Solatorobo: Red the Hunter Review

From the moment I caught wind of Solatorobo, my gut told me it’d be something special. Turns out my instincts were right. 10 minutes in and you can just feel the love and passion CyberConnect2 poured into this game. It’s the second entry in their Little Tail Bronx Series following Tail Concerto, a cult classic PlayStation game from ’99. Solatorobo’s whimsical story, gorgeous graphics, and ridiculously fun gameplay make it a standout title that I highly recommend every DS owner hunt down!

Before I talk about my time with the game, the development timeline leading up to Solatorobo’s release is pretty interesting and worth discussing.

Alright, let’s dive in!

Soaring through the Shepherd Republic

Solatorobo unfolds in the steampunk fantasy world of the Shepherd Republic, a realm of floating islands inhabited by French-speaking anthropomorphic cats and dogs. Amazing, right? The world is brimming with charm at every turn, feeling straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.

You play as Red Savarin, a cocky sky-pirate “hunter” who pilots a flying mecha called Dahak. This robot serves as both his primary weapon and how he gets around. Together with his sister Chocolat, Red roams the skies in an airship, seeking adventure.

On a seemingly ordinary task, Red encounters Elh, a mysterious young feline, and becomes involved in events that reveal hidden truths about his world, setting off a chain of events that puts a fleet of enemies on his tail. The plot does start with familiar RPG themes, but it soon takes unexpected twists, with quests ranging from air races, sky fishing, and solving a crime mystery to item hunting and loads of baddie bashing.

Solatorobo’s narrative is a cornerstone of its appeal, strengthened by excellent writing and top-notch localization. Conversations are often funny, sometimes sentimental, and occasionally serious, which really sucks you into into the world. This emphasis on storytelling means you’ll be doing a lot of reading throughout the 20+ hour campaign. I know some people won’t dig that, but the writing is honestly so engaging that I was always excited to hear what characters would say next.

Easily one of the best looking and sounding DS games

The artistic design of Solatorobo is one of its standout features. The game masterfully blends 2D sprites and 3D models, creating a world that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The floating islands are vibrant and diverse, each boasting unique architecture and landscapes that reflect their cultural backgrounds. The character designs are particularly impressive, with expressive and colorful visuals that bring the anthropomorphic cast to life in an endearing and memorable way.

Cutscenes are smoothly animated, adding a cinematic touch to key moments in the story. These animations, paired with detailed backgrounds and fluid character movements, make Solatorobo a visual delight. The bright colors and intricate details help craft an immersive world you’ll want to explore thoroughly. For a DS game, it’s truly one of the best-looking titles I’ve encountered. Impressively, seven out of the ten years of development were dedicated to world-building, and it shows. The world is alive and brimming with charm and its own sense of culture, making it feel like a place that could actually exist.

The soundtrack of Solatorobo perfectly complements the game’s adventurous spirit, featuring a mix of orchestral and chiptune music. Composed by Chikayo Fukuda, known for her work on CyberConnect2’s other projects like Tail Concerto and .hack, the music enhances the atmosphere of each scene. Whether it’s the upbeat tracks during air races or the somber melodies in reflective moments, each piece is thoughtfully crafted to fit the mood. The sound effects, though occasionally compressed, add to the immersive experience, with the clanking of Dahak’s metal limbs and the ambient sounds of bustling towns bringing the world to life.

Adding to the game’s unique charm is the use of French phrases and names, which help establish the cultural backdrop of the Shepherd Republic. Even if you don’t understand French, the context and tone convey the intended meaning, adding depth to the characters and setting.

Action, air racing, fishing, and whatever else Red throws at you

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter’s gameplay is an exciting mix of action, puzzles, RPG elements, and exploration that keeps you hooked from start to finish! The main combat mechanic involves Red Savarin using his robot, Dahak, to lift and throw enemies. While this might sound simple, it’s actually pretty deep. You have to time your actions carefully, especially when dealing with multiple enemies or larger foes. Catching missiles mid-air and tossing them back at enemies adds a layer of strategy that’s both fun and challenging. The system is easy to learn, but mastering it is a rewarding challenge throughout the game.

The controls are well-designed and easy to use. Movement is handled with the D-Pad, jumping with the B button, and the X button lets you customize Dahak or view objectives. The A button is used for combat, where you lift and throw items and enemies. This combat system requires you to wait for the right moments to flip enemies and throw them, adding a layer of skill to the simple mechanics. Timing combos can increase damage, making battles more strategic. There are also memory-testing quiz events, free-flight mechanics that let Red equip Dahak with flight gear to explore small islands, and hovercraft racing sections. Each of these activities is well-implemented and adds depth to the overall experience.

The RPG elements in Solatorobo are woven seamlessly into the gameplay. As you progress, you earn experience points (XP) from battles and quests, allowing you to level up. Each level increases Red and Dahak’s stats, making them stronger and more resilient. This leveling system adds a satisfying sense of progression, encouraging you to take on more challenges and explore every nook and cranny of the game.

Beyond the combat, Solatorobo features a variety of side quests ranging from straightforward tasks to more complex challenges. These often involve puzzle-solving, like navigating mazes or moving obstacles. Even though these side quests can seem simple, they offer a nice break from the main story, letting you explore the game’s beautiful environments and meet its quirky characters.

One of the coolest features is upgrading Dahak. You can enhance your robot using a Tetris-like system where you fit differently shaped modules into a grid. This mini-game aspect allows for a lot of customization, letting you tailor Dahak’s abilities to your play style—whether you prefer strength, speed, or a balanced approach. These upgrades are crucial for progressing through the game and add an extra layer of strategy. Collecting parts and optimizing Dahak’s setup gives a satisfying RPG twist to the mechanics.

Red can also hop off Dahak to explore on foot and solve simple puzzles. While these segments aren’t as developed as the robot combat, they do provide some variety. It would have been great to see more creative use of these on-foot sections, but they still add a bit of diversity to the gameplay.

A standout feature is the air-racing mode, called Air Robo GP. This mode is a fun distraction from the main story and can be played in multiplayer, adding significant replayability and a competitive edge. The controls for these races are intuitive, and the tracks are well-designed, offering a satisfying challenge. With unlockable vehicles and six different tracks, this mode could almost be a game on its own!

Solatorobo also keeps things fresh with various other gameplay elements. There are arena battles, competitive air races, photo-collecting side quests, and around 80 unique challenges, like sky-fishing where you track giant, island-sized hermit crabs. There’s always some new mechanic around every corner – and they all just work.

Throughout your adventure, you can find various items and pieces of lore, including music tracks, photos, and descriptions of the world’s history. These collectibles add more content and replayability, inviting you to dive deeper into the game’s rich lore and vibrant world. Overall, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter excels in delivering a diverse and engaging gameplay experience. Its blend of action, RPG elements, puzzle-solving, and exploration, combined with robust side quests, intuitive controls, and a variety of gameplay elements, ensures you stay entertained throughout your journey. Whether upgrading Dahak, racing through the skies, or exploring floating islands on foot, Solatorobo provides a consistently enjoyable and immersive experience!

Have you played Avalon Code yet?

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