Shoot Many Robots Preview

Take that, Iron Giant.

[Editor's Note: Demiurge Studios has yet to announce on which platforms this title will be released. We assume it will be available at least on Xbox Live and PC.]

Shoot Many Robots. A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up that has been dubbed "Boarder-slug". The concept is pretty simple: Robots attack you. Many of them. What is the best way of stopping the endless hordes of mechanical malcontents? Shoot them.

While it has the looks of a Metal Slug or a Contra with its action and gameplay, there are some really cool options that make this title unique. First off, beer is life. No, this is not a personal declaration of my love for the fizzy brew. Beer is used as health. This gives you an idea of what kind of minds created this game.

Second, there is a veritable plethora of weapon and armor options. You have your choice of primary weapon which is mostly some sort of machine gun and, when you level up high enough, usually ends up being an even cooler machine gun. There is a secondary weapon, too, for when you eventually run out of ammo. Your options are a shotgun or grenade launcher that, once again, turns into a really cool shotgun or grenade launcher when you level up enough.

The armor and clothing options are where things get out there. You have your standard military helmet, but you also have a choice of headwear, like a football helmet or a Tam o' Shantern (you know, the plaid Scottish hat with the fuzzy ball on top). These are not for just looks, either. Every wearable item affects the way you play in the way of adding armor or speed or hit point bonuses. The beer hat is not only one of the most entertaining options to see, but also keeps your health up as well.

Fairy wings, jetpacks, kilts, and tutus are all available to dress up your robot-killing badass in order to best prepare him for his side-scrolling adventure. The wardrobe is rounded out with the more mundane items like ammo packs and camo-pants. With all of these items to choose from, however, the gameplay will reflect the customization of the individual player, resulting in a truly unique experience for everyone.

While the in-game action is not necessarily something new, there are some cool new moves; as in deflecting enemy bullets with your gun. The robots that attack you range from little bastards with chainsaws that can’t be hit from the front, to little flying bastards that drop bombs on you. This game will definitely not make you sympathize with the robot cause. Besides the main campaign, there is also a survival mode, where players fight off wave after wave of robots for the pure fun of shooting robots (I think there is a theme here somewhere).

Shoot Many Robots looks fun for anybody who doesn’t think that robots are cute or awesome. Fans of the classic side-scrolling genre should definitely check it out, but this game will rock any video game fan’s world. Look for the release in 2011.