the story, it's as close to a Chibi-Robo game as you can get without being one.
Hopefully, as work continues, and the project gets fleshed out, it'll develop an identity all its own.
"But I think that’s just because they’re looking through these lenses that are tainted with their experience of having played Chibi-Robo. And actually, this is its own very different sort of game."
Silly gamers. Whatever gave you the idea that Small Robot Game 2 is similar to Small Robot Game 1?
The main difference is the blackjack and hookers
@Zeebor15 Eh, forget the Blackjack.
name and robot design is literally screaming chibi robo
we dont want to approach it as new chibi robo
mixed message
Lol that feels like a CYA response.
But I shall wait on reviews.
As long as the characters speak the same way they do in Skip games, I'm all for it.
I hope they adjust - or change completely - the design of the robot. It does not look half as good as Chibi-Robo.
Looks like it will reach it goal. But I hope visuals get a spruce up before release.
I was pretty hyped until I read this article. I get them wanting to do their own thing, but this is exactly like Chibi-Robo. Chibi-Robo even had a very small section where he does time travel. It's pretty stupid to pretend it's really different.
Seeing as people would do that no idea how much people will keep that in mind besides first sight/impressions. Then again many you have Yooka Laylee, Judas, Bloodstained, Azure Gunvolt or others as ex devs making similar games to what they did yeah can't not help seeing it that way.
Compared to a ex Burnout to No Man's Sky or ex Bioware to Nightingale. Some do different dramatically, others along the same lines, others probably similar LOOKING elements but fundamentally different. Which is totally fine, as long as audiences have their mindsets straight.
Unless we get an oh Banjo Nuts and Bolts eh from audiences then I blame them for wanting one thing, not actually understanding what they are making to make a different game and sigh this is why we can't have nice things and get similar games and lack originality in the space is audience push back of gameplay design I'm sick to death of seeing. But me drumming up ideas that are posted to a journo site doesn't do much or get seen by devs (obviously I know that) and most people don't have creative/critical thinking of gameplay design just what they see is cool/look cool visually as easy to understand and thought about unless they are deep into gameplay ideas.
I'm interested either way for them to change things up/make a new game even if similar looks, but isn't because it just shares a robot/family but is different entirely in other areas, whether point n click or different goals or other gameplay factors or story factors maybe.
A game can look a certain way but can always turn out different.
I'm open minded.
Chibi Robo seems cool. I hope koROBO ends up being a good game! We should get a Chibi Robo Gamecube game remaster.
I played Zip Lash on 3DS because it was only a few dollars, but I think most people think the GameCube one is better than Zip Lash so I'd want to try that one!
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...