Picture is a ScreenShot from the Game (via FxMoneyTrader)

 

The Ultimate Bot Fighting Game

War Robots is a game created by Pixonic, a company out of Russia who as far as I can tell has only created this game with several revisions since 2012-14 ( ref. Wikipedia) Having never played any of the other versions, I can not say definitively that this is the best version they've made; but I love it. The graphics are great, the controls are perfect for a phone app. Another great thing that I must point out are the sound effects. With explosions and shots going off all around you, it can get a bit chaotic, but each weapon and each impact is still heard with great clarity. I would have warn you, to make sure you have a good internet connection because it sucks having to reconnect in the middle of a battle. 

Lets Play!

When you first start the game you are given a bot called a Gepard ( not really sure on the pronunciation of this, sorry guys) which is a light robot that is pretty quick, and can really hold it's own on the battle field.

ScreenShot of the Gepard (via FxMoneyTrader)

 

The picture above shows my own bot that I started with, however, I have since upgraded mine. When you start out it is at a level ! and is a little slower than the one shown here. As you do battle against other players from around the world, you earn rewards in the form of experience points, as well as silver, gold, and other various treasures which you can then use to improve your bot or buy others. It is not difficult to win the rounds either; typically you are put with other players who are of a similar level, both in experience and bot strength. This makes it more of an even playing field; allowing you to use tactics rather than just brute strength to win. 

 As you play and defeat opponents, you win silver and gold. Just a quick hint, be careful on what you spend your gold on as you wont get a lot of it through the game. Of course you always have the option to buy gold and you can purchase a premium VIP badge ( for $5 or $10) and last from 10-30 days; giving a boost on your winnings.However the game does give you plenty of chances to win additional robots and weapons through the various "mini-games" they have; so I have not seen any reason to make these purchases yet. 

There aren't that many arenas (I can remember 4 off hand) so it's pretty easy to memorize the terrain and to use it to yourself a leg up. Another advantage is the other players; you can either work with the other members of your team, or go out on you own. However, I would recommend trying to stay with the group when you first start off, this way you can maximize the amount of damage you inflict, and avoid the damage taken if it had been just you.

Screenshot 'War Robots" via FxMoneyTrader

Bots and Weapons

I've seen other videos about this game and everybody has their own idea of which bots are the best and what weapons to use with them. From my experience, each bot has it's own unique abilities giving each it's advantage and disadvantages. The type of robot you choose should depend on your fighting style. The weapons you pick should be chosen on the same basis. 

• Slow and Methodical- If you like to take your time a carey out massive bombardment on your enemy; you may be into the slow but methodical way of doing things. Taking your time is great as a lot of the larger bots are slow anyway, but they generally have a solid defense. You're gonna want something with multiple weapons, that can deal heavy damage while withstanding an assault. Best done with a group of 2-3 others who have the same approach. (Hint: There are some bots that have a built in shield or have made the purchase for one. Stand next to these guys so their shield absorbs some of the damage directed you way

• Quick, Get it and Get Out!-  There are robots that don't have major defenses, and the weapons are few; but these guys can maneuver. Although these bots are usually won or purchased with the silver and gold you won in the game; they are under utilized. There are two major maneuvers that can be obtained at great cost; they are a Jump drive and a Dash drive. Pretty easy to guess what they do, and while it may not seem like much, most of the bots are slower and can not jump, so these guys can literally do circles around their bigger rivals. If you're in 'capture the flag' type of game, these little bots can come in handy.

• Careful, But Powerful- Maybe you're a little bit of everything and you like to have a powerful robot but you also like to be careful and pick your battles. This is where I fit in, my preference is to get the most powerful weapons I can on bots that have medium mobility and tough defenses. This is difficult to do and requires you to play with bot you may not like until you can buy the ones you want. It is possible to get weapons which automatically lock onto your opponent. or you fire missiles that are more long range than the typical missiles supplied.

Some of the other weapons and upgrades that are listed on the app are pretty awesome and can give you a big heads up. However, there are a few though that seem almost impossible to get, unless you make a purchase. I personally hate spending money on games, I used to do it all the time but when I lost my phone I lost my accounts because I never can remember my passwords (rookie mistake I know).While I have only been playing for about a week and my bots are pretty tough as is, It would be nice to have some of crazy energy weapons they have. I'm talking flamethrowers and of course, LASERS!!! To get these powerful weapons you need "components" which you must win through a mini game or purchase, I haven't been able to do it, but it looks worth it.

Video created via 'Game Screen Recorder' courtesy of FxMoneyTrader

 

The Compition

There are several modes you can play in, including several temporary modes like Rampage as seen above. Except for the all out 'Deathmatch' mode, you will always be working with a team. There's a red team and a blue team; the computer picks which side your on for you. As you can not chat with your team members ( at least not that I have been able to find) you kinda have to speculate as to where everybody is going. It's not very efficient, but when you are working with the more experienced players, it's a lot simpler to do. 

In the "Deathmatch" mode, is everybody for themselves. When you first start off the game you only get one bot, and therefore one life. You can unlock more slots, and add more bots; which in turn gives you more lives. I would recommend not going into a deathmatch unless you have at least 3 robots, otherwise you'll be shot out pretty quick.

Screenshot 'War Robots' via FxMoneyTrader. 

 

Some of the other modes are much simpler; such as the 'Beacon' mode. This is just like capture the flag, only instead of one flag, there are 5 beacons that must be turned on. Which ever team you are on (blue or red) is the color the beacon will light up. You must light all 5 or have the most lit in your color before the timer runs out. If you manage to destroy all enemy bots before getting the beacons lit, you'll still win by default; so  I just try to take out as many people as I can.

Conclusion

So to wrap it up, this game is addictive, I have to stop myself from playing or I'll never get any work done. The addiction is in building up the robot; it makes me want to keep upgrading and to get better weapons. It's so hard not to just pay the $1-$5 to get the extra goodies. 

I would recommend this game to anyone. It's easy to play, has great graphics and sound, and it's free! If you are into first-person shooter games or progressive games where you need to build up your character, this game's for you.