About Robopon: Sun Version
[release][versions][story]



Robopon: Sun Version boxart, featuring Sunny

Released on December 4th, 2000, for the Game Boy Color, Robopon was instantly hailed as a not-terribly-good game. On the surface, it seemed to be a clone of the successsful Pokemon series, which, at the time, had just expanded to the Gold and Silver versions. This was particularly poor timing for Robopon, as Robopon, as a game, was more comparable to Pokemon Red and Blue in terms of graphics, sound, and pretty much everything else. The game ran slowly and lagged whenever a menu was opened, and was riddled with bugs. However, it also introduced a number of unique elements. The cartridge had an IR sensor built in (along with a clock, like Pokemon Gold and Silver), and if the player used TV remotes at the game, certain events would trigger. However, these events were few and far between.

 Robopon, much like Pokemon, was released with multiple versions. First, Sun Version and Star Version were released, starring Sunny and Digit, a battery Robopon. Later on, Moon Version was released, a special edition that featured more Robopon to collect. As in Pokemon, it is impossible to collect all of the Robopon unless a player links with all three of the versions. The problem is that only Robopon: Sun Version was released outside of Japan, making it difficult for anyone but Japanese players to complete their collection. Also similarly to Pokemon, a Robopon game was released on the Nintendo 64 that the Game Boy Color games were compatable with using the N64 Transfer Pak. Robopon 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel was also never released outside of Japan.


A typical battle

 The story of Robopon is fairly straightforward. The main character, whose default name is Cody, inherits a failing business - the Robopon Dispatching Agency - from his Grandfather Hogle. Hogle also bequeaths onto Cody a Robopon - in the Sun Version, Cody receives Sunny. Cody and Sunny participate in the local Robopon tournament, starting by defeating the Legend7, Bisco. Bisco continues to be a thorn in Cody's side throughout the rest of the game. After defeating Bisco, Cody goes on to beat the rest of the legends: in order, Amron (a TV personality), Mr. Wild (leader of a biker gang), Kamat (general of an army), Dr. Disc, and Prince Tail (prince of Porombo Island). After working his way up through the ranks, Cody encounters the true villain of the game, Dr. Zero. Dr. Zero, gunning for world domination, defeats Prince Tail, the Legend1, before Cody can and takes the title, in the process bumping Tail down to Legend2. However, Cody beats him and takes the title, prompting Dr. Zero to explode his fortress. Robopon 2 starts immediately where Robopon ends, with Dr. Zero's defeat. However, in Robopon, Dr. Zero dies in the explosion, while in Robopon 2, his brother travels through time to save him, prompting the events of Robopon 2.


Some of the Robopon from Robopon: Sun and Star Versions
Digit, Dotcom, Hogbot, Johnny, Mochi
Pss't, Viggy, Snorks, Stinky, Tacbot


The sprites are courtesy of Sprite Database.
ROBOPON 2: RING VERSION, ROBOPON: SUN VERSION and all related trademarks are copyright Hudson Soft, Red Entertainment, ATLUS, and Nintendo.
Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and all related trademarks are copyright Nintendo.