Rise of the Robots (Prototype)

The ill fated prototype of the arcade conversion of Rise of the Robots. Bare in mind the emulation is not complete and has issues and even the game it self is probably incomplete. The speed doesn't feel right running twice the speed (especially the timer) compared to all the home versions but I have no idea if that's how it is on actual arcade hardware.

The game has many notable changes compared to the home versions and includes features found in the later Rise 2 home release. Firstly, You can play through the single player story mode with any character. Secondly, the game has a special move unlock system where you unlock an extra move each time you defeat your clone. At the start you can select from any of the six robots as well as other colour options for them giving the illusion of 18 fighters although they do have differing special moves. You play against each opponent twice before finally facing off against the sub and main boss.

There are many extra animations to account for all the different fight possibilities but non of cyborgs in game game cutscenes play as you move through the campaign, only the enemy defeated ones. Partial bits of those cutscenes are seen in the attract mode however. A notable issue is that the second time you face the opponent, the colour palette is locked to a single channel.

Due to the wacky speed of the game, the fights are over quickly one way or another. It can be difficult to pull off the special moves as the input time window is pretty short. The game has all the same issues though as the home versions in that the game is a bit too easy. You can just light punch your way to victory, but that would have made a boring video. Oh yeah, you have three punch buttons, light, medium and hard. The light ones being fast and dealing little damage and the hard punch being slow making you vulnerable but packs a real punch. A single kick on the forth button. Finally, you probably noticed that there is also no in game music, only ambient effects.

This longplay covers playing through the single player campaign with all six characters in order to show as many of the defeated animations as I can. Watch out for what is laughably the ending as it has a migraine inducing flashing effect going on. Overall, its probably a better game than the home versions but that's not saying much as really the only good part of the arcade game is it's attract mode! Maybe it's just me, but does the music in the middle intro have a Stargate Atlantis vibe ??

I couldn't find the moves for this version of the game written anywhere so I have noted down any I find. There could be more as I see the Opponents doing the odd move that I cant. , like Military and his roundhouse kick. I also couldn't figure out the last unlockable move on crusher if there is one as two moves ca performed on all three crushers. The unlockable moves are obtained after defeating your alt coloured clones while playing as the original robots.

For Reference:-
Cyborg Special Moves
Back - Towards - Kick = Flying Kick
Down - Up - Punch = Head Butt
Down - Down - Kick = Sliding Kick (Unlockable)
Back - Towards - Punch = Sliding Punch (Unlockable)

Sentry Special Moves
Back - Towards - Kick = Sliding Kick
Down - Down - Kick = Spinning Kick
Towards - Towards - Punch = Sliding Punch (Unlockable)
Towards - Towards - Kick = Flying Kick (Unlockable)

Prime-8 Special Moves
Down - Up - Punch = Power Smash
Down - Up - Kick = High Drop Smash
Towards - Towards - Punch = Sliding Punch (unlockable)
Back - Towards - Kick = Flying Kick (Unlockable)

Military Special Moves
Back - Towards - Punch = Claw Attack
Down - Up - Punch = Spinning Jump
Towards Towards - kick = Flying Kick (unlockable)
Down - Down - Kick = Sliding Kick (Unlockable)

Loader Special Moves
Toward - Toward - Punch = Stab
Down - Up - Kick = Long Jump
Down - Down - Kick - Jump Kick (Unlockable)
Down - Down - Punch = Sliding Stab (Unlockable)

Crusher Special Moves
Down - Toward - Punch = Spinning blades
Down - Back - Towards - Punch = Sliding Punch
Down - Down - Back - Punch - Sliding Spin Blades (Unlockable)
? - ? - ? = ? (Unlockable)

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:16 Attract Mode
00:05:57 Cyborg
00:20:34 Sentry
00:35:28 Prime-8
00:51:02 Military
01:06:18 Loader
01:20:55 Crusher
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01:36:45 Slow fight leading to game over.