Robotek takes place in an alternate version of our world where mankind has
fallen and the machines have taken over. The player needs to reclaim the world
by infiltrating hostile nodes all over the world and defeating enemy
mainframes using an android. They are each on a side of the screen. It is a
strategy game where both sides take turns to plan and execute different
actions with the goal of getting the enemy health to zero, claiming the node.

During a turn a side determines the action by rolling symbols on a slot
machine. The machine can be changed for three configurations: warfare (red),
hacking (yellow) or powers (blue). Warfare spawns helper robots that absorb
damage and attack as well, hacking protects the own robot or disturbs the
enemy, and powers provide a direct attack. For each configuration three
symbols can be rolled, each with a very different effect. They roll
automatically and the player can only determine when to stop the first symbol,
the others are then rolled at random.

For warfare three types of helper bots can spawn (tankbot, drone and droid).
They appear at different locations around the player’s android and absorb
incoming attacks. Each turn they will also attack. When destroyed, they
disappear and the explosion causes splash damage to the player’s mainframe. If
they are kept alive for a while they gain experience and level up, becoming
stronger and more powerful. Each symbol represents a different bot, but if two
or three identical symbols are drawn, a stronger version spawns with more
health and power. When bots are already in place, rolling ‘warfare’ can heal
them. For the second configuration, ‘hacking’, there is a chance to snag an
enemy robot and bring it to the player’s side, energy leak weakens enemy
robots and bring more experience to the player’s bots, and firewall puts up a
defensive shield. ‘Powers’ lead to three different types of attacks: lasers,
microwave and shock. Additional strategy is provided by different directions
to attack and defend. If three identical symbols are rolled, an additional
turn is provided.

By claiming nodes on the world map, with different difficulties and unlocked
gradually, experience (to level up) and power (to unlock and use abilities
during games) can be earned. Abilities have a cooldown time. They include
rapid fire, emergency repair, summon hero, and nuke. Abilities are shown at
the bottom of the screen, next to the health for each side. Each level up
provides some perks as well as a coin used to upgrade symbols. Enemies at
level 13 for instance will then match the strength of the player who spends 13
coins. The nodes (levels) are shown on a world map and can be played in any
order. There are about 200 levels in total.

The game is free-to-play and offers in-app purchases. The game uses an energy
system that requires some time to regenerate. There are three in-app purchases
that provide an amount of power (for abilities) and additional coins. These
coins provide a permanent advantage and last forever. For instance when buying
ten coins a level 13 player can use the abilities of a player at level 23,
making battles easier. The three other in-app purchases provide a costume for
the android and an additional coin. The game supports hot seat multiplayer as
well as online cross-platform games. Multiplayer is unlocked by any in-game
purchase and also opens up the recharger node, a separate level that can be
beat at any time to gain energy without having to wait.

Robotek