Mayan Death Robots

aka: Mayan Death Robots: Arena
Moby ID: 76928
Windows Specs
Buy on Xbox One
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Buy on Xbox Series
$6.99 new on Xbox.com

Description official descriptions

Mayan Death Robots is a 2D single-screen artillery variant, similar in concept to the Worms games. It is presented as a show broadcasted on Intergalactic Sports TV where killer robots fight each other on a planet with a Mayan civilization. It is played as a match between two robots, each on a side of the screen, standing on a structure, a mountain or a tower. A game is won when one of the robots manages to destroy the other party's core completely, and the core is a separate object in the environment.

While the basic mechanics are similar to Worms, there are also many differences. There are ten robots to choose from (six available from the start), each with very different abilities. Each robot has two unique attacks. Hunahpu for instance attacks with horizontal flares and vertical nukes (with one turn delay), while Akna can launch autonomous diggers (vertically) and crawlers (horizontally) that delve to reach the core. The monkey-like Hun-Batz throws bananas and boulders, while Chac strikes or zaps using electricity, and so on. Most attacks require the player to aim with a curved line that can be adjusted to shoot over obstacles influencing the speed and height. Rather than taking turns, both sides execute their move simultaneously and the selection is visible to both sides at all times, including the trajectory. A timer counts down to end the window of opportunity, so there are often mind games with last-minute changes as both sides can observe each other's strategies before the move is executed.

Each robot also has the ability to jump (requires one turn) and to build. As most of the environment is gradually destroyed, the game is also won when the core falls into the depths below. Robots can fall down as well, as explosions often cause toppling and physics based effects, but they always respawn with a delay of one turn. With each survived turn, a robot gains a block for the Build option, with a maximum of five. When a player chooses Build instead of attacking or jumping, one to five tetronimo shapes can be placed in the environment (including rotation), as barriers to protect the core or to block the opponent. These blocks immediately turn into the same substance as the environment. They cannot be placed anywhere from any position, only in a circle radius surrounding the character with a reach of about half the screen.

Each side also has access to a tribe of Mayan followers, present as small characters on the screen that act on their own and cannot be controlled by the player. They worship their robot and attack the enemy robot when it travels to the other side of the screen. There are different environments to choose from, but the main single-player campaign mode also introduces many surprises. Sometimes in the middle of the fight a Mayan god appears that need to be defeated. Both sides then need to set aside their differences and first work together to kill the god. Other levels introduce substances that damage the robots or catapults that constantly fire rocks, creating passages to fire at the core. Every now and then a large prize wheel appears with a single-use bonus attack that is provided to both sides. These attacks include bouncy grenades, cluster bombs, chain rockets, triple rockets, carpet bombs, mirror image (a second robot) and so on.

The game supports local player for up to two players on a single screen. There are also quick matches to play against the computer aside from the campaign mode.

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Credits (Windows version)

46 People (31 developers, 15 thanks) · View all

Lead Programmer
Lead Artist
Artist
Technical Programmer
Senior Company Cat
  • Nori
Junior Company Cats
  • Romulus & Remus
SOEDESCO
Music by
Artist Interns
Programmer Intern
Freelance Artists
Sound Effects Support by
  • Power-Up Audio
Cosmocover
[ full credits ]

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Average score: 71% (based on 7 ratings)

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  • MobyGames ID: 76928
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Sciere.

Xbox One, Xbox Series added by Alaka.

Additional contributors: Alaka.

Game added February 11, 2016. Last modified September 24, 2023.