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First you must stun a NOED, though conventional weapons won't damage it. Instead you must trick each 'bot into hurting itself. That might mean coaxing it into slamming itself into metal grates or environmental hazards, though each time you plot a move the NOED will try its darnedest to smash you to bits. Once your opponent is temporarily incapacitated, you must then fire your EMP rifle at its exposed core. After taking damage, the NOED will change its tactics and you must trick it again. Rinse and repeat. You'll do this for each of the game's seven boss NOEDs, though each scenario is unique and very creative taking full advantage of the realistic physics at work.



Even the underlings are tough, as they pack homing rockets, mortars, and spinning blades. If you take a few hits, you can pick up a nearby wrench to patch your motor. Rather than clutter the screen with obtrusive readouts or garish HUDs, the designers instead opted for a clean look. Everything you need to know about Blitz's heath is right on his back. As he soaks up damage, the green heath bar will shrink and smoke will emanate from his circuitry. Take one too many lumps and he'll shatter into a dozen pieces. Death in RoboBlitz is not permanent, thankfully. Instead, you'll have the option to either restart from the hub zone, restart the level, or on the easy skill setting you can continue from where you left off with full health.

It's a good thing you have unlimited continues. There will undoubtedly be points when you'll die over an over again because the solution to a given problem just isn't obvious, despite the helpful hints your partner (a chatty robot named Karl) throws at you. But when you finally whack a boss NOED or align those pesky reflector panels properly, you'll feel really good about winning. In short, RoboBlitz offers enough challenge to push you forward, but it shouldn't stump you so that you can't beat it. When in doubt, hit the forums and ask for advice - the answer will often be so obvious you'll kick yourself for not thinking of the solution first.



Because the game utilizes the same graphics engine as high-profile titles like Gears of War and the upcoming Mass Effect, it features some impressive real-time lighting, textures, and physics. Compared to other downloadable games, RoboBlitz is hands-down the best-looking game to hit Xbox Live Arcade. But these pretty visuals and accurate physics come at a price. For starters, the framerate takes an unexplained dip during certain boss battles (specifically the final showdown against the Mega NOED) and whenever Blitz jumps into a transport tube (though this could be due to brief loading and decompression from the hard drive). And because the physics are so realistic, you'll find Blitz getting inconveniently stuck as he rolls about the environment.