Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

 DS
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 40
  3. Negative: 2 out of 40
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  1. GamesRadar+
    Sep 26, 2011
    70
    Solatorobo is a carefree, fun experience, a portal directly to our childhood. There's something endearing about the characters and their growth that still holds a special place in our heart.
  2. Gamestyle
    Aug 15, 2011
    70
    While the game is trivially easy and it's frustrating that so many of its mistakes were easily avoidable, the fun combat, huge variety of missions, great graphics and instant likeability make this a little gem of a game that comes recommended.
  3. Level7.nu
    Aug 2, 2011
    70
    A great rpg with fantastic characters, music and environments. It's a shame it's a bit too simplified.
  5. Edge Magazine
    Jul 27, 2011
    70
    Solatorobo's short attention span is occasionally 
its undoing – good ideas and mechanics are dropped 
as readily as bad – and the button-mashing combat 
can occasionally fatigue, but this is an adventure both 
epic and bite-sized, with the kind of charm that 
makes its weaknesses easy to forget, and hard 
not to forgive.
  6. N-Europe
    Jul 18, 2011
    70
    RPG fans - pry your eyes away from Xenoblade; Solatorobo may be the biggest surprise of the summer.
  7. Gamekult
    Jul 6, 2011
    70
    Quotation forthcoming.
  8. Metro GameCentral
    Jul 3, 2011
    70
    Consistently surprising, technically accomplished and instantly likeable, this portable adventure has more good ideas than it seems to know what to do with.
  9. 1UP
    Sep 28, 2011
    67
    If you can get over a cast of characters talking and talking and talking but not really saying much of anything, you may find Solatorobo much more enjoyable than I did -- though the game's patronizing insistence on holding your hand through just about every challenge can be just as frustrating.
  10. PALGN
    Dec 30, 2011
    60
    Solatorobo is a title full of great ideas, which were wasted with shoddy execution. Nevertheless, those interested in games with great stories should check it out.
  11. games(TM)
    Aug 8, 2011
    60
    Rich in character while on minimum wage mechanically. [Issue#112, p.114]
  12. The A.V. Club
    Oct 9, 2011
    58
    There's plenty of incentive to explore, with a bounty of side quests at each of the towns where you stop. These provide bite-sized adventures that take just a few minutes, cementing the fact that casual players using their DSes on the go will get the most out of Solatorobo.

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best DS Game of 2011
19
#19 Most Discussed DS Game of 2011
12
#12 Most Shared DS Game of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 41
  3. Negative: 3 out of 41
  1. BraceHare
    Jul 12, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Really shines in creating a vibrant and engrossing world. The characters themselves are pretty standard archetypes for the genre, furry status notwithstanding, but done reasonably well; they always seem like they're acting in accordance with their own motivations and the world they live in, instead of doing things because other similar characters from other works would have, so in that respect despite being unoriginal they are still very solid characters.

    As for the story, I really loved the 11th hour reveal defining the origins of the world. A lot of people I know hated it; it is indeed largely "superfluous"; however, it is a clever twist which adds to the weight of the game's messages (and it does have several, although they are pretty minimal and conventional and easy to miss). It also explains much, perhaps some of it not actually needing explaining. As I said at the beginning of this review though, the main strength of the game is its world, and the reveal at the end is an extension of that.

    As for gameplay: the mechanics are developed and smooth, but the difficulty curve is nonexistent, and the game holds your hand in many ways that can get annoying over time. This game is very much not recommended if you're solely or mostly interested in complex, engaging gameplay. It falls closer to interactive story than it does to game in many senses, so if that's not your bag, then go ahead and skip it, but you will be missing out on getting to explore a very unique and interesting world.

    A minor nitpick goes to the bizarre flourishes of homophobia and transphobia displayed by the protagonist and partly the game itself, including a gay man who is constantly making Red uncomfortable by flirting with him, and a main character who dresses and looks male while being biologically female. This second item is particularly bizarre because it comes as a big reveal complete with Red chastising her for "deceiving" him, but is then suddenly and completely dropped from the story, with the character in question starting to wear female stereotypical clothing. It almost feels like, in an otherwise ruthlessly consistent and well developed game world, there was a brainstorming session where some upper level boss went "wouldn't it be hilarious if...?", and it just sort of got shoehorned into the game.

    I deeply enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in any of the main underlying aesthetics/genres (steampunk, furry, mecha, etc) as well as anyone interested in experiencing a unique world. I tend to enjoy games more for their world than anything else though, and your mileage may vary. Kind of wish there was merchandise available for the game stateside, I would totally buy a wall scroll.    … Full Review »
  2. SanctuaryCat
    Jan 9, 2015
    8
    Solotorobo is a fantastically original Action RPG. You play as red, an anthropomorphic dog who rides a mech-like robot. The game revolvesSolotorobo is a fantastically original Action RPG. You play as red, an anthropomorphic dog who rides a mech-like robot. The game revolves around the robots main function: lifting. You lift enemies and throw them in the air, and then juggle them til they die. You can catch projectiles and use them against the enemies. It is admittedly a limited set of skills, but what it lacks in action it certainly makes up for in charm. It has a lovely art style, great story, fun side quests and even a Mario Kart style racing minigame. There's lots to collect from music to photos and the customisation of you robot via a tetris style grid is fun to try to optimise at each stage of the game. A lovely addition to any DS collection.… Full Review »
  3. PabloEnver
    Jun 21, 2023
    7
    Lo mejor del juego sin duda son los gráficos y el diseño artístico, que es una delicia. El problema es el gameplay, que se queda a medias enLo mejor del juego sin duda son los gráficos y el diseño artístico, que es una delicia. El problema es el gameplay, que se queda a medias en todo. Combate demasiado simple para ser un juego de acción, elementos RPG demasiado escasos para el género, pocos puzzles para ser un juego de puzzles, pocas plataformas para un plataformas... está en tierra de nadie y hubiera sido interesante decantarse por algo en lugar de hacerlo todo a medio gas.

    Por lo demas es decente, la música es buena y la historia es normalita, nada que no se haya visto antes, pero cumple.    … Full Review »
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