Haiku, the Robot

At worst, Haiku The Robot can feel forgettable due to how by-the-numbers it is. Its art style is just serviceable, but the playability and kinesthetic feel of the controls make it one of the better “metroidvania” games out there.

Haiku, The Robot wears its 8-hour runtime well, especially if you’re looking for a shorter, action-heavy, well-made experience. Once the bosses are all dispatched and the simple story is completed, finding the final few ability-expanding computer chips (Hollow Knight parallel: ability-expanding charms) may take another hour or so. Overall, Haiku, The Robot made me nostalgic for Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight in all the right ways. I’m not sure what Hunter S. Thompson did with his copy of The Great Gatsby—but Mr. Morris gets to count this game as a well-earnt win. It gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.

A satisfying and generally very accessible Metroidvania experience awaits

Those who don't mind experimenting and backtracking will find a more satisfying experience, but about halfway through I felt like I had already had my fill. Aesthetically, the clean presentation is an asset, but the soundtrack lacks punch and variety. Ultimately, even though Haiku, The Robot does play well, it can be tedious more often than it is compelling.