News
XSEED Games Talks Customization and Robo Progression in Solatorobo Red the Hunter
In anticipation of this month’s release of the Nintendo DS
action RPG, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, XSEED Games is
delivering players further details regarding the game’s highly
customizable mechanized Robos. In the game, players are given
the option to choose what abilities they would like to focus on
– be it attack, defense, mobility, etc. – through an intricate
yet straightforward customization interface.
In Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, players take on the role of Red
Savarin, a young, hot-headed adventurer who is inadvertently
thrown into a quest to save the world from an ancient menace.
Red’s tale unfolds in the Shepherd Republic, a world populated
by two races of dog- and cat-like people, who have come to use
mechanized robots, or Robos, to help them accomplish everyday
tasks. Many characters in the game have Robo companions, and
Red’s trusty mechanical steed is known as Dahak.
As Red and Dahak forge their way through the game’s world, they
will come across rare and valuable items called P Crystals in a
variety of locales. P Crystals are extremely important to
players because it is with these crystals that slots in Dahak’s
customization interface are opened up, allowing players to
install upgrades into Red’s mech. It is by this means that
players can alter the attack, defense, hydraulic (lifting
power), mobility and revive characteristics in their mech. Once
players have purchased upgrades in the open world, they can be
installed into Dahak’s unlocked customization slots, allowing
players to tailor their Robo to a preferred playing style.
The system adds an interesting twist, however, by taking on the
format of a puzzle mini-game. As slots are unlocked with P
Crystals, the number of total open customization slots
increases, allowing for more upgrades. But not all upgrades are
physically the same. While a low-level attack or defense upgrade
may only take up one slot, higher-level upgrades may require
several slots, and may be L-shaped or rectangular, forcing
players to figure out which upgrades fit together within their
allotment of unlocked slots. Furthermore, not all upgrade slots
cost the same amount to unlock – some early-level slots cost
only five P Crystals, while high-level slots can cost up to 20 P
Crystals.
No matter the play style, Solatorobo’s deep customization system
allows players to build their Robo up as they see fit. Just
don’t forget that doing so requires a good amount of forward
thinking and strategic ingenuity. Decisions, decisions…
Currently in final production, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter will
be released on September 27th in North America by XSEED Games
for Nintendo DS.