3bot Review

Developer: DevKid
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 3GS

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3bot is a game about threes; a three legged robot traversing a maze of triangles in three 3D worlds where there are 3x3x3x3 (45) levels total. Pity then, that tetrahedrons have four faces.

Basically, the aim of the game is to light up the tetrahedrons that are arranged into tricky arrangements. By moving 3bot from one face to another they light up, but in later levels moving over a face again will dim it. Often, the best solution is that each face is passed over only once without backtracking, but this isn’t necessarily required. Indeed, players can breeze through the game without too much thought if they feel so inclined, and it is actually one of the game’s strengths; accessible yet challenging if so desired.

What’s not so encouraging is the game’s tricky camera system, one that has to be adjusted fairly often to get the perfect angle. Sure, a fully automatic camera wouldn’t be the right fit for the game, but even a semi-automatic would have done the job. Time spent adjusting the camera angle is doubly frustrating as the levels have a timer on them, not really in keeping with the game’s laid-back feel and puzzle solving play. The controls suffer in this regard as the game can misconstrue a camera adjustment for a tap to go back to a previous face.

3bot's main problem is not one of camera work or controls though; the game, although well presented, isn't exciting. The mazes within offer standard issue disappearing, rotating and moving tetrahedrons and these aren’t ingredients for a great game. A few minutes here and there well spent perhaps, but nothing here is really earth-shattering; and that’s okay. After all, 3bot is like a nostalgia trip; with its sci-fi atmosphere straight from the 50s and gameplay from the 80s, it is probably best meant for retro fans.

Overall, players aren’t going to be terribly impressed with this. The gameplay is really very average and doesn’t lead to anywhere that could be considered above average; with the awkward camera scheme it is really difficult to move with any constant sense of speed to appease the timer; and the presentation is perhaps the only redeeming quality of this game. Not the wisest of purchases.