Robot Unicorn Attack
Encyclopedia
Robot Unicorn Attack is an online video game featured on the Adult Swim
and Flashline Games
website. The game was produced by Spiritonin Media Games and was released in February 4, 2010. The game's soundtrack is the song "Always
" by the British band Erasure
.
With one million plays within the first week of its release, Robot Unicorn Attack is one of the most popular and most played games featured on Adult Swim. As a result of its popularity, Adult Swim has made official merchandise for Robot Unicorn Attack, and has released the game on iTunes
and Android OS. Adult Swim released two parallels to Robot Unicorn Attack entitled Robot Unicorn Attack Heavy Metal and Robot Unicorn Attack Christmas Edition.
in which the user controls the movement of a robot
ic unicorn
in a manner similar to Canabalt, a game released in 2009. The object of the game is to prolong gameplay without falling off the stage, crashing into the edges of platforms, or colliding with crystal stars (without first dashing). Points are earned with play time, by collecting pixies
, and by destroying crystal stars by dashing though them. As the game progresses, the stage slides faster. Jumps and dashes can be chained together while the unicorn is airborne. The player has three lives (referred to as "wishes"), and the sum of the scores from each life count for the player's final score.
released a Robot Unicorn Attack T-shirt
, this was the first time Adult Swim had released game-related merchandise. In June 2010, it was released for the iOS, in August, the game was released on Facebook
, making it the first time an Adult Swim game had been ported to Facebook and in the following month, a Robot Unicorn Attack hoodie
became available, and in October a high definition version of Robot Unicorn Attack was released for the iPad
. On April 19, 2011, the game was released for the Android OS.
, later publishing it also to Adultswim.com on November 19. Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal features the song "Battlefield" from German power metal
band Blind Guardian
, and the presentation is influenced by depictions of Hell
, as well as glam metal
. It received an even better score on their website than the original. In January 2011, Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal was made available on Facebook alongside its original counterpart, as a single application.
, entitled Robot Unicorn Attack: Christmas Edition. The game features "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)
" by The Darkness. Robot Unicorn Attack: Christmas Edition was released on Adultswim.com in November 2011, despite reports to the contrary.
There is also a fan-made version called "Rainbow Dash Attack", where the eponymous Robot Unicorn is replaced by Rainbow Dash, a pegasus character from the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
. Rainbow Dash is known to draw a trail of rainbow mid-flight, similar to the Robot Unicorn.
stated that, "Whether it's the song constantly on an loop or the simple desire to get a better score than the millions of other gamers playing, I challenge anyone to play Robot Unicorn Attack and not have that game pop into your head every now and then." In reviews of the major flash games of 2010, Eurogamer
writer Kieron Gillen
said, "Like a comet made of gold, glitter and Lady Gaga's eyelashes, Robot Unicorn Attack circled the Earth and filled the firmament with its irresistible radiance for the whole of 2010. It changed lives. It challenged sexualities. It involves pressing two buttons. It is undoubtedly the greatest game of all time which features a Robot Unicorn, unless you're a metalhead who digs its sequel."
Scott Sharkey of UGO Networks said that while "the aesthetic is a good gag for a few minutes", the important point of Robot Unicorn Attack is that "the game itself is addictive enough to last much, much longer. At least, until someone catches you playing and ribs you about it for the next week or so." Neon Kelly, Previews Editor of VideoGamer.com, concluded after playing that "Somehow the whole thing ends up being extremely addictive - despite the fact that the game's tongue is so firmly wedged in its cheek that it's in danger of giving itself permanent facial damage. If you've not yet done so, I heartily urge you to go try it." Toby Green of The Independent
wrote in a short review that the game was "Great fun", giving it four out of five stars.
In a review of the iPhone version of the game, CNN
writer Topher Kohan concluded, "Easy-to-use controls, great soundtrack, the ability to turn the sound off and get useful feedback via vibrate and fun in-game tidbits. This feels like a game you'll put on your phone, then pull out to play again and again." In a twin review for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
by reviewers Stephanie Bendixsen
("Hex") and Steven O'Donnell ("Bajo"), Hex finished by saying, ""This game is utterly riDONKulous, so I'm giving it the utterly ridonkulous score of 8971. I can't wait to press Z to chase my dreams again", to which reviewer Bajo responded, "I'm not sure how to score it after that."
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
and Flashline Games
Flashline Games
Flashline Games is an online game portal, serving only Adobe Flash - based games. The categories of the games include Action, Adventure, Arcade, Life & Style, Puzzle, Shooting, Sports, and Strategy. A drop-down search suggestion tool similar to that of Facebook or Google is featured on the website...
website. The game was produced by Spiritonin Media Games and was released in February 4, 2010. The game's soundtrack is the song "Always
Always (Erasure song)
"Always" is a synthpop ballad by British duo Erasure. It was released in 1994 as the first single from their sixth studio album I Say I Say I Say. Mute Records issued the single in the UK, while Elektra Records released it in the U.S...
" by the British band Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
.
With one million plays within the first week of its release, Robot Unicorn Attack is one of the most popular and most played games featured on Adult Swim. As a result of its popularity, Adult Swim has made official merchandise for Robot Unicorn Attack, and has released the game on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Android OS. Adult Swim released two parallels to Robot Unicorn Attack entitled Robot Unicorn Attack Heavy Metal and Robot Unicorn Attack Christmas Edition.
Gameplay
Robot Unicorn Attack is a sidescrolling platform gamePlatform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
in which the user controls the movement of a robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
ic unicorn
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
in a manner similar to Canabalt, a game released in 2009. The object of the game is to prolong gameplay without falling off the stage, crashing into the edges of platforms, or colliding with crystal stars (without first dashing). Points are earned with play time, by collecting pixies
Pixie
Pixies are mythical creatures of folklore, considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas around Devon and Cornwall, suggesting some Celtic origin for the belief and name.They are usually depicted with pointed ears, and often wearing a green outfit and pointed...
, and by destroying crystal stars by dashing though them. As the game progresses, the stage slides faster. Jumps and dashes can be chained together while the unicorn is airborne. The player has three lives (referred to as "wishes"), and the sum of the scores from each life count for the player's final score.
Merchandise and ports
Due to the game's popularity, Adult SwimAdult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
released a Robot Unicorn Attack T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
, this was the first time Adult Swim had released game-related merchandise. In June 2010, it was released for the iOS, in August, the game was released on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, making it the first time an Adult Swim game had been ported to Facebook and in the following month, a Robot Unicorn Attack hoodie
Hoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood. The characteristic design includes large frontal pockets, a hood, and a drawstring to adjust the hood opening. They are sometimes worn with sweatpants. Some hoodies have zippers on them to allow easy removal much like a jacket...
became available, and in October a high definition version of Robot Unicorn Attack was released for the iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
. On April 19, 2011, the game was released for the Android OS.
Heavy Metal
In October 2010 Adult Swim Games released a parallel to Robot Unicorn Attack, entitled Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal, for iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, later publishing it also to Adultswim.com on November 19. Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal features the song "Battlefield" from German power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
, and the presentation is influenced by depictions of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, as well as glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
. It received an even better score on their website than the original. In January 2011, Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal was made available on Facebook alongside its original counterpart, as a single application.
Christmas Edition
On November 23, 2010 Adult Swim released a Christmas-themed version of Robot Unicorn Attack on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, entitled Robot Unicorn Attack: Christmas Edition. The game features "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)
Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)
"Christmas Time " is a single released by The Darkness in the UK during December 2003, to fall in with the famous UK Christmas Number One Race.-Race for Christmas #1:...
" by The Darkness. Robot Unicorn Attack: Christmas Edition was released on Adultswim.com in November 2011, despite reports to the contrary.
Parodies
Combining the game with a meme called Nyancat, involving a cat with the body of a poptart "flying through space and leaving a trail of rainbows", a parody game called Nyanicorn was created that mimicked the style of Robot Unicorn Attack, including the gameplay.There is also a fan-made version called "Rainbow Dash Attack", where the eponymous Robot Unicorn is replaced by Rainbow Dash, a pegasus character from the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is an animated television series that premiered on October 10, 2010 on the United States cable network The Hub, and is based on Hasbro's My Little Pony line of toys and animated works. The series is produced by Hasbro Studios and DHX Media Vancouver...
. Rainbow Dash is known to draw a trail of rainbow mid-flight, similar to the Robot Unicorn.
Critical reception
Ivan Williams of 1UP.com1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
stated that, "Whether it's the song constantly on an loop or the simple desire to get a better score than the millions of other gamers playing, I challenge anyone to play Robot Unicorn Attack and not have that game pop into your head every now and then." In reviews of the major flash games of 2010, Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
writer Kieron Gillen
Kieron Gillen
Kieron Gillen is a British computer games and music journalist, as well as a comic book author. Gillen has worked for many years as a video game journalist and has, more recently, worked on various comics. He is perhaps best known for his creator-owned comic Phonogram, created with artist Jamie...
said, "Like a comet made of gold, glitter and Lady Gaga's eyelashes, Robot Unicorn Attack circled the Earth and filled the firmament with its irresistible radiance for the whole of 2010. It changed lives. It challenged sexualities. It involves pressing two buttons. It is undoubtedly the greatest game of all time which features a Robot Unicorn, unless you're a metalhead who digs its sequel."
Scott Sharkey of UGO Networks said that while "the aesthetic is a good gag for a few minutes", the important point of Robot Unicorn Attack is that "the game itself is addictive enough to last much, much longer. At least, until someone catches you playing and ribs you about it for the next week or so." Neon Kelly, Previews Editor of VideoGamer.com, concluded after playing that "Somehow the whole thing ends up being extremely addictive - despite the fact that the game's tongue is so firmly wedged in its cheek that it's in danger of giving itself permanent facial damage. If you've not yet done so, I heartily urge you to go try it." Toby Green of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
wrote in a short review that the game was "Great fun", giving it four out of five stars.
In a review of the iPhone version of the game, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
writer Topher Kohan concluded, "Easy-to-use controls, great soundtrack, the ability to turn the sound off and get useful feedback via vibrate and fun in-game tidbits. This feels like a game you'll put on your phone, then pull out to play again and again." In a twin review for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
by reviewers Stephanie Bendixsen
Stephanie Bendixsen
Stephanie Bendixsen is an Australian television presenter. She is best known as one of the presenters of the video game review show Good Game where she goes by the nickname "Hex".-Early life:Stephanie was born in Sydney, Australia...
("Hex") and Steven O'Donnell ("Bajo"), Hex finished by saying, ""This game is utterly riDONKulous, so I'm giving it the utterly ridonkulous score of 8971. I can't wait to press Z to chase my dreams again", to which reviewer Bajo responded, "I'm not sure how to score it after that."
See also
- Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself)Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself)Five Minutes to Kill is a popular online video game series on Adult Swim Games, which is on Adult Swim's website, AdultSwim.com. Each game is produced by Ham in the Fridge, and features music and sound design composed by Mark Greenberg of the Mayfair Workshop...
- Always (Erasure song)Always (Erasure song)"Always" is a synthpop ballad by British duo Erasure. It was released in 1994 as the first single from their sixth studio album I Say I Say I Say. Mute Records issued the single in the UK, while Elektra Records released it in the U.S...
- A Night at the Opera (Blind Guardian album)A Night at the Opera (Blind Guardian album)- Chart positions :Album – Billboard - Band :* Hansi Kürsch – lead and backing vocals* André Olbrich – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars* Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitar* Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – drums & percussion...
External links
- Robot Unicorn Attack on Adultswim.com
- Robot Unicorn Attack Heavy Metal on Adultswim.com