Meet the Robinsons review (Xbox 360)

I think there is a major misconception about Meet the Robinsons in the gaming world, simply because it is associated with the latest Disney film. I’ve seen comments such as “does this game come free with my happy meal” or “you get it free at Taco Bell”. Are these comments justified, or are they unfair on the development team? Quite frankly I think they are undeserved.

Meet the Robinsons

The game is an alternative quest separate from what happens in the film, but does include most of the characters and their voices. You play as Wilbur Robinson, the son of an inventor who loves to travel back in time using the family’s most prized invention. You’ll also meet Cousin Laszlo, Franny – Wilbur’s Mum, Uncle Art, Aunt Billie, Grandpa Bud and Wilbur’s best friend, Carl, the Robinson family robot. Some of these characters you will interact with more than others, the main one being Carl.

Carl has been well used in the game. Get stuck and simply press the back button for him to pop up with some advice on what needs to be done and little clues on how that can be achieved. Of course, this advice is at times next to useless and at other times a life saver.

A plus B equals bonus

The game itself is full of puzzles and mini games. Right from the start, you have to do several things before you can even get close to a time machine and this is the pattern that follows throughout the game. Do A, B and C before D can be achieved.

But it’s not just the main game that is full of puzzles. The game has many side missions, some that need to be completed to continue the game, and others that are an added extra. One side game is a havoc maze. Completing these will give some form of bonus, either in the form of a blueprint to be used in the game, some concept art or one of the many action figures that can be viewed in the extras. There are also “VR disks” which can be used in the Chargeball mini games.

Not just for the kids

Being a puzzle game and being associated with Disney is where I believe the misconception of this being just for kids comes from. There are times when this game is extremely frustrating. It’s not that the puzzles are particularly hard, because they aren’t really that difficult. It may well take you 20 minutes to complete one puzzle, when really it should only take 5. As soon as you have figured it out you realise how simple it really was, and you’ll be kicking yourself for not getting it sooner. It happened to me and several of my friends who kept asking for help while they were playing. No names mentioned!

If fully grown adults have problems with parts of the game, there is absolutely no doubt that kids will. They will need help and this is what makes it such a good family game. There will also be parts that kids will find easier than adults and vice versa.

Family time

Too often, people are too quick to criticise video games for not being educational enough, or for causing a demise in family interaction. But these same people usually don’t realise that some games do bring the family together and can be constructive. I think Meet the Robinsons is one of these games. It will bring the family together and will make children think. It’s simply not a button basher, even when going up against the bosses. You have to use your surroundings and the little bit of information given to you to figure out how to defeat them. A little bit of guesswork may also come into it, but mainly the final results you achieve are due to you thinking.

There is also another mini game called Robinson Security System. The main evil character in the game, the Bowler Hat guy, has broken into the Robinson house and is going through each room causing havoc. Being a high score game brings even more enjoyment to an already good side game, but the local leader board that saves with your game means there is enough here for a bit of family rivalry.

Some ifs and buts

But I’m afraid I can’t just sing the praises of this game. There are a couple of little problems with it. The game isn’t that big. Playing it none stop, the game can easily be completed within a couple of days. The Xbox 360 version does have a little bit of repeat game play in it, as it is unlikely that you will get all of the achievements in the one run through. However, one major problem with this is you have to start the whole game again from scratch, without any of the gadgets or items you have scanned from your first run through. Something I found really frustrating.

Other than that there is not much else wrong with the game. There is the occasional glitch with either the graphics or physical objects in the game, but these are very minor and at times are hardly noticeable and don’t affect the actual play.

All in all the game plays well with a good story to accompany the game and some very good animation. Meet the Robinsons will frustrate you at times, but that feeling is only temporary. This is a great game for kids, adults and families and makes a refreshing change from some of the stuff in the shops at the moment. Meet the Robinsons is a definite if you have kids, or quite simply fancy a change.