Robopon Sun, Star, And Moon Versions
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''Robopon Sun, Star and Moon Versions'' are
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role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
s for
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...
's
Game Boy Color The (GBC or CGB) is an 8-bit handheld game console developed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on October 21, 1998, and to international markets that November. Compared to the original Game Boy, the Game Boy Color features a color TFT scre ...
. Of the three games, only ''Sun'' was released in North America in December 2000 by
Atlus is a Japanese video game developer, video game publisher, publisher, Arcade game, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for the ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona (series), Persona'' ...
, while their original Japan releases were by
Hudson Soft was a Japanese video game company known for releasing numerous titles across video game consoles, home computers, and mobile phones. Headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo, it also maintained an office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. F ...
. The games focus on a boy, named Cody by default, and his adventures on his island with his robotic friends. They mostly resemble the ''Pokémon'' series of video games, but also bear similarities to the
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game ''
Robotrek ''Robotrek'', known in Japan as , is a role-playing video game (RPG) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was developed by Quintet (company), Quintet and published by Enix in both Japan and North America in 1994. Set on the ficti ...
'', published by
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(now
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).


Story

Within ''Robopon'' Sun, Star, and Moon versions, the player assumes the role of a child named Cody, whose grandpa is retiring and gives him the family business, a Robopon dispatching company. Cody travels around Porombo Island collecting Robopon and battling against the "Legend 7", the top-ranked Robopon collectors on the island. Each time Cody successfully beats one of the Legend 7, he takes his or her place in the ranking system.


Gameplay

Gameplay revolves around collecting, software upgrading, equipment swapping, and battling robotic characters in a similar manner to the ''Pokémon'' game series. To power up the Robopon, the player could add
software Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
and parts to them. Parts had varying amounts of space to store software and determined what sort of attacks the Robopon could use. For example, a Robopon could have an "Armgun" or a "Punch" part, and this software adds certain elements to the attacks. Furthermore, software could be added onto other parts, creating more powerful additions. For example, by equipping a "Thunder" software to a "Punch" part, the Robopon would be able to use "Thunderpunch". Software could also be mixed together to create special attacks - by mixing "Fire" and "Thunder" software, the Robopon would have the special move "Zapp!!". This software could also be removed. If the player did so, the attack abilities it gave the Robopon would be removed as well. Because only ''Sun'' was released in the US, not all of the original 153 Robopon were available because the others were located on the ''Star Version'' that was never produced in the ''US''. ''Robopon'' cartridges have an
Infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...
panel on their top edge that allows them to trade information using waves much like a TV or VCR remote, allowing the cartridge to react to different objects. For example, pointing a
remote control A remote control, also known colloquially as a remote or clicker, is an consumer electronics, electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operat ...
at the cartridges and pressing a button might boost the ''Robopons stats, or open a chest within the games. This feature was called the "GB Kiss". The game included over 150 different Robopon to use, with the first 2 releases and then over 168, with the release of Moon version, though some had to be upgraded, similar to ''Pokémon's'' evolution stages. The Robopon were classified as either Arm, Move, or Boot. Arm tended to have high offense, Move were fast, and Boot had the highest stats overall. Boot Robopon could not have their parts or software changed.


Japanese releases

While the USA only received the ''Sun Version'', the Japanese first had the two main releases, then nearly a year later got the ''Moon Version'' release. The Japanese version of the GB Kiss features a letter writing/sending feature, that can be accessed from the main menu, which can also send messages over the telephone. For the USA release, only the sending Robopon feature is included on the GB Kiss. These versions are also compatible with the Japanese exclusive game ''Robot Ponkottsu 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel'' with the
Nintendo 64 The (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. As the successor to the Super Nintendo E ...
's
Transfer Pak The Transfer Pak is an accessory for the Nintendo 64 (N64) controller. It features a cartridge slot compatible with Game Boy or Game Boy Color (GBC) games. When plugged into the controller's expansion port, it allows for the transfer of data bet ...
. Another version, ''Robot Ponkottsu: Comic Bom Bom Special Version'', was released in Japan on December 24, 1999.


Sequels

Two
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sequels were made; ''Robopon 2 Cross Version'' and ''Robopon 2 Ring Version'', in a manner similar to that of the release patterns of different generations of ''Pokémon'' games. These games stars Cody traveling to another island but forgetting his Robopon. Subsequently, he has to find new Robopon, but instead of catching them he has to make them by finding different types of batteries and combining them in a method known as "Sparking". The game featured four-on-four battles, where all the Robopon the player had on him would battle against four opponent Robopon. A ''Robopon'' game called '' Robot Ponkottsu 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel'' was made for the
Nintendo 64 The (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. As the successor to the Super Nintendo E ...
but was never released outside
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.


Manga

There were three manga series ''Robot Ponkots'' (ロボットポンコッツ), ''Robot Ponkots 2'' (ロボットポンコッツ2), and ''Robot Ponkots Go!'' (ロボットポンコッツ豪!) created by Hataru Tamori which were all serialized in
Comic Bom Bom was a monthly Japanese children's manga magazine published by Kodansha and aimed at elementary school boys. It was first published on October 15, 1981, and ceased publication in 2007. A web version of the magazine has been published on Pixiv Com ...
from the late 1990s to early 2000s. They are unusually risque for children's manga, as the majority of the female characters are depicted as having enormous breasts.


Reception

''Sun'' received a 7.0 from ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'', stating that it was a decent game, but played like a clone of ''Pokémon''. The game received an average review of 2 out of 5 from ''
Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninte ...
'', with one 3-star review, three 2-stars, and one 1-star.


Notes


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Robopon Sun, Star, And Moon Versions 1998 video games Atlus games Game Boy Color games Game Boy Color-only games Games with Transfer Pak support Konami franchises Monster-taming games Multiplayer and single-player video games Hudson Soft games Robopon Role-playing video games Video games about robots Video games developed in Japan