Botology
- June 24, 2015
- Black Lime Studio
"Botology" is a single-player action game where players conduct tests for a company developing remote-controlled robots for future space exploration. The robots have a mechanical prototype of sensory organs connected to a consciousness system, but risky tests can lead to unforeseen consequences. Unfortunately, the game is plagued by poor mechanics, detracting from the otherwise interesting premise.
Reviews
- The game has a unique and compelling story that some players found engaging.
- Achievements are easy to unlock, making it appealing for completionists.
- The graphics are decent for an indie game, and some players appreciated the music.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, often feeling tedious and boring.
- The English translation is poor, making it difficult to understand the game's mechanics and story.
- Controls and AI are frustrating, with many players reporting technical issues and unresponsive gameplay.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 48 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Botology is widely criticized for being repetitive, linear, and frustrating, with many players noting issues such as poor controls, a broken shooting mechanic, and a convoluted navigation system. Despite some potential in its story and voice acting, the overall experience is marred by bugs, awkward animations, and a lack of engaging mechanics, leading many to recommend avoiding the game for those seeking enjoyable gameplay.
“I rate this 8.89/10.3 because the voice acting and gameplay were amazing.”
“The risky tests can lead to difficult, unforeseen consequences because the robot's operation is connected with a mechanical prototype of sensory organs.”
“But, for a few of them, the 'task' achievements, you must complete the entire game, and that's several hours of gameplay, walking, and unlocking.”
“The gameplay is a pain; it's easy to get stuck in strange places, the camera is atrocious, and you have to hold shift to get around with any speed at all.”
“Unfortunately, it seems like the core mechanics of the game are not fun.”
“If you're looking at the game for the gameplay, and a possible game for entertainment, your money is probably better spent elsewhere.”
- story32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has potential, featuring intriguing elements and unique plot twists, but is ultimately undermined by poor execution and lackluster gameplay. Many reviewers noted that while the narrative could be compelling, it is marred by confusing exposition, bizarre voice-overs, and a lack of clear direction, making it difficult to engage with. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with some finding it deep and others deeming it uninteresting and poorly designed.
“This brilliant game is about to throw another plot twist at you, as David receives an urgent call from the guy that does Reddit narration videos, telling him something has gone terribly wrong, everyone died and the droids went crazy.”
“The story is so unique and compelling it makes you unable to stop playing!”
“I loved the deep storyline and the crappy presentation!”
“It's a shame because the game does show some sort of story behind it that could have been intriguing, but the gameplay doesn't justify playing through it to get the story.”
“So yeah... other than that, the voice is Google text-to-speech being forced to read gibberish and the plot is weird, stating sci-fi events to give you exposition but insisting these things happened like 2000 years ago, or 20 years ago... kind of defeating the purpose of exposition. Not that this world was credible to begin with anyway, but you can tell whoever wrote it didn't know what they were doing.”
“There's a worthwhile game lurking in this one; the story has the potential to be fairly interesting, but this is ripped away by the way that so much is told immediately in the prologue, and uninterestingly so.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered acceptable for its low price, with some users noting that they exceed expectations for an indie title. However, many reviews highlight that while the visuals are decent, they are not top-notch and are overshadowed by issues such as poor gameplay mechanics and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the graphics are bearable but do not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“At that price, the game is worth it at least for the good graphics.”
“The only thing I have positive to say about the game is that some of the graphics are better than I expected.”
“+ Quite good graphics.”
“The graphics are bearable for the cost, but it is just empty... everything you do seems for nothing. There isn't a rich and strong backstory; it's kind of like the developer came up with the idea in their dreams and went with it.”
“Low graphics quality, inaudible character speech, and an impractical control scheme don't even compare to the issue of not being able to understand the aim of this game.”
“Graphics-wise it isn't top notch (despite the max settings), although it's not going to bother you if you don't really care about those types of details.”
- music8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and enjoyable, while others criticize it for being mismatched with the game's overall tone and atmosphere. Despite the presence of a catchy soundtrack, many feel that it detracts from the experience rather than enhancing it. Overall, the music seems to evoke a range of emotions, from relaxation to confusion.
“+music in the menu”
“Malformed story, hilariously bizarre 'text-to-speech' voice-overs, repetitive boring gameplay, music that doesn't fit the game in the slightest, animations that are so bad - they are good!”
“Why even put on that Flo Rida CD when you have Botology's banging soundtrack?”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as unintentionally hilarious, reminiscent of "The Room," with its bizarre voice-overs, poorly executed animations, and a nonsensical story that make it amusing for all the wrong reasons. Players find joy in its absurdity, often enjoying it more when shared with friends or after a few drinks, highlighting its charm in being laughably bad.
“I'd call this 'The Room' of games, as just like 'The Room', I'd only come back to this after a few beers and telling my mates about how bad that it's funny this game actually is.”
“Malformed story, hilariously bizarre 'text-to-speech' voice-overs, repetitive boring gameplay, music that doesn't fit the game in the slightest, animations that are so bad - they are good!”
“A very funny game, to be honest, for all the wrong reasons.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, likening it to a "respawn simulator" due to the infinite and rapid respawn of enemies, which can make level completion feel monotonous. While some recommend it for farming purposes, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding.
“You could call it a very, very, very tedious respawn simulator.”
“Enemies infinitely respawn, and respawn quickly, making it excessively tedious to complete the levels.”
“Recommended for game farming.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific feedback on the game's optimization, focusing instead on character interactions and voice acting. Therefore, no clear assessment of optimization can be drawn from the provided text.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have expressed that the game's emotional content can be overwhelming and, in some instances, disrespectful, particularly regarding its portrayal of female characters. One reviewer specifically criticized the implication that a female character, Linda, is too fearful to handle a situation independently, which led to their decision to quit the game.