BoomBots

BoomBots is a fighting video game released in 1999 for PlayStation. It was created by Doug TenNapel, and it was developed by The Neverhood, Inc. and published by SouthPeak Interactive.[1] BoomBots features distinctive claymation visuals and various amounts of toilet humor. The game was both a critical and commercial failure.

BoomBots
Developer(s)The Neverhood, Inc.
Publisher(s)SouthPeak Interactive
Designer(s)Doug TenNapel
EngineThe Neverhood, Inc.
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • NA: October 31, 1999
  • EU: December 2, 1999
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

BoomBots is a 3D arena fighting game in which the player has the choice of ten characters (boombots) for either single player or multiplayer.[2][3][4][5]

In single player, the objective is to beat recolors of the ten boombots (which includes a recolor of the player's boombot if they aren't a secret boombot) to progress through the story and win the game.[1][5] If the player remains undefeated, they get to fight recolors of secret boombots in secret stages during the story, unlocking those boombots and stages upon victory.[6][3][7] In total, the game features 15 boombots along with 15 stages.[6][2][4][8][1][5][3]

Multiplayer is similar to single player, except that the player faces off in a round against a human opponent rather than an AI-opponent.[1] In addition, the player can pick the stage to fight on.

Plot

In the year 15 million, a spaceship interrupts picnickers in an American park.[9] The ship belongs to aliens, resembling cats, called the Feline Alien Research Troop (FART), led by alien cat Mandu.[9][3] They begin abducting Earth's common household cats, using robots known as Boombots, and almost destroy Earth in the process.[9] To stop the world from being destroyed completely, the scientists Dr. Doe, Dr. Pick, and Dr. Newton come up with the idea of just sending the cats to the aliens in a giant rocket.[9] However, what humans do not know is that the cats have been protecting them from another race, the United Rat Infestation Nation.[9] To bring the house cats back and to stop the rats from taking over, the humans team up with feline-alien double agent Paul to create the Boombots Underground Technology Team.[9]

Development

Development for the game started in January 1998, when Doug TenNapel designed ten of the robots for BoomBots.[10] Eventually, in March 1998, TenNapel managed to show the designs to Steven Spielberg of DreamWorks Interactive.[10] He then received his approval to have The Neverhood, Inc. develop the game alongside DreamWorks.[10] During February 1999, SouthPeak Games showed interest in publishing BoomBots.[10] When BoomBots became a 'hit' during the May 1999 E3 trade show, SouthPeak Games decided it would publish BoomBots.[10] BoomBots then entered alpha development stage on July 15, 1999 reaching beta development stage on August 15, 1999 before its US release in October.[10]

Reception

Reception for the game has been generally negative. Although, the game has received some praise for its claymation cutscenes,[3][6][4] it has been noted to be otherwise lacking graphically.[14][8][2][5][12] Primarily, criticism has been on the graininess and lack of detail of the characters and stages.[5][2][12][14][8] In addition, although there has been praise for the thematic diversity of characters and stages, the game has been criticized in ultimately lacking replay value due to missing variety within character movesets.[8][2][5][6] Furthermore, the criticism of replay value has also been fueled by lack of gameplay elements within stages, and repetitiveness in character storylines.[14][8][6]

Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the PlayStation version of the game for Next Generation, rating it one stars out of five, and stated that "The cut scenes [...] are typical Neverhood goofiness. Maybe you'll think they're funny, but certainly not enough to put up with everything else."[13]

References
  1. "Neverhood Website". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  2. Nix, Marc. "IGN". Imagine Games Network. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  3. Brainard, Rick. "Game Industry". Game Industry. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. "GameGenie". GameGenie. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  5. Ferris, Duke. "Game Revolution". Game Revolution. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  6. Luther, Jeff. "GamesFirst!". GamesFirst!. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. Karis, Alex. "Gamezilla (Web archive)". Gamezilla. Archived from the original on February 7, 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  8. "PSX Extreme". PSX Extreme. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  9. "Neverhood Website". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  10. "Neverhood Website". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  11. "GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  12. Grestmann, Jeff. "GameSpot". GameSpot. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  13. Lundrigan, Jeff (January 2000). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 3 no. 1. Imagine Media. p. 97.
  14. Bordelon, Phil. "Playstation Illustrated". Playstation Illustrated. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
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