Spare Parts (video game)

Gameplay

Spare Parts is a platform game. It features local and online cooperative gameplay, and players can drop in and out on the fly. The game features incentives for cooperative play, such as special moves that can only be executed with two players. The game does not feature an AI companion when playing single player. The game has an average play length of between five and seven hours to complete the game, with approximately ten hours to reach 100% completion.

The player characters can be upgraded with different items which enhance abilities or grant new ones, such as x-ray vision, power arms, which allow the character to lift heavy objects, and rocket boots which allow temporary flight. Items acquired can be upgraded via in-game currency found throughout the game. Additionally, during cooperative games players may receive bonuses when certain items are equipped and in use simultaneously. Players will also be tasked with rescuing other robots stranded on the planet. Once found and repaired, players can use these robots to play through the game.

Synopsis

The story is set around a pair of robots, Mar-T and Chip, who become stranded on a junkyard planet by an alien race known as the Krofax. As they journey they discover an abandoned spacecraft. Con-Rad, the ship's computer, informs the pair that the planet contains enough spare parts to repair the ship, but they are scattered throughout the landscape. The duo then set off to acquire the parts needed to be able to repair it and leave the planet.

Mar-T and Chip journey across the planet, rescuing other stranded robots and recovering parts for the craft. Shortly after exiting one of the planet's caves the robots learn from Con-Rad that the Krofax have constructed a surface-to-air laser that will destroy the ship upon takeoff if not disabled. Con-Rad further reveals that the Krofax leader, Lord Krung, wants to capture the spaceship and use Con-Rad's technologies for nefarious purposes. The robotic pair sabotage the laser which fires lethal shot to Lord Krung's cruiser as it explodes. Awakening on the surface of the planet, Krung sets the self-destruct on what remains of his vessel, threatening to destroy the entire planet.

Krung is confronted within the remains of his ship. The robotic duo defeat the Krofax leader and disarm the self-destruct. Krung makes an attempt at escape, however he and his minions defeated just outside by Mar-T and Chip. Krung drops the final crucial part for Con-Rad's spacecraft, and the robots return to the ship and begin their escape from the planet. As the vessel begins to leave orbit, Con-Rad detects movement in the hangar bay; Lord Krung survived their recent battle and has stowed away. Mar-T and Chip open the cargo bay doors, depressurizing the cargo bay. The equip their magnetic boots and eject Krung from the ship, victorious.

Development and marketing

Spare Parts was developed by EA Bright Light and published by Electronic Arts. It was announced June 11, 2010 and subsequently shown three days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The ship's computer is voiced by English actor Simon Pegg, known for the lead role in Shaun of the Dead. Pegg cited HAL 9000 from the Space Odyssey series, Mother from the film Alien, and GERTY from the film Moon as inspirations for his character. Of the game's cooperative emphasis, Pegg said during an interview with IGN "it's a great exercise in cooperation [...], it's like team building."

In an interview with Casualgaming.biz, EA Bright Light's Gary Napper said of the target audience "I like to think that we’ve made a game for everybody. It feels like it’s a young person's game, but it’s the sort of game I hope a lot of older players, like myself, will play." Napper cited Ratchet & Clank series as one source of inspiration for the game. He also cited the platform genre in general, adding that he "couldn’t really call out a specific title" as the main influence for the game. In his interview with IGN, Simon Pegg commented on the visual influences for the game. He cited Japanese manga and cyberpunk elements and added "it's a good representation of contemporary science fiction."

The developers placed emphasis on cooperative gameplay, and provided incentives available only when playing cooperatively. In an interview with Destructoid, Gary Napper stated "we didn't want to make it just two players running around and doing the same thing, we want to make it so they can do stuff better." Napper further explained the dynamic in his interview with Casualgaming.biz. "There’s things in the game that you can do, like if you both double jump at the same time, you perform a high-five which gives you a health pack" stated Napper. Napper said that the developers wanted players to work together, so the incentives provide a way to encourage cooperative play. Other examples of cooperative play incentive include puzzles which require a second player. While none of these puzzles are necessary to solve in order to complete a level, bonus items and other robot characters can be unlocked by completing these sequences. On April 13, 2012 Electronic Arts will shut down multiplayer services for the game.

Reception

Spare Parts received moderate reviews from critics. The Xbox 360 version of the game holds a score of 56.10% at GameRankings and 54/100 at Metacritic. The PlayStation 3 version of the game fared similarly, with an aggregate score of 50.20% at GameRankings and 50/100 at Metacritic. Individual review scores ranged from a 40% approval from Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead to an 80% approval rating from Chris Buffa of RunDLC. In its first two weeks, Spare Parts moved over 15,000 units. That number increased to 34,000 units as of year-end 2011.

Critics were generally favorable of the game's art design and audio. Multiple critics praised the use of comedic actor Simon Pegg. Chris Buffa of RunDLC stated that Pegg's performance "gives Spare Parts much needed personality, thanks to often times humorous dialogue." David Collins, reviewer for GameFocus, also gave high marks for Pegg's performance. Collins felt, however, that it was "unfortunate that the script work didn’t use Simon Pegg as well as it could have." He did however give high commentary to the game's visuals. "The cartoony art style and vibrant color pallet is sure to appeal to all ages" said Collins. GameSpot's Jeremiah Leif Johnson stated the Spare Parts has "colorful, lively characters and environments" and added "Mar-T and Chip have a few endearing animations, the minions ooze with diabolical cuteness, and the world is unfailingly colorful and upbeat."

Multiple reviewers expressed frustration with the game's camera system. Specifically, they commented on the set camera angles and the fact that the camera could not be rotated. Some reviewers added that the fixed camera angles often caused problems when playing cooperatively. Kristine Steimer and Colin Moriarty of IGN stated players will "end up fighting with your partner for the stubbornly-fixed camera's attention." Dan Whitehead stated simply that the camera system in cooperative mode was "horrible".

Gameplay mechanics received mixed commentary from reviewers. Chris Buffa of RunDLC praised the fact that the game has several items for the player to find and collect. He also gave high marks for the various upgrades which can be equipped to the characters. GameSpot's Jeremiah Leif Johnson felt that the game lacked direction in regards to its upgrades and their use in the game environment. "[It's] often impossible to figure out which of these tools you need to use next without resorting to help" he noted. Johnson also felt the combat consisted of "repetitive button-mashing". David Collins of GameFocus noted that the although the game allows players to defeat all enemies by "[spamming] the basic attack button" that each enemy had a weakness which was more susceptible to a specific combat move.