Gato Roboto combines a bunch of my favorite things. Cats, robots, indie games with cool art styles, Metroidvania gameplay. Ok. Four things. It combines four things. But the result is pretty darn fun. Read more and watch Gato Roboto gameplay right here.
I'm not huge into indie 2D platformers these days. When a new pitch slides into my e-mail box my eyes roll so far back into my head that I get a migraine and I throw up in my mouth a little. Once in a while, though, like one in a hundred, a 2D platformer catches my eye. Like Gato Roboto. It's about a little cat driving a freaking mech suit. That's awesome! The monochrome visuals are also very appealing as well. The super cheap price tag ($8 or something, right?) just sealed the deal. Finally, an indie 2D platformer with something new to offer that is also priced appropriately.
The gameplay in Gato Roboto is pretty standard Metroidvania (mostly Metroid) open world gameplay. You earn new abilities as you explore that open up new areas and let you explore more. Gato Roboto is interesting because the cat can get out of the mech suit to explore tight spaces on foot, and there are other vehicles besides just the mech suit as well. It all adds up to give you just enough variety to keep things moving along.
Another nice thing is that the game is pretty short and sweet. It's a 4-5 hour game at max, even your first time through, which I really appreciate. It's a little bite sized chunk of a game that lasts just long enough without overstaying its welcome. Again, good job everyone involved, you created an almost perfect indie game.
I originally bought Gato Roboto on Nintendo Switch but only played a little bit of it. Then it was announced for Xbox Game Pass, so I played it again more thoroughly this time (because Achievements, natch). It's excellent on either platform.
