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Puzzle Bots is an indie point-and-click adventure game made by Erin Robinson. The game is also a contender in the PAX 10; The Penny Arcade Expo's ten showcased indie titles.
In as few words as possible, Puzzle Bots feels like old episodes of The Magic School Bus crossed with Toy Story. The game takes place in a lab where four scientists create the titular Puzzle Bots. These characters take up the majority of the narrative real estate, while the Bots are the characters players will control.
Read the full review after the jump.
At the beginning, there is only one playable Bot. More robots come into play as the story progresses. Each Bot has a unique ability that will let them solve specific puzzles. For example, the first robot has the ability to pick thing up; letting him use keys to unlock doors. Another Bot can set things on fire, another can swim, and so on.
After a tutorial level with each robot, the game throws the Bots into a much more in-depth task. These puzzles require use of each Bot in order to advance in the game. There are also eight objects hidden throughout the game which will unlock concept art and an outtake real if players find them all.
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The story is told in cutscenes between the game's stages. The scenes are primarily about the four (later five) scientist characters and their boss. The fully voiced characters aren't necessarily fleshed out, often relying on traditional stereotypes, but they each have several funny one-liners throughout the story.
The divide between the playable Bots and the characters does create an interesting story. The scientists fail to realize the shenanigans the Bots get into -much like how Toy Story's Andy doesn't realize his Woody and Buzz Lightyear are cognitive beings- and it leads to some really fun level design. The puzzles weren't particularly hard, but they were fun and clever and led to an enjoyable experience.
Puzzle Bots is available here and it's worth checking out if you're into adventure games. It's got more than enough charm to take you from beginning to end.
The Official Verdict: 4 out of 5
This review is based on a copy of the game provided by the publisher.
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