| Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash | |
|---|---|
 Game icon | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Hironori Ahiko |
| Artist(s) | Akira Katsuta |
| Composer(s) |
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| Series | Chibi-Robo! |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash[a] is a 2015 side-scrolling platform game developed by Skip Ltd. and Vanpool and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fifth installment in the Chibi-Robo! series, and the second Chibi-Robo! game for the 3DS after Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder (2014). Zip Lash players control the character Chibi-Robo, a robot that is tasked with roaming the world and defending its natural resources from a fleet of invading aliens. Chibi-Robo is equipped with a cord and plug with which he can attack enemies and get to inaccessible places. Throughout the levels, the player can find collectibles such as big coins, Chibi-Tots, and snacks that are based on real-world brands.
The game is distinguishable from the previous installments in the Chibi-Robo! series, which uses elements from the adventure genre. The decision to shift genres was taken in the hope of expanding the franchise's fanbase in the US, and to assist mechanics developed for the game. Developers chose the character Chibi-Robo to create a game that suited him, as well as to be commercially successful. The snack collectibles were included into the game to give scale to Chibi-Robo and to be recognizable to the player. While wanting to further develop the character for future games, developers feared this could be the last installment of the series if sales did not meet expectations.
Zip Lash was a commercial failure and received mixed reviews from critics with praise for the visuals, sound, and overall charm but criticism for its level design, controls, and gameplay mechanics, with many calling the game unoriginal and uninspired. Zip Lash is currently the most recent game in the series and is believed to be the last, and Skip Ltd.'s dormancy has prompted speculation of its closure.
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