Atomic Robo-Kid

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AtomicRoboKid MDTitleScreen.png

AtomicRoboKid MD JP title.png

Atomic Robo-Kid
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Treco
Developer:
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: UPL
Sound driver: SMPS Z80 (banked)
Genre: Action[2]

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • 日本語
  • English
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    JP
    ¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[3] T-24013
    Sega Mega Drive
    US
    $49.9549.95[5] T-24016
    Non-Sega versions

    Atomic Robo-Kid (アトミック・ロボキッド) is a Sega Mega Drive shoot-'em-up game developed by Khaos and published by Treco. A port of the titular 1988 UPL arcade title Atomic Robo-Kid, the game was first released in Japan in December 1990, and was later released in the United States in February of the following year.

    Story

    Earth outpost colony Terra-12 has been bombarded from space with strange radiation. The radiation is hideously mutating all of the transplanted life on the colony, and a fleet of hostile aliens has the radiation wave and invaded the planet. The small battle robot called the Atomic Robo-Kid is tasked with saving the colony. Along the way, Robo-Kid learns that he must find and rescue Eve, a female biodroid who has the ability to cure the mass mutations.

    Gameplay

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Merchant.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Store.png

    The Merchant

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, CPU.png

    The CPU

    The game is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up in which the player controls the elephantine battle robot Atomic Robo-Kid against an alien invasion. Stages do not scroll automatically, as they do in most shoot-'em-up games. Stages consist of battling through hordes of enemies to reach the portal at the end, which is usually defended by a larger enemy. Most portals lead to another stage, but some portals lead to a fight against a massive alien "governor," which is followed by a duel against another robot resembling Robo-Kid. After these fights, Robot-Kid converses with the "CPU" and receives more information about his mission. Some stages end with multiple portals, giving the player the choice over which zone to enter next.

    Robo-Kid initially cannot fly but powers up his thrusters upon picking up one of the two unmarked red crystals at the beginning of the first stage. While on the ground, he can jump with B or take off with Up. While flying, he can move in any direction using the D-Pad (and faces left or right depending on which direction he was last moved in). He lands again when he touches the ground. Robo-Kid shoots with A. Unlike most shoot-'em-ups, he can shoot both forwards and backwards depending on which direction he is facing. He can lock the direction he faces by holding B, which also locks the direction of fire. Robo-Kid can collect four special weapons. The first power-up picked up replaces his default weapon; subsequent weapons are added to its arsenal and can be cycled through by pressing B while flying.

    A friendly robot resembling a dinosaur, called "the Merchant," appears in some stages. The player can choose destroy this robot, but if it approaches Robo-Kid, they begin to talk, and the player is taken to a store to purchase weapons and shields. Every item costs an extra life to purchase.

    Robo-Kid is destroyed by a single hit from an enemy projectile. Colliding with an enemy knocks him back but does not destroy him. He can acquire shields that act as hit points by collecting power-ups. These shields go up when he takes a hit, protecting him from destruction, and Robo-Kid can have as many as three shields at a time. When destroyed, Robo-Kid restarts the stage at a predetermined checkpoint if the player has extra lives left, losing the equipped weapon. The game ends if the player runs out of lives but can be continued for a credit. There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Hard), which affect the number of starting lives and credits.

    Weapons

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons, Laser.png

    Laser
    Shoots a light laser. This is the starting weapon, which becomes unavailable as soon as another weapon is obtained.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons, Fission Gun.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons.png
    Fission Gun
    Shoots a heavy laser that penetrates through targets.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons, Missile.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons.png
    Missile
    Fires missiles that explode in an area after striking a target. The missiles travel about half the width of the screen and can be aimed in eight directions by holding the D-Pad while firing (regardless of which direction Robo-Kid is facing). They neutralize enemy projectiles upon impact. Missiles do heavy damage but have a slow rate of fire.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons, 3-Way.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons.png
    3-Way
    Shoots three lasers in a spread, one straight ahead and the others angled 45-degrees up and down. The lasers travel the full distance of the screen. This weapon has a very fast rate of fire.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons, 5-Way.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Weapons.png
    5-Way
    Shoots a short-ranged blast of five stacked lasers. These lasers travel about half the width of the screen.

    Items

    Crystals can be shot to change them into a different item.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Special.png
    Fly
    These non-hostile robots can be destroyed to release an item.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Atomic Engines
    Collect at the beginning of the game to give Robo-Kid the ability to fly with Up.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Fission Gun
    Acquires the Fission Gun weapon.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Missile
    Acquires the Missile weapon.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    3-Way
    Acquires the 3-Way weapon.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    5-Way
    Acquires the 5-Way weapon.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Shields
    Collect 4 to gain a shield that automatically activates when taking otherwise fatal damage. Robo-Kid can have as many as 3 shields at a time.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Speed-Up
    Increases Robo-Kid's movement speed, up to 4 times.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Items.png
    Rensha
    Enables rapid-fire by holding A.
    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Special.png
    Portal
    Enter a portal to be transported to another stage.

    Stages

    The ends of Acts 2, 9, and 16 have two portals, giving the player a choice of the next stage to play. The decision does not affect any stages after that.

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 1.png

    Act 1

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 2.png

    Act 2

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 3A.png

    Act 3A

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 3B.png

    Act 3B

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 4-1.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 4-2.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 4-1.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 4-2.png

    Act 4

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 5.png

    Act 5

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 6.png

    Act 6

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 7.png

    Act 7

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 8-1.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 8-2.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 8-1.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 8-2.png

    Act 8

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 9.png

    Act 9

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 10A.png

    Act 10A

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 10B.png

    Act 10B

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 11.png

    Act 11

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 12-1.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 12-2.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 12-1.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 12-2.png

    Act 12

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 13.png

    Act 13

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 14.png

    Act 14

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 15-1.png

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 15-2.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 15-1.png

    • Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 15-2.png

    Act 15

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 16.png

    Act 16

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 17A.png

    Act 17A

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 17B.png

    Act 17B

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 18.png

    Act 18

    Atomic Robo-Kid MD, Stage 19.png

    Act 19

    Versions

    The Mega Drive version appears more zoomed out than the arcade original and lacks a time limit for stages.

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Atomic Robo-Kid/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: Atomic Robo-Kid/Promotional material.

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    70
    [6]
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    85
    [7]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    68
    [8]
    Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
    82
    [9]
    The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
    82
    [10]
    Cool Gamer (RU)
    20
    [11]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    77
    [12]
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    65
    [13]
    Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
    53
    [14]
    Génération 4 (FR)
    76
    [15]
    Famicom Hisshoubon (JP) NTSC-J
    50
    [16]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    60
    [17]
    Joystick (FR)
    84
    [18]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
    56
    [19]
    Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    62
    [20]
    Mega (UK) NTSC
    60
    [21]
    MegaTech (UK) NTSC
    82
    [22]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK)
    82
    [23]
    Power Play (DE)
    69
    [24]
    Sega Power (UK) NTSC
    50
    [25]
    Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
    37
    [26]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    51
    [27]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    58
    [28]
    VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
    70
    [5]
    Sega Mega Drive
    65
    Based on
    24 reviews

    Atomic Robo-Kid

    Mega Drive, JP
    AtomicRoboKid MD JP Box.jpg
    Cover
    AtomicRoboKid MD JP CartTop.jpg
    AtomicRoboKid MD JP Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Atomicrobokid md jp manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, US
    AtomicRoboKid MD US Box.jpg
    Cover
    AtomicRoboKid MD US Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Atomic Robo Kid MD US Manual.pdf
    Manual

    Technical information

    Main article: Atomic Robo-Kid/Technical information.

    References

    Necretro-round.svg
    NEC Retro has more information related to Atomic Robo-Kid Special
    1. http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Micronics/Khaos
    2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
    3. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1990" (JP; 1990-02-08), page 6
    4. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/rlm4yIWUvN0/m/72MblPjly14J
    5. 5.0 5.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 76
    6. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 22
    7. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 114
    8. Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-XX), page 24
    9. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 27
    10. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 44
    11. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 176
    12. Computer & Video Games, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-16), page 79
    13. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 20
    14. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-1x-xx), page 1
    15. Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 95
    16. Famicom Hisshoubon, "1990-20, 21 (1990-10-19, 11-02)" (JP; 1990-10-05), page 17
    17. Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 42
    18. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 124
    19. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
    20. Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
    21. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 87
    22. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
    23. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
    24. Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 150
    25. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
    26. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
    27. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
    28. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 16


    Atomic Robo-Kid

    AtomicRoboKid MDTitleScreen.png

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