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I, Robot

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The game play consists of moving robot1984 over all of the red tiles while avoiding objects flying at you from the back of the screen. Eliminating the red tiles diminishes the shield at the back of the playfield which prevents you from flying to the next level. To get to all the red tiles, player...

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Developer
Atari

Released on
1983

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

The game play consists of moving robot1984 over all of the red tiles while avoiding objects flying at you from the back of the screen. Eliminating the red tiles diminishes the shield at the back of the playfield which prevents you from flying to the next level. To get to all the red tiles, players sometimes need to leap across empty space which creates a permanent bridge between the two points. Leaps across empty space have to be timed so that the “eye” of Big Brother in the back of the playfield, which randomly opens and closes, does not see robot1984 and destroy him.

I, Robot

Overview & History

Released by Atari in 1983 and designed by the visionary Dave Theurer, I, Robot holds a monumental place in arcade history as the very first commercial video game to feature true filled 3D polygon graphics rather than traditional 2D sprites or wireframes. Set in a dystopian future ruled by the tyrannical, giant red eye known as "BIG BROTHER," the storyline casts players as Unker—a renegade, bean-shaped robot who achieves sentience and rebels against the mechanical overlord. Despite its technological breakthrough, the game suffered from a dismal commercial release due to high hardware costs, rampant arcade operator skepticism toward 3D visuals, and a cabinet design that intimidated casual players. Consequently, original upright cabinets are now among the rarest and most coveted collector's items in coin-op history.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Rather than relying on standard shooting mechanics, I, Robot blends isometric platforming, puzzle-solving, and abstract spatial navigation across dozens of surreal, grid-based levels. Players control Unker as he traverses floating platforms, navigates treacherous chasms, and dodges hostile sentinels. The core objective on most stages is to paint a specific percentage of the grid floor red by walking over every individual tile while avoiding hazards like deadly red beams, spinning geometric hazards, and homing projectiles. To defeat enemies, Unker can transform from his standard mobile form into a powerful flying laser-shooting eye, capable of zapping pesky adversaries out of the sky. Additionally, the game features a built-in "Doodlecity" mode, allowing players to manipulate primitive 3D vectors to draw their own shapes, showcasing the raw power of the custom polygon-rendering hardware.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Unker across the grid tiles and steer during flight
Action Keys: Jump / Transform into the laser eye to attack enemies
Enter: Start / Pause