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Robot Wars is a show that really shouldn't have been a success. It's all about spending daft amounts of money on dodgy looking robots that don't last two minutes, made by odd people with seemingly a lot of free time! The game is based on this hit BBC 2 show hosted by Craig Charles, so how does the format translate onto your Game Boy Color? As it happens, not too badly!

The game itself is pretty faithful to the structure and feel of the show. You can construct your own robots, give them ridiculous names and then put them in the arena to fight against other similar-looking opponents, along with the regular house robots too!

Outside of the main game, there are also some mini-challenges like the Gauntlet or the Sumo Battles that twist the familiar format of the show!

Unfortunately, the actual battles themselves are not all that great. The robots handle well but the fighting is very weak. When you collide with your enemy, little or no damage occurs and when you do 'bump metal' there is no way of pushing or shoving, which means you can't really push anyone around and into any sort of danger.

In fact, the only way to get any real damage is to ensure your opponent comes into contact with either a booby trap or one of the house robots! There is more fun to be had by going back to the smaller challenges but, more likely than not, your interest will already have disappeared by then anyway!

Despite having enough to cope with (like not getting pounded by your enemy) as you are thrown into the arena, there are also the house robots to worry about too! If you are not aware of what these brutes can do, have a read of these highly fascinating factual facts...

1. Sergeant Bash
   Definitely one to keep an eye out for. He has a circular saw on the front of him (nasty!) that spins at 3,000rpm. Plus he also has a flamethrower.
2. Sir Killalot
   He looks every bit the black knight and to prove that he is, he has a lance and some hydraulic cutters to mow through those who get in his way!
3. Matilda
   Looking like an evil little armadillo, Matilda fashions a rather vicious chainsaw tail and is covered all over with titanium body armour!

No, I have never watched Robot Wars. No, not even for Craig Charles mugging away, or that other obvious reason, so, sad as it may be in the first place, I didn't approach this game with much hope.

But it's actually really not that bad. You basically get to mess about with robo-battles without being tragic enough to spend six months of your life locked in the garage making them!

Graphics 60%
Looks just like the arena.

Sound 60%
Not all that special.

Playability 60%
Easy but too simple.

Lastability 60%
There are a lot of options...

Overall 75%
Fun but unsatisfying robot carnage!