Chibi-Robo! Review

By Mathew Kumar Published 15 March, 2006

He cleans up real good.

Version tested: GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube has to be one of the poorest wee souls of gaming. Despite hosting some of the best games seen on any system, I imagine that by now anyone with a GameCube has relegated it to doorstop status, with only the mildest of worries about an unstopped door swinging in the wind when The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is released. With even the Dreamcast somehow scraping a steady stream of high quality, largely exclusive shoot-'em-up titles in Japan over four years since the end of it's production, it's depressing to see nothing but a dribble of off cuts from multi-platform franchises lining the release schedule for the GameCube.

This makes something like Chibi-Robo an almost astonishing surprise. The kind of title that not only makes it imperative that you plug your GameCube back in months before you'd planned to, and well before you'd bought that replacement doorstop (insert defunct platform of choice here), it's a title that engrosses you to the point where you have an almost gleeful disregard for your now dangerously ajar door. Because you have a new home in which to worry about things like that. The home of the Sandersons.

'Chibi-Robo!' Screenshot 1

A thinly veiled nod to Buzz Lightyear - the game does, at points, feel like a really great Toy Story game.

The Sandersons are your typical all-American family; typical, that is, from the viewpoint of a Japanese design team (reference points: Katamari Damacy, Mr. Moskeeto). The father, known only as Mr. Sanderson, is unemployed and sleeping on the couch due to an argument with Mrs. Sanderson, his put-upon housewife, over the gift he bought their disturbed, frog-obsessed daughter Jenny for her birthday. You.

As hotly debated birthday gift Chibi-Robo, it's your task to heal these rifts within the family through a life of servitude to your new human masters. With the tight leash of your continually decreasing battery power, recharged from helpfully placed power outlets, you explore the huge Sanderson homestead (well, huge from the viewpoint of a four-inch-tall robot) cleaning their surfaces and disposing of their rubbish to 'spread the happiness', as your slightly irritating companion and manager Telly Vision tells you.

Telly Vision acts as the player's occasional tutorial and voice, with Chibi-Robo remaining steadfastly quiet, but thankfully he very rarely interrupts gameplay with nuggets of wisdom, though he does repeat himself extensively. He is most useful at the end of each day/night cycle when he recharges Chibi-Robo and re-evaluates his 'Chibi Ranking'. A ranking system that allows Chibi-Robo to increase his battery life, coming first in the rankings would bestow the title of 'Super Chibi-Robo'. Starting at the lowly ranking of one millionth, with the difficulty of improving in rank near-exponential, it takes a while to get there, as does seeing all of the Sanderson household, with Chibi-Robo needing to gain helpful items and create 'Utilitibots' to help him explore.

'Chibi-Robo!' Screenshot 3

Collecting frog rings to give to Jenny (who speaks only in ribbits) is only one of many sub-quests.

The closest comparison to Chibi-Robo is the Harvest Moon series, and it's likely that the description of domestic toil is as much a turn-off to the average gamer as the frantic farm work found in the Harvest Moon titles is. But much like the way the Harvest Moon titles turn something that sounds boring into something truly unmissable with bags of charm, Chibi-Robo transcends even that with a world that is truly unforgettable.

At night, or when the humans aren't looking, the toys in the Sanderson household have their own active lives that Chibi-Robo can help in his adventures, getting involved in events that pan out like miniature plays, with love triangles (nay, love dodecahedrons) between toys, and some scenes with a real pathos behind them. It's honestly one of the most touching games I've played in ages, and it's these scenes, with Chibi-Robo as a quiet, passive observer, that make it so heartbreaking when your time in his world comes to an end.

Not that this happens too quickly. It's entirely up to the player how much of the home to explore and how much to do as each day passes, and, indeed, the player can choose to lengthen the days and nights from five minutes to ten or fifteen should they wish a more leisurely pace, and you could choose to spend days simply cleaning the house, entirely unconcerned with the main plot or the many sub-quests on offer. And while these cleaning tasks may seem menial and dull, they and the entire game are infused with a beautiful sort of musicality - scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush plays an acoustic guitar part that matches perfectly in tempo, and the sound of Chibi-Robo running across the varied surfaces is a cornucopia of different tones and sounds. It feels like the seed of a new way of using music in games.

'Chibi-Robo!' Screenshot 4

As you can see in this spoileriffic image, the game includes not only pirates but a squad of militant eggs called the 'Free Rangers'. What's not to like?

Not to say that Chibi-Robo is without problems. Much like another groundbreaking title, Ico, it's marred with a camera that can often be unhelpful (though with some C-stick usage can be reined in), and combat that feels entirely unnecessary. A subplot featuring the evil 'Cybogz' is a nice riff on ridiculous 'extreme' children's toys, but much like Ico's shadows, the combat is messy and uninteresting. Neither is Chibi-Robo particularly difficult; much more an 'experience' than a gaming challenge.

Chibi-Robo is, quite possibly, the best game I've played this year. While it's not for everyone, those who are willing to look past what they could consider childish graphics, and an obsession with housework that's nearly as strong as your mum's, will find a title with as much heart as there is fun wrapped up into a four-inch-tall bundle. Chibi-Robo doesn't deserve to be relegated to being a mere cult hit. Buy a new doorstop.

8 / 10

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About Mathew Kumar

Read more articles from Mathew by visiting the Mathew Kumar archive page.

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Comments (42) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Hunam85 #1 6 years ago

    Hmm, higher rating than i expected, might give it a look

  • SirScratchalot #2 6 years ago

    I want this. Think weīll be able to buy it in the EU?

  • Bezzy #3 6 years ago

    Wow. Never heard a damn thing about this until now. It's on my list.

  • Teeth #4 6 years ago

    "Euro Release" - yeah, I reckon :)

    Lemme check the release date.

  • Teeth #5 6 years ago

    There you go

    26/5/06

  • SirScratchalot #6 6 years ago

    Oi! Damn you and your reading skills!
    This review screamed import for some reason...

  • mcmonkeyplc #7 6 years ago

    Better than GRAW then

    :p

  • SirScratchalot #8 6 years ago

    Itīs got similiar scores from both 1up and EDGE. Itīs defo a very good game with grades going from 8 and up in the reviews Iīve seen.
    Games donīt HAVE to have guns in them to be good.

  • groovychainsaw #9 6 years ago

    Too little too late im afraid nintendo, sold my gamecube before xmas - I only hope one day that you get back to the levels of support you had around the snes, because I do like your games, but there are more games I want to play on other consoles, simple as that.

  • Teeth #10 6 years ago

    Another triumph for Nintendo Of Europe

  • Pinchy #11 6 years ago

    God bless nintendo and their stubborn non-conformity

    /awaits chibi-robo: underground

  • Blerk #12 6 years ago

    This will be my first Cube game of the year. And looking at the rapidly retreating Zelda release date... possibly my last.

  • Teeth #13 6 years ago

    Sadly, we seem not to be getting the developer's earlier game, Gift(o)pia, here in the West.

  • krudster #14 6 years ago

    Apologies for the error, the score is, in fact, 8. My error!

  • walledcity #15 6 years ago

    gotta love the cube. i'd say the best of the cube is easily equal to the best of the other two. when you can get a cube and a copy of metroid for about Ģ40 these days, well you'd be mad not to. looking forward to chibi robo loads, this nutty feudal japan giant pinball thing odama looks worth a look too

  • Fubdub #16 6 years ago

    The only thing that's keeping me from getting a cube is that I have so many games on my too play list and not enough time:(

  • Kiigan #17 6 years ago

    I'm delighted this is getting a release here. Hooray! Along with Odama and Zelda, I still have a reason to keep my GC.

  • jellyhead #18 6 years ago

    EU release in May, yay!
    Gives my wallet a chance to recover after this months impulse buying. :(

  • bionutz #19 6 years ago

    Yes, I'll buy it then!

  • Floppy #20 6 years ago

    "Games donīt HAVE to have guns in them to be good."

    Chibi-Robo has a gun :) Although, thankfully it's no twitch-a-thon fps.
    Edited by 1 at 15/03/06 @ 15:25

  • ChrisS #21 6 years ago

    Yeah, it's great. Good to see EG giving it a good score. I went one higher with my review a week or so ago.

  • kuwagata #22 6 years ago

    @ Teeth, play.com has Giftpia on their 'coming soon' list, down for release on 1st July ... possibly an error on their part (the box art looks Japanese, although I'm sure I've seen a PAL version somewhere else)

  • smelly #23 6 years ago

    YAY Sounds ace!

    Yet another bwilliant game on the cube.

    Personally i dont mind the lack of games on the cube, as it seems that when one does come along its great. If you look at the other 2's games, and ignore all the tripe, I reacon you'd see just as long between releases of games.

  • kangarootoo #24 6 years ago

    "Games donīt HAVE to have guns in them to be good"

    Amen to that.

  • Chtulie #25 6 years ago

    When games go non-violent is when they become most interesting. As one can be pretty sure whatever shooting or punching a game might offer, one has already done. A lot.

  • smelly #26 6 years ago

    Actually im quite shocked that no fanboys have turned up on this thread (they must all be into gun games and endless racers)..

    Regardless of which.. Well done people!

  • Dirtie #27 6 years ago

    To be honest I haven't picked up this game since my first session playing. A house actually caught fire down the road when I was playing it, so I am of the opinion that this game is cursed.

  • #28 6 years ago

    What's a Gamecube?

  • lucky_jim #29 6 years ago

    Gotta love the Cube... I know it doesn't (didn't?) have enough games to appeal to a lot of people, but some of my favourite games of this gen have been cube titles. Wind Waker was my first Zelda, so I loved it regardless of what were probably valid unfavourable comparisons to earlier Zeldas. Paper Mario was really charming, as is Pikmin. The thing is about these games is that while I can understand people dismissing them as childish, I'd argue that they're childish in the same way that say, The Incredibiles (movie) is rather than childish like the game version (i.e. patronising).

    Chibi-Robo might look like a childish game, but I'm all for that: if (like the other games I mentioned) it makes me feel the same kind of glee, and enjoyment in its sheer daftness, that most games used to do when I *was* a child. I'd be gutted if games lost that for good.

    I DO enjoy "mature" stuff like GTA, Halo or Burnout as well, but I'm glad to make time for childish things. Just my tuppence worth, although I suspect I've taken the "speak your brain" button too literally...

  • Vulpes #30 6 years ago

    "I imagine that by now anyone with a GameCube has relegated it to doorstop status"

    I've got to say, my 'cube has been getting quite the workout lately. Obviously, as you say, there's nothing out recently that's worth mentioning (Mario Smash Football comes out in April here in Aus), but I've recently had the chance to go back and pick up a few of the games I missed out on the first time around. RE4, Metal Gear Solid TS... it's been fantastic. I'll be picking Metroid Prime 2 up soon. I'm still convinced that the 'cube has had the best games of the current generation, sales be damned.

  • Teeth #31 6 years ago

    kuwagata: "Teeth, play.com has Giftpia on their 'coming soon' list, down for release on 1st July ... possibly an error on their part (the box art looks Japanese, although I'm sure I've seen a PAL version somewhere else)"

    Hey man, thanks. Actually I've had it on pre-order from Play for perhaps a year. Whenever it was first posted anyway. It was going to be mid-last-year but they keep pushing the release back and Nintendo of Europe told me (when I emailed them) that they have not got the game on their release schedule.

    I leave the preorder on there, though. I live in hope. Each day I light a stick of incense, and contemplate the world as it would be if this simple wish were granted.

  • Talha #32 6 years ago

    Wow. For the first time in my entire life, I wish I could play a GC game. This sounds interesting, quirky, weird, just the sort of thing that SHOULD grace the Revolution games of Ninty hopes for Revo to put up a good fight against the Other Two. Pity I don't have a GameCube - perhaps they will release a PS2 version a year from now... here's hoping

  • reality_cheque #33 6 years ago

    Dammit, why didn't this get announced before the last weekend when I sold my GC :(

    This looks like a bit of a giggle, and you can't go wrong with a game that has both robots AND pirates.

  • ED209 #34 6 years ago

    "and you can't go wrong with a game that has both robots AND pirates."

    A common misconception. It has to be robotic pirates.

  • reality_cheque #35 6 years ago

    A common misconception. It has to be robotic pirates"

    That would make it difficult to have Robot vs Pirate battles, as both contestants would fall in both categories.

  • Tonka #36 6 years ago

    Chibi-Robo May 26
    Odama March 31

    Two games I won't buy without reading some reviews.
    What i've read so far about Chibi-Robo makes me want it.

    Where's the Odama review?

  • MrCarrot #37 6 years ago

    A common misconception. It has to be robotic pirates"

    That would make it difficult to have Robot vs Pirate battles, as both contestants would fall in both categories.

    But robot pirates vs monkeys would still be a possibility; throw in some /\/\0t0rb1k3s and/or jetpaks and you're onto a winner.
    Edited by 1 at 16/03/06 @ 16:48

  • dk_rare #38 6 years ago

    The NGC breaks Eurogamers 6/10 rating spree ^_^

  • coxyefc #39 6 years ago

    seems like a typical Nintendo game, might purchase it.

  • Duckers #40 6 years ago

    I've just bought Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, NFS: Most Wanted, and Mario Smash Football, and I thought they were all great buys.
    The point that I'm tryin' to make here is that my Cube is one of my most valued possessions, and I totally disagree with the 'doorstop' thing.
    I mean, caaaaam aaan!

  • Chtulie #41 6 years ago

    Been playing this for quite some time since I got it only yesterday.
    Getting into it further and further...it brings to mind Psychonauts. It's definatly very diffirent, certainly. But there's a surprising ammount of emotional depth and intelligence to the whole thing.
    Bring more of these on I say. I can't be arsed anymore to save the world/civilisation/universe from another boring ultimate evil. But helping characters deal with deeply rooted emotional troubles in psychonauts or helping a family keep it together during troubled times in chibi robot, those are things I 1) haven't done before in a game properly, 2) something that can be incredibly well examined through the abstractisations games allow.

  • Teeth #42 6 years ago

    It's superb. Great summary. The family's hardships really show through in many ways, and it's really... you really feel like a part of it all. It's pretty special.

    Unfortunately the unskippable text will become an annoyance. For me, it's something I can bear, as I'm incredibly dull of mind and watching words appear on the screen alongside gibberish noises is something I can abide :)