Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash

Last updated

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash
ChibiRoboZipLash3DSboxart.png
Game icon
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s)
Producer(s)
Designer(s)
  • Yuki Watanabe
  • Takamasa Saitou
Programmer(s) Hironori Ahiko
Artist(s) Akira Katsuta
Composer(s)
  • Hirofumi Taniguchi
  • Kiyoshi Hazemoto
  • Soshiro Hokkai
Series Chibi-Robo!
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: October 8, 2015
  • NA: October 9, 2015
  • EU: November 6, 2015
Genre(s) Platformer
Mode(s) Single-player

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash [a] is a 2015 side-scrolling platformer developed by Skip Ltd. and Vanpool and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fifth installment in the Chibi-Robo! series, and the second Chibi-Robo! game for the 3DS after Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder (2014). Zip Lash players control the character Chibi-Robo, a robot that is tasked with roaming the world and defending its natural resources from a fleet of invading aliens. Chibi-Robo is equipped with a cord and plug with which he can attack enemies and get to inaccessible places. Throughout the levels, the player can find collectibles such as big coins, Chibi-Tots, and snacks that are based on real-world brands.

Contents

The game is distinguishable from the previous installments in the Chibi-Robo! series, which uses elements from the adventure genre. The decision to shift genres was taken in the hope of expanding the franchise's fanbase in the US, and to assist mechanics developed for the game. Developers chose the character Chibi-Robo to create a game that suited him, as well as to be commercially successful. The snack collectibles were included into the game to give scale to Chibi-Robo and to be recognizable to the player. While wanting to further develop the character for future games, developers feared this could be the last installment of the series if sales did not meet expectations.

Zip Lash was a commercial failure and received mixed reviews from critics with praise for the visuals, sound, and overall charm but criticism for its level design, controls, and gameplay mechanics, with many calling the game unoriginal and uninspired. Zip Lash is currently the most recent game in the series and is believed to be the last, and Skip Ltd.'s dormancy has prompted speculation of its closure.

Gameplay

Chibi-Robo in the first level of the first world in the game, Oceania, preparing to launch his whip-lash at an enemy in front of him, by swinging it in circles Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Gameplay.jpg
Chibi-Robo in the first level of the first world in the game, Oceania, preparing to launch his whip-lash at an enemy in front of him, by swinging it in circles

Unlike the first three games in the series, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a side-scrolling platformer rather than an adventure platformer. The player takes control of the robot Chibi-Robo with the goal of reaching the end of the level, which is signified by an unidentified flying object (UFO). [1] : 30  Chibi-Robo has a multi-functional power cord, one of whose main functions is the Whip Lash; when using the cord he swings the plug which can be used to grab surfaces and items or to attack enemies. [2] By attaching the plug to orange surfaces on walls and ceilings, Chibi can swing or grapple with his cord to reach inaccessible places. [3] The Whip Lash can also be performed in the air; holding the action can cause the player to briefly hover. The cord's other main function is Zip Lash, in which Chibi-Robo charges up and releases the cord at a distance and ricochets of wall; [4] Zip Lash is used for puzzle solving and reaching high-up, inaccessible locations. [5] [6]

In every level, the player can collect orbs known as Boost-Balls, which are either red or blue and extend the cord; the red orbs extend Whip Lash and blue orbs extend Zip Lash. The cord's length is reset when the player completes the level. Chibi-Robo is dependent on watts, a type of power supply. Besides the plug, Chibi-Robo can also perform a roll to travel through narrow passages. While playing levels, Chibi-Robo's battery life is depleted, causing the player to restart the level if it reaches 0. [7] The player is required to recharge the battery using plug sockets that are scattered around the levels. [8]

Abilities

In addition to standard plug sockets, some levels include sockets that give Chibi-Robo elemental abilities. Red sockets allow Chibi-Robo to melt obstacles and enemies with fire and blue sockets give him the ability to freeze enemies and freeze water. [9] Other levels grant Chibi-Robo access to vehicles the player can control through a large, automated section of levels, such as a wakeboard, [7] a skateboard and a submarine. [10] [11] To help Chibi-Robo when in trouble, the player can buy a spare battery that refills the player's battery and an emergency rocket that can save the player from a bottomless pit. These items are automatically activated an can be purchased in either the Chibi-House or in vending machines found within the levels. The Chibi-Robo amiibo figure can be used within any level that grants the player "Super Chibi-Robo", a powered-up version of Chibi-Robo that has an increased battery life and maximum power-cord length. [10] [12]

Setting and collectables

In Zip Lash, the player traverses seven worlds that are represented as Oceania, North Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, the South Pole, and Asia. Each world, excluding Asia, contains six levels and a boss battle. The levels are displayed in a ring on a 2D map; the player can navigate between them via Chibi-Robo's spaceship, which is called the Chibi-House and acts as the game's hub world. The Chibi-House also allows players to purchase helpful, in-level items. The Chibi-House can also be used to increase Chibi-Robo's watts supply. [13] By collecting trash that appears in levels and returning it to the Chibi-House, the player can convert the trash into watts, which can power plug sockets in levels. The Chibi-Robo amiibo can be used in the Chibi-House, allowing the player to unlock a toy capsule machine. The player can spend in-game currency to purchase collectable figurines. [14]

At the end of each level, the player is tasked with hitting one of three UFOs that are colored bronze, silver, and gold. The color of the UFO determines the number of chances the player gets to spin the "Destination Wheel", which is the game's method of level progression. The player must spin a roulette wheel to see their next destination. Players can purchase new tiles with coins found in the level to replace some of the coins on the wheel so the player can rig the wheel to be more favorable. [5] Once the player completes all six side-scrolling levels, the world's boss battle opens up and the wheel determines the difficulty of the boss. [15]

Small, gold coins called Moolah act as the in-game currency. Levels contain collectibles: Chibi-Tots are small versions of Chibi-Robo that try to avoid the player; Big Coins are large versions of Moolah; and snacks that resemble real-world, international brands such as Utz Chips, Pocky, and Mentos. [5] [16] Snacks can be traded for costumes when the player interacts with a toy, one of which appears in each world. [17] Blue aliens that appear within completed levels require the player to return them to their UFO. If successful, the alien rewards the player with a Miiverse code for a costume for Chibi-Robo to wear. [3] [18]

Plot

Chibi-Robo is cleaning the exterior of a space station when his companion Telly reminds him to take a break. During the break, Chibi-Robo watches television and discovers many of the Earth's natural resources have vanished because of invading aliens. The pair are suddenly disturbed by a cluster of aliens, who are known as Gyorians and are traveling toward Earth. Chibi-Robo and Telly set off in the "Chibi House" to combat the alien invasion. [1] : 12  During the adventure, Chibi-Robo travels to locations across the Earth to reclaim the stolen natural resources and defeat the alien robots that guard their locations.

Chibi-Robo and Telly travel to Antarctica, where the aliens' mothership is located. Chibi-Robo destroys the mothership but a large, glowing ball escapes from the wreckage and heads toward a metropolitan city in Asia. The ball then changes into a large monster named "The Mega-Mech Menace" and starts to wreak havoc. To combat the monster, Telly and Chibi construct a giant named "Giga Chibi-Robo"; the two giants fight each other until Chibi-Robo deactivates the monster and destroys it, prompting both Chibi and Telly to return to the station. [19]

Development

Kensuke Tanabe, producer of the Chibi-Robo! series since its creation Kensuke Tanabe at E3 2013 crop 2.jpg
Kensuke Tanabe, producer of the Chibi-Robo! series since its creation

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, the fifth game in the Chibi-Robo series, was developed by Skip Ltd. with help from Vanpool, Inc. [20] Series producers Kensuke Tanabe and Hiroshi Suzuki, and series newcomer Taro Kudo produced Zip Lash, and Risa Tabata was an assistant producer and chief director in the game. [21] [22] [23] Keita Eto representing Skip Ltd. and Jun Tsuda, representing Vanpool directed the game. [24] Tsuda had worked with Tanabe on Paper Mario: Sticker Star , Dillon's Rolling Western and its sequel. [23] [25] The game's lead designers include Yuki Watanabe and Shingo Kabaya, [26] artist Akira Katsuta, [27] and programmer Hironori Ahiko. [28] Hirofumi Taniguchi is credited for being the game's sound lead; with Kiyoshi Hazemoto and Soshiro Hokkai also working on sound. [29]

Following the inability to gain a wider audience with earlier Chibi-Robo! games, developers were tasked with making a new game that could make the series more popular in the US. [21] [30] In discussions with Skip Ltd., developers were tasked with focusing on action gameplay, suggesting "getting his cord and moving it over his head". The developers did not want the gameplay to revolve around jumping, as does the Super Mario series, and instead opted to focus on the cord-and-plug aspect of Chibi-Robo's design. [23] To appeal to a wider audience, the developers decided to switch from 3D to 2D gameplay to implement the "whip and swing" mechanic suggested by Skip. Tabata stated to USGamer 3D gameplay would be more complex and they wanted the gameplay to be accessible to younger audiences. [31] Developers did not want to make to make levels too difficult for players, while adding unique gameplay elements in each levels. In the same interview, Tabata said the "whip and swing" mechanic was developed around what the mechanic could do for the player, which led to the idea of ricocheting the cord. [31] Speaking with Nintendo World Report at E3 2015, Tanabe stated they used other platforming games such as the Donkey Kong series as reference for judging terrain and level difficulty. Tabata also said Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze were used to influence camera movement in Zip Lash's levels. [23]

Both Tanabe and Tabata have expressed interest in making new games for the Chibi-Robo! series; Tabata hoped to return to the adventure-type gameplay of earlier games in the series. [31] [32] In an interview with The Verge , Tanabe said if the game did not sell well, it would be the last entry of the series. [21] According to Tanabe in 2015:

To be honest, this might be the last chance for us. I’ve continually thought about ways to build this into mainstream success, we’ve challenged ourselves in assorted ways along those lines, but I can’t say that we’ve found the answer yet. [21]

Characters and world design

Developers chose to portray the character Chibi-Robo as attractively as possible rather than creating a new character that could be commercially successful. [21] The developers wanted to look at the role of Chibi-Robo from a "different perspective", with Chibi's role being on a much-larger scale than that of earlier games; Chibi is now saving the people of the world. The game was not created with a coherent series timeline in mind, opting instead to use Citrusoft, a company established in previous games, to tie Chibi into the world. However, they still wanted to keep some of the characteristics of Chibi-Robo, such as his role as a garbage cleaner. [23] Throughout the game, Chibi interacts with a series of toys that appear within the levels. The toys were an idea of Skip Ltd., and were intended to move when people are not present; Toby, a toy airplane, was used to demonstrate the concept in the E3 demo. [23]

The idea to include real-world snack brands in the game stemmed from a need to compare the size of Chibi-Robo with the world around him. The development team wanted to include another form of collectible in the game. Risa Tabata stated developers originally considered using landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty or the Pyramids as references but it was felt the landmarks would be too big in comparison with Chibi's size. Instead, developers chose to use snacks because they are common everywhere and would make people happy to see. [23] Tanabe said a challenge of using snack brands was persuading companies to grant permission for the brand's use. For the US and European versions of the game, the respective branches of Nintendo contacted to the companies. For the Japanese version, however, Tabata was solely responsible for getting permission from more than thirty companies across the country. [16]

Promotion and release

The game's first official announcement was made during an online presentation called "Nintendo Direct Micro", an edition of Nintendo Direct that was streamed on June 1, 2015. [33] [b] The game was scheduled for release in October that year and was announced alongside an accompanying amiibo. [35] Zip Lash was later featured in Nintendo's "Digital Event" presentation for E3 2015 and a playable demo was available at Nintendo's E3 booth. [6] [36] The game was launched in Japan on October 8, 2015, and in North America the following day. [37] A demo was released in Europe later that month, [38] and the full game was released in Europe on November 6. [10]

Tabata stated the developers wanted to create an amiibo figure that would match the game. They aimed to makie the figure appear within the game and to provide the ability to save the figure's data, allowing players to build it as they wish. [21] At the game's launch outside Japan, the Chibi-Robo amiibo could only be made available by bundling it with the game. [39] In Japan at launch, and on November 30 in Europe and North America, the amiibo was sold separately and exclusively by Amazon. [40] [41] Fifty-six other Nintendo-released amiibo are compatible with the game. [42] [43]

Reception

According to review aggregator website Metacritic , Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash received "mixed reviews"; Metacritic rated it 59/100 based on 50 reviews. [44] Most critics found the game to be underwhelming and forgettable. [2] [49] Nintendo Life described the game as "fun but unexciting", noting it was a solid platformer but was quite unmemorable compared to other games of the same genre. [13]

Throughout the reviews, critics' views on the game's controls were mixed. Some reviewers said the Zip Lash mechanic is a good idea and worked well with most levels. [9] [17] [48] Others said the controls are poor, unresponsive, slow, and underused. [8] [47] Mark Brown of Pocket Gamer wrote the controls of the whip, which uses the d-pad, feel uncooperative and sluggish, saying it "lacked the finesse of other grappling hook games like Umihara Kawase and Bionic Commando ". [46]

Most critics found problems with multiple gameplay elements; many derided the Destination Wheel, saying the idea was annoying and unneeded; [2] [49] according to Destructoid the idea is pointless and the game has forced replayability, calling the concept of the "Boss Wheel" an annoyance. [15] The vehicles' pacing and respawning were criticized too, where reviewers described the gameplay as being slow and boring, and panned the sections for the lack of checkpoints that causes the entire section to be restarted. [18] [49] Game Informer's Jeff Cork said the vehicles have exaggerated momentum and awkward controls, and that they drag on for far too long. [5]

Reviewers also criticized the levels, which many said have a unique style but are generic and bland, making the game forgettable. [8] [47] Many critics said the levels' range of difficulty is inconsistent; [11] [46] VentureBeat said the game has a ranging level quality. [48] Some reviews said the game has underused the levels' surroundings and has "no real sense of scale" compared to Chibi-Robo's height. [5] [9] Eurogamer, however, said the game's platforming elements are pleasant and challenging enough for playing. [45]

While the game's mechanics received mixed responses, critics such as Peter Brown from GameSpot said it has well-designed boss battles that are visually appealing and fun to fight. [5] [11] One of the most positive aspect of Zip Lash was Chibi-Robo himself. Critics said the robot's cute appeal is a big driving force for the game and helps make most boring experiences slightly more memorable. [2] [18] This was attributed to the amiibo figure as well, with Kotaku citing it as the best part of the game and describing the figure as "cute". [13] [49]

Sales

In Japan, more than 14,000 copies of Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash were sold at launch, placing it ninth in the country's video-game sales charts in its week of release. [50] In the United Kingdom, it failed to appear in the top-40-selling 3DS games, being outsold by releases such as Mario Kart 7 . [51] Because of this, Thomas Whitehead of Nintendo Life assessed Zip Lash to be a commercial failure. [50]

Legacy

Due to Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash's critical and commercial failure, it is considered the final game in the series; [52] As of 2022, Skip Ltd. has not made any games since 2015. [53] In August 2020, it was widely speculated the company had closed down, citing evidence such as a HTTP 403 error when opening the company website, the CEO's removal of the website from his Twitter profile, and new occupation of the company's building. [54] [55]

In January 2018, Nintendo tweeted a picture of "Fiery Chibi-Robo"; Chibi-Robo being depicted on fire. [56] This led to speculation that a Nintendo Direct would follow and a new Chibi-Robo game was going to be announced. [57] The following day, a "Nintendo Direct Mini" was released without mention of a new Chibi-Robo game. The image of "Fiery Chibi-Robo" has become a meme in the Nintendo community as representation of excitement for a Nintendo Direct. [58]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Nagenawa Akushon! Guruguru! Chibi-Robo! (なげなわアクション！ぐるぐる！ちびロボ！, Lasso Action! We are Going Around! Chibi Robo!)
  2. ↑ Zip Lash was originally presented in a standard edition of Nintendo Direct in Japan the day before. [34]
  3. ↑ Score based on 50 reviews.

Related Research Articles

<i>Chibi-Robo!</i> (video game) 2005 platform-adventure video game

Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure! is a platform-adventure video game developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the GameCube console. It was released in Japan in 2005, and in North America and Europe the following year. Originally conceived as a point-and-click adventure game, it was put on developmental hold until Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto gained interest in the title and overhauled its production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skip Ltd.</span> Japanese video game developer

Skip Ltd. was a Japanese video game developer that had a close relationship with Nintendo. Nintendo published all of their Japanese releases; with the only notable exception being LOL, which skip Ltd. published independently. The company's staff included prominent developers from Square such as Kenichi Nishi and Keita Eto. In October 2019, it was reported by OneControllerPort.com that the company had changed its name to Skip Inc. the previous year and had become inactive on all social media. By August 2020, it was reported that the company may have become defunct. In March 2024, a former employee confirmed the company had shut down.

<i>Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol</i> 2007 video game

Chibi-Robo! Park Patrol is a platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo, it is the second installment in the Chibi-Robo series and the sequel to the original Chibi-Robo! for the GameCube. It was released in July 2007 in Japan, followed by a North American release the following October an exclusive to Walmart stores.

<i>Animal Crossing</i> Video game series developed by Nintendo

Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series created and published by Nintendo. The series was conceptualized and created by Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami. In Animal Crossing, the player character is a human who lives in a village inhabited by various Animated animals and can do various activities like fishing, insect catching, and fossil hunting. The series is notable for its open-ended gameplay, chill gameplay, cute dialogue, nice hourly music, and use of the video game console's internal clock and calendar to simulate real passage of time.

<i>Donkey Kong Country Returns</i> 2010 platform video game

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a 2010 platform game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii console. The game was released first in North America in November 2010, and in PAL regions and Japan the following month. The game's story focuses on an evil group of Tiki-like creatures known as the Tiki Tak Tribe that are unleashed on Donkey Kong Island and hypnotize the island's animals into stealing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's banana hoard, prompting the two to traverse the island to reclaim it.

<i>Mario Party 10</i> 2015 video game

Mario Party 10 is a 2015 party video game developed by NDcube and published by Nintendo for the Wii U video game console. It is the tenth home console release in the Mario Party series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. Featuring gameplay similar to the prior series entries, players compete against each other and computer-controlled characters to collect the most mini-stars, traversing a game board and engaging in minigames and other challenges. There are multiple game modes, including one where players traverse a board in a vehicle, sabotaging each other and making choices to collect the most mini-stars by the end. Mario Party 10 adds two modes over its predecessors: Bowser Party, where four players compete in a team against a fifth who controls Bowser on the Wii U GamePad, and Amiibo Party, where players use Amiibo figures. Their gameplay is interspersed by over 70 minigames with various play styles.

<i>Super Mario Maker</i> 2015 video game

Super Mario Maker is a 2015 platform game and game creation system developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released worldwide in September 2015. Players could create, play, and share courses online, free of charge, based on the styles of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.

Amiibo is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch video game consoles. These figurines are similar in form and functionality to that of the Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Lego Dimensions series of toys-to-life platforms. The Amiibo platform was preannounced to potentially accommodate any form of toy, specifically including general plans for future card games. Amiibo use near field communication (NFC) to interact with supported video game software, potentially allowing data to be transferred in and out of games and across multiple platforms.

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

<i>Yoshis Woolly World</i> 2015 video game

Yoshi's Woolly World is a 2015 platform game developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game is the seventh main entry in the Yoshi series of games and the first home console title in the series since 1997's Yoshi's Story, as well as the spiritual successor to 2010's Kirby's Epic Yarn. The game was released worldwide throughout 2015. A port for the Nintendo 3DS, known as Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, was released worldwide in early 2017. Both versions received generally favorable reviews, with reviewers praising the art style, gameplay, and innovation, but criticizing the easy difficulty.

<i>Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars</i> 2015 video game

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is a 2015 puzzle-platform game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. It is the sixth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series and the 200th video game featuring Mario. The game was released worldwide in March 2015 on the Nintendo eShop for all regions, and received a physical release in Japan. This is the first Nintendo-published title to support a cross-purchase concept; if players buy one version, they receive a free download code for the other version. The 3DS version is also the first Nintendo 3DS title to support Miiverse stamps.

<i>Chibi-Robo!</i> Video game series

Chibi-Robo! is a series of adventure video games developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo. The franchise follows a series of tiny robotic units known as Chibi-Robo, whose purpose is to spread "Happiness". Recurring game elements of the franchise include monitoring Chibi-Robo's battery usage at all times, and cleaning Chibi-Robo's nearby environment through a variety of methods in order to collect "Happy Points", the game's collectible representation of the happiness the players instill in others. While the primary purpose of a Chibi-Robo is to assist humans, they have also been shown to assist animals, sentient alien life, and even living toys.

<i>Metroid Prime: Federation Force</i> 2016 video game

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a 2016 cooperative first-person shooter video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Taking place after the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007), players assume the role of Galactic Federation Marines attempting to thwart the continuing advances of the Space Pirates after Samus Aran eradicated the deadly Phazon mutagen. The gameplay places a greater emphasis on the shooting mechanics and multiplayer, similar to its handheld predecessor Metroid Prime Hunters, albeit with cooperation instead of competition. It also includes a competitive soccer-based game mode known as Metroid Prime: Blast Ball.

<i>Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam</i> 2015 video game

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, known in Europe and Australia as Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros., is a 2015 role-playing video game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS console. It is the fifth installment in the Mario & Luigi series, following Dream Team (2013), and serves as a crossover between the Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario series, the latter being a cross-genre series developed by Intelligent Systems.

<i>Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge</i> 2016 video game

Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge is a 2016 puzzle-platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. The seventh entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, the game was free to download on the Nintendo eShop, but requires Nintendo's Amiibo lineup in order to play. It was released in Japan in January 2016 and worldwide in April.

<i>Paper Mario: Color Splash</i> 2016 video game

Paper Mario: Color Splash is a 2016 role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Wii U console. It is the fifth installment in the Paper Mario series, within the larger Mario franchise. The story follows Mario and his new ally Huey on a quest to save Prism Island and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser.

<i>Monster Hunter Stories</i> 2016 video game

Monster Hunter Stories is a role-playing video game developed by Capcom and Marvelous and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a spinoff title in the Monster Hunter series and features a drastically different gameplay focus. Unlike previous titles in the franchise, Monster Hunter Stories lets players take on the role of a Rider instead of a Hunter, and are able to take part in a traditional turn-based battle system. Major changes and additions featured in this title include hatching eggs and befriending monsters, battling alongside them, executing special kinship techniques, and customizing monsters' abilities and appearance. The game was released in Japan on October 8, 2016, and in North America, Europe and Australia in September 2017. Later, a high-definition mobile version of the game was released on December 4, 2017 in Japan and September 25, 2018 worldwide. The Nintendo 3DS version includes support for Amiibo figures, with a first set launching alongside the game, and a second set launching two months later. An anime series Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On is a loose adaptation of this game, and the sequel Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was released in 2021.

<i>Metroid: Samus Returns</i> 2017 video game

Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Players control series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who is contracted by the Galactic Federation to exterminate the parasitic Metroid species on their home planet of SR388. While the story and structure parallel the original game, Samus Returns features redone graphics, updated controls and user interface, and new gameplay mechanics not seen in previous 2D Metroid titles, such as a melee counterattack and the ability to aim freely at any angle.

Paper Mario is a video game series and part of the Mario franchise, developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. It combines elements from the role-playing, action-adventure, and puzzle genres. Players control a paper cutout version of Mario, usually with allies, on a quest to defeat the antagonist. The series consists of six games and one spin-off; the first, Paper Mario (2000), was released for the Nintendo 64, and the most recent, a 2024 remake of 2004's Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, for the Nintendo Switch.

<i>Dillons Dead-Heat Breakers</i> 2018 video game

Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers is a video game developed by Vanpool and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan in April 2018, with English releases in North America, Europe, and Australia the following month, with the North American version being limited as digital-only. A sequel to Dillon's Rolling Western, it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world and features Dillon, an anthropomorphic armadillo who must defend frontier villages from walking rock-like monsters. The player is included in the game's cast as their Mii avatar in the form of an "Amiimal" with added animal features from various species. It received mixed reviews from critics, who most greatly criticized its repetitiveness.

References

  1. 1 2 Nintendo staff, ed. (2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash! (instruction booklet). Nintendo of America. CTR-P-BXLP-EUR_en.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Plagge, Kallie (May 1, 2017). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Totilo, Stephen (October 13, 2015). "Nintendo's Unexpected Massively Multiplayer Puzzle-Solving Experiment". Kotaku . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ Vaughn, Aaron (October 30, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash review for Nintendo 3DS". Gaming Age. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cork, Jeff (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Nintendo's Tiny Utility Player Keeps Plugging Away". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Totilo, Stephen (June 30, 2015). "Three Very Different Upcoming Games That Impressed Me At E3". Kotaku Australia . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Hilliard, Kyle (June 16, 2015). "Chibi-Robo Doesn't Do Much Cleaning In Zip Lash". Game Informer . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Parish, Jeremy (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash 3DS Review: Lashadaisical". USgamer. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Schaller, Kevin (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Collazo, Natalie (September 17, 2015). "Chibi-Robo Strikes Again in All New Adorable Platformer". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Peter (October 9, 2015). "Chibi-Robo Zip Lash Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  12. ↑ Sampson, Aaron; Haywald, Justin (September 4, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash - Super Chibi Gameplay". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Wahlgren, Jon (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash 2015". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ Tanner, Eileen; Garcia, Eddie (October 7, 2015). "Plug in to Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, the Most Electrifying Adventure on Nintendo 3DS". Business Wire . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 Davis, Ben (October 8, 2015). "Review: Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash". Destructoid. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Metts, Jonathan; Ronaghan, Neal (June 24, 2015). "How Utz Potato Chips and Pocky Wound Up in Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Watts, Steve (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash Review: Whip-Smart". Shacknews. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Miller, Zachary (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash (3DS) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  19. ↑ Skip Ltd. (October 9, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (Nintendo 3DS). Nintendo. Telly: For a tiny little robot, you sure took on some huge challenges here. You were a real hero, sir! What a relief it is, to know the world is a more peaceful place today. Now, let's get back up to the station.
  20. ↑ Metts, Jonathan; Ronaghan, Neal (June 26, 2015). "Vanpool Teaming Up With Skip for Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Webster, Andrew (September 30, 2015). "Nintendo's cutest mascot has one last chance to be a star". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  22. ↑ Skip Ltd.
    Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Producers: Kensuke Tanabe, Taro Kudo, Hiroshi Suzuki Assistant Producer/Chief Director: Risa Tabata
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Metts, Jonathan; Ronaghan, Neal (June 29, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash Interview with Risa Tabata and Kensuke Tanabe". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  24. ↑ Skip Ltd.
    Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Directors: Jun Tsuda (Skip Co. Ltd) Directors: Keita Eto (VANPOOL, INC.,)
  25. ↑ Ronaghan, Neal (May 17, 2018). "Talking Dillon With Kensuke Tanabe, Risa Tabata, and Jun Tsuda". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  26. ↑ Skip Ltd., Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Game Design: Yuki Watanabe, Takamasa Saitou
  27. ↑ Skip Ltd.
    Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Art Director: Akira Katsuta
  28. ↑ Skip Ltd.
    Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Program Director: Hironori Ahiko
  29. ↑ Skip Ltd.
    Vanpool (October 8, 2015). Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS). Nintendo. Sound Lead: Hirofumi Taniguchi Sound: Kiyoshi Hazemoto, Soshiro Hokkai
  30. ↑ Metts, Jonathan; Ronaghan, Neal (June 22, 2015). "Why Chibi-Robo Became a Side-Scroller in Zip Lash". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  31. 1 2 3 Parish, Jeremy (September 30, 2015). "Lashing Out: A Chibi-Robo Zip Lash Q&A". USGamer . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  32. ↑ Metts, Jonathan; Ronaghan, Neal (June 23, 2015). "Never Say Never to Chibi-Robo Meeting Pikmin". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  33. ↑ Crecente, Brian (June 1, 2015). "Surprise! Nintendo just hosted a new 'micro' Nintendo Direct". Polygon . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  34. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (May 31, 2015). "Feature: The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 31st May". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  35. ↑ Kuchera, Ben (June 1, 2015). "A new Chibi-Robo! game, complete with amiibo, is coming to the 3DS". Polygon . Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  36. ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (June 22, 2015). "Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is a cute, cord-whipping adventure". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  37. ↑ Romano, Sal (June 1, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash coming west in October". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  38. ↑ Fahmy, Albaraa (October 29, 2015). "Try Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash early with its new demo on the 3DS eShop". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  39. ↑ Priestman, Chris (October 7, 2015). "Chibi-Robo amiibo will be sold in a special bundle with Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  40. ↑ Vogel, Mitch (October 20, 2015). "The Chibi-Robo amiibo is Being Sold Separately in Japan". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  41. ↑ Frank, Allegra (November 19, 2015). "Pre-order the Chibi-Robo amiibo without the game starting today". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  42. ↑ Lada, Jenni (September 4, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Works With 57 amiibo". Siliconera. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  43. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (September 5, 2015). "Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash Will Support Plenty of amiibo, Genre Given as 'Whipping Platformer'". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  44. 1 2 "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash 3DS". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  45. 1 2 Fazio, Lorenzo (November 4, 2015). "Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash - recensione. Un altro cambio d'abito per la saga di Nintendo" [Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash - review: Another change of dress for the Nintendo saga.]. Eurogamer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  46. 1 2 3 Brown, Mark (November 5, 2015). "Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  47. 1 2 3 Robertson, Andy; Harkin, Patrick; Higham, Rupert; Dring, Chris (November 8, 2015). "Games reviews roundup: Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash; Corpse Party: Blood Drive; BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend and Paris Games Week". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  48. 1 2 3 Kemps, Heidi (October 8, 2015). "Chibi-Robo Zip Lash is fun in small doses". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  49. 1 2 3 4 Totilo, Stephen (October 16, 2015). "Chibi-Robo Zip Lash: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  50. 1 2 Whitehead, Thomas (October 14, 2015). "Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash Fails to Clean Up in Japanese Charts". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  51. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (November 9, 2015). "Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash Endures Awful UK Launch as Mario Kart 7 Bundle Deals Drive It Up the Charts". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  52. ↑ Lane, Gavin (June 8, 2019). "Feature: Dormant Nintendo Franchises We'd Like To See Return On Switch". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  53. ↑ McFerran, Damien (October 22, 2019). "What's Going On With Chibi-Robo Developer Skip?". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  54. ↑ Doolan, Liam (August 5, 2020). "Has The Chibi-Robo Studio Skip Pulled The Plug On Development?". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  55. ↑ Giordano, Francesco (October 23, 2019). "Che fine ha fatto Skip, il team di sviluppo di Chibi-Robo?" [What happened to Skip, the Chibi-Robo development team?] (in Italian). Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Game Companies Respond To Nintendo Of America's "Troll" Tweet, And They're Awesome". ComicBook. January 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  57. ↑ Phillips, Tom (January 11, 2018). "Nintendo fans spent all of last night waiting on a Direct announcement". EuroGamer. Archived from the original on 2020-12-24. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  58. ↑ Gach, Kevin (January 11, 2018). "Well That Was A Weird Way To Do A Nintendo Direct". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.