This took first in a competition that focused on DS innovation. This is a platformer that uses the DS Stylus as a magnet to control all actions of the robot protagonist. Enjoy!

Fig 1: The awe-inspiring title screen.

Premise: Unibot is an action platformer that completely relies on the DS Stylus for all control inputs. This is achieved by having a robot as the protagonist. Navigation throughout the game is achieved by ‘leading’ the Unibot with a stylus input, in a manner similar to a magnet. Combat is executed using direct stylus inputs on the robot, offering an experience akin to interacting with an action figure.

Tthe Unibot gains new abilities and upgrades, which offers the player an ever-changing robot. Balancing these upgrades will result in varying control schemes, a core strategic element.

Basic Story: You are a mad scientist plagued by rabbits who are plundering the garden in the back yard. After many attempts to curb the rabbit intrusion, you create a small robot called a Unibot, named for its lone wheel. The mission is to explore the network of underground caves in order to seek out and destroy the sickeningly cute enemy.

Gameplay: Unibot is a 2D side-scroller, set in a sprawling map similar to Metroid. The Unibot is free to explore this map, though access will be limited by its abilities. For instance, the Unibot may not be able to traverse a large gap until acquiring a flying apparatus, like wings and a propeller (which has to be spun by the stylus, of course).

The map will feature numerous enemies to combat, such as rabbits and other critters. The rabbits prove to be resourceful, creating areas that interfere with the Unibot, such as magnets and hazardous electrical traps. Game flow is often interrupted with puzzles or the ever-popular staple of ‘end bosses’. Health items and upgrades are littered throughout.

Controls: The stylus is a magnet, leading the Unibot throughout the environment. The nearby placement of the stylus directly affects Unibot movement, so an overhead placement will result in a jump, a lower placement will cause a ducking move. The Unibot can also ‘grab’ the stylus if it is placed too close, which can be handy in propelling the Unibot forward, or carrying the Unibot above dangerous terrain. Weight is a factor though, so if the Unibot is loaded down with additional gadgets, it can be too heavy to lift.

Fig 2: A sampling of controls, featuring movement, combat and maintenance.

The Player can actively ‘grab’ the Unibot directly for maintenance or combat:

Maintenance involves fixing or re-assembling the bot. Electrical plugs throughout the world can be harnessed and placed into the robot for charging the batteries.

Combat involves a diverse mix of hand and weapon-based combat. Hand combat involves numerous moves, like pulling back on a fist and releasing to trigger a punch. Or spinning the bot to create a corkscrew attack. The bot can be propelled for more devastating attacks. Weapons involve projectiles like detachable fists and lasers, or a hand-mounted sawblade- robots do offer an infinite amount of weapon possibilities!