Roboquest is an exciting and satisfying rougelite shooter that’s filled to the brim with content that seems to go on forever. The vast variety of diverse guns is a blast, with each run feeling unique. The fast-paced gameplay can be a bit hard to keep up with using a controller, but once you’re in the flow, there’s nothing quite like it.
Credit: Starbreeze Entertainment
Roboquest
Developer: RyseUp Studios
Price: $25
Platform: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
I played some of Roboquest on PC with a friend, so when I heard it was coming to the PS5, I was absolutely thrilled. The PS5 is my preferred platform for playing games, so having the ability to lounge about on my couch while playing Roboquest was enticing. The game was translated well to this home platform, as it’s just as much of a blast to play.
Roboquest is largely broken down into two sections: runs and the basecamp. Runs have you choosing one of a number of random weapons and blasting away at groups of enemy robots while you traverse different environments, all while picking up more random weapons and perks that help (and occasionally, hinder) you. There are different routes to take and bosses to battle between areas, making each route exciting and diverse. The bosses can be challenging but never frustratingly hard, while the many types of enemies keep you on your toes, even in the early areas.
Credit: Starbreeze Entertainment
The guns are a highlight of Roboquest, as many of them feature playstyles that are highly reminiscent of other iconic shooters. One weapon makes you play like Doomguy, while another has you burning foes like Team Fortress 2’s Pyro. It’s quite neat and makes all the weapons feel vastly different.
Each weapon also has a mastery system, with experience being gained through usage, making it feel like you’re always accomplishing something. There’s also a huge number of different weapons to use, meaning you’ll certainly find a few that you lean towards as you get further and further into the game. I loved trying out the many guns and melee weapons, as they help keep each run feeling fresh as you swap between vastly different equipment.
Credit: Starbreeze Entertainment
You unlock things like new classes or permanent abilities as you progress further and further with each run, making you stronger and rewarding level exploration. The classes have their own unique abilities and level-up buffs, so it’s worthwhile to try them each out. You’ll likely quickly find yourself settling into one class that feels right, but I quite enjoy the variety. Completionists will have a blast trying to acquire all buffs for each class, especially since you can make some truly broken loadouts depending on RNG.
“There are seemingly countless intriguing loadout combinations that make each run a potentially top-notch one.”
A ton of Roboquest’s fun comes from trying to create the best loadout you can in each run. Whether you’re focusing on a certain type of elemental damage or buffing your primary melee attack to become an up-close assassin, there are seemingly countless intriguing combinations that make each run a potentially top-notch one. Multiply this by the different classes and their own unique powers, and you have a game that stays exciting no matter how many times you run through it.
Credit: Starbreeze Entertainment
Roboquest is as fast as it gets.
Movement is remarkably satisfying in Roboquest, largely due to how fast-paced it is. At the beginning, you’re given the option to automatically sprint at all times, and I find this to be the best way to play. Enemies shoot quickly, and areas are large, so whizzing around constantly to avoid damage while blasting away foes at a brisk pace just feels brilliant. The DualSense controller does make it a tad bit more difficult to hit enemies at this pace, however, though I appreciate the addition of a bit of aim assist to make up for the more challenging control scheme compared to the speed of a mouse.
At the basecamp, you can use wrenches you picked up during runs to gain improvements for future runs. Whether this means new NPCs at checkpoints that will offer you things like further boons or more weapons in the crates you get during reprieves or bonuses like more maximum health, it helps add a sense of achievement to even shorter failed runs. You can also practice at a shooting range, change classes, or just grind around on rails.
Credit: Starbreeze Entertainment
Roboquest’s music is full of real bops that get your blood pumping and complement the cartoony style. I often found my head bobbing to the tracks while soaring around and blasting the hell out of enemy bots, as the soundtrack suits the breakneck pace of the gameplay rather nicely.
The Final Word
Roboquest is a fantastic shooter that’s chock-full of secrets and seemingly endless enjoyment. It can be a bit harder to play at a frantic pace on a console, but it doesn’t take long to get fairly accustomed to it. All-in-all, this is a must-play roguelite that nails essentially everything it does, with style.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
