BoomBots

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

BoomBots is a fighting video game released in 1999 for PlayStation. It was created by Doug TenNapel, best known as the creator of Earthworm Jim, and it was developed by The Neverhood, Inc.^[1] Moreover, it was published by SouthPeak Games.^[1] Like other games developed by The Neverhood Inc., (The Neverhood and Skullmonkeys), BoomBots features distinctive claymation visuals and various amounts of toilet humor. This game was both a critical and commercial failure.

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.^{[13][8][2][5][12]} Primarily, criticism has been on the graininess and lack of detail of the characters and stages.^{[5][2][12][13][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.^[13][8][6]

References