EPISODE 16: Robo-Squash

 PLAY EPISODE 16 HERE

#PA2035, Published by Atari Corp.

In this episode Monty and I cover a "Zero-G Futuresport" game for the Lynx, Robo-Squash, set in either the 29th or 31st century and released for the Lynx in 1990. As Monty seems somewhat confused as to what the game of squash really is, I go about setting him straight. In the meantime, he and I provide statistics for Robo-Squash, as well as a run-down on how to play it. We also go over reviews and ratings for the game, some fun facts and trivia, plus some very welcome listener feedback.

"Who leaves a country packed with ponies to come to a non-pony country?"

ROBO-SQUASH VITAL STATISTICS
Release Date: October of 1990 (North America and Europe); July 26, 1991 (Japan).
Initial Retail Price: $34.00-$39.00 (US); £29.99 (UK); ₣300 (France).
Cartridge Information: 128kb stereo curved lip-style cartridge.
Game Genre: Front-view 2-dimensional sports action game for 1 player, or for 2 opposing players using the ComLynx cable.
Based On: The racket and ball indoor sport called squash, developed in London during the 19th century, and played by two players in a four-walled court using a small, hollow rubber ball.
Screen Playfield Orientation: Landscape (horizontal).
Ports to Other Systems: Robo-Squash is an Atari Lynx exclusive that was not ported to any other system.
Game Levels: There are 16 rounds, or planets, in Robo-Squash.
Skill Levels: There are 4 skill levels in Robo-Squash: KLUTZ, TERRIFIC, OUTRAGEOUS, and INSANE.
Packaging: A full-color standard flap-tab regular-size box (5 3/8" by 4 3/8" by 7/8"). There was also a blister-pack released in Europe for Robo-Squash, as well as French, Japanese, and Micro World variants.
Instruction Manual: An 8-page (including front and back covers) stapled regular-sized booklet manual in monochrome, measuring the usual 4 7/8” high by 3 ¾” wide. The manual was released in English (North America), in French (France), and in Japanese (Japan). It's possible that it was written by Scott Rhoades.

ROBO-SQUASH CREDITS
Working Title: 3D Barrage.
Developer: NuFX, Inc. (maybe)
Programmer: Ed Schneider
Artwork: Robert Nagel
Music/Sound Effects: David Tumminaro
Producer: Craig Erickson

LYNXED IN

Be sure to check out our partner AtariGamer.com to stay "Lynxed In" to all of the latest news about our favorite handheld gaming console!

LYNX LYNKS
Information About Robo-Squash:
Atari Age title info/rarity guide for Robo-Squash
Atari Gamer title info/rarity guide for Robo-Squash
Digital Press title info/rarity guide for Robo-Squash
GameFAQs article about Robo-Squash
Moby Games article about Robo-Squash
Wikipedia article about Robo-Squash

Reviews and Ratings for Robo-Squash:
Review by The Review Crew in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US; Issue #18; January 1991; page 26)
Review in Computer and Video Games (UK; Issue #112; March 1991; page 71)
Review in RAZE (UK; Issue #6; April 1991; page 38)
Review  in ST Format (US; Issue #41; December 1992; page 102)
Review by Jeff at JVGS (undated)
Review by Robert A. Jung at IGN (1999; updated 2018)
Review by The Video Game Critic at The Video Game Critic (2008)
Review by Tim at The Retro Review Project (2012)
Review by Retro Gamer Team at Retro Gamer (2013)
Review by Jon Mc at Atari Gamer (2018)

YouTube Videos About Robo-Squash:
Playthrough (World-of-Longplays)
Playthrough (Atari Revival)
Playthrough (GameON)
Final Stage Playthrough and Commentary (Jon Mc)

Retailers Selling Robo-Squash:
B & C ComputerVisions: Bruce at B & C is selling Robo-Squash for US$5.00 (box only),  US$9.95 (cart/manual combo), US$12.95 (NIB w/damaged box) and for US$14.95 (NIB) through eBay under the user name MyAtari. Check out his online store on eBay for updated availability and pricing.
Best Electronics (last updated January 7, 2021; check website for availability): US$14.95 (CIB); US$9.95 (loose cart).
The Gamesmen (Australia): AU$24.95 (CIB).
The Goat Store: US$17.97 (CIB).
Telegames (UK): £10.00 (including tax; NOS with box and manual).
Video 61 & Atari Sales: US$24.95 (NIB).

After-Market and Homebrew Lynx Titles Now Available:

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and homebrew Atari Lynx titles available from Luchs Soft in Germany (prices include VAT but not shipping costs):
Alpine Games (€55,92)
Ejagfest Slideshow (€49,97)
Quadromania (€55,92)
Retro X-MASsacre (Pre-order; €44,02)
Space Battle (Single: €55,92)
Space Battle (Double: €74,96)
Unseen (€49,97)
Yastuna-The Alchemy of Cubes (€49,97)
Click here if you're interested in ordering from Luchs Soft.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and homebrew Atari Lynx titles available from Songbird Productions in the US (prices do not include tax or shipping costs):
Alpine Games ($59.95)
Alpine Games Bonus Card ($49.95)
Biniax 2 ($49.95/$79.95)
Bubble Trouble ($69.95)
A Bug's Trip Redux ($49.95)
Centipede ($49.95)
CGE 5th Redux ($39.95)
Championship Rally ($59.95/$89.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Regular: $59.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Black PCB: $59.95)
CyberVirus ($59.95)
CyberVirus: Lost Missions ($49.95)
Fat Bobby ($69.95)
Hyperdrome ($69.95)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf ($69.95)
Lexis ($49.95)
Loopz ($59.95/$89.95)
MegaPak 1  ($59.95)
Othello ($49.95/$79.95)
Ponx (Regular: $39.95)
Ponx (Black PCB: Out of Stock)
Quadromania Redux ($49.95)
Raiden (Out of Stock)
Remnant: Planar Wars ($59.95)
SFX (Regular: $49.95)
SFX (Black PCB: Out of Stock)
SIMIS ($59.95/$89.95)
T-Tris ($49.95/$79.95)
unnamed ($49.95)
Xump: The Final Run ($49.95)
Click here if you're interested in ordering from Songbird Productions.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and homebrew Atari Lynx titles available from Telegames in the UK (all prices include VAT):
Alpine Games (£55.00)
Bubble Trouble (£49.98)
Championship Rally (£49.99)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (£49.99)
CyberVirus (Limited Run; £49.99)
Fat Bobby (£49.99)
Hyperdrome (£52.98)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf (£49.99)
Lexis (£49.99)
Lynx Reloaded (Pre-order; with Othello and MultoPong; £44.99)
Ponx (£39.98)
Raiden (£52.98)
Remnant: Planar Wars (£49.98)
SFX (£39.86)
SIMIS 5 w/Space Invaders (£49.98)
Sokomania (£52.98)
T-Tris (£49.98)
Click here if you're interested in ordering from Telegames.

Resources for Atari Lynx Console/Game-Related Collecting Materials/Tools:
Resource: Game Boy Color cases for Atari Lynx cartridges from Joom.
Resource: 2 1/2" coin storage sheets from Amazon.
Resource: Atari Lynx regular-size game box sleeves from BuzzandBingosMoonCircus (eBay).
Resource: Atari Lynx custom game box sleeves from RetroProtection.
Resource: Building a custom Atari Lynx game box shelving unit from AtariGamer.
Resource: Atari Lynx II display stand in a choice of 3 colors from RoseColoredGaming on Etsy.
Resource: Atari Lynx I and II display stands (along with cartridge stands) from TelltaleShop on Etsy.
Resource: BennVenn's drop-in LCD replacement kit (solder-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com's 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II).
Resource: BennVenn's drop-in LCD replacement kit (solderless-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com's 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II).
Resource: BennVenn's ElCheapoSD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.
Resource: RetroHQ's GameDrive SD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.

"Thank You's" and Other Lynks:
Antic: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast (Thanks to Brad Arnold, Randy Kindig, and Kevin Zavitz for the shoutout about The HandyCast in Episode 50!)
AtariGamer.com (Thanks to Igor for incorporating The HandyCast into his excellent website!)
The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to The Podfather himself, Ferg, for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in both Episode 151 and Episode 154!)
The Atari Jaguar Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to Shinto for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in Episodes 22 and 26!)
Curtis Herod (Cujo)'s The Bl^ck Book v2  (Check HERE to see the now-expired Indiegogo campaign, where you can find out more about the book. And please consider purchasing Curtis Herod's The Black Book v2 by emailing him at cujo86@gmail.com.)
Into the Vertical Blank Podcast (Thanks to hosts Jeff and Steve Fulton for "singing" about The HandyCast in Season 1, Episode 10!)
Please Stand By (Thanks to Zerbe and Ferg for helping to promote The  HandyCast on several episodes of this fun-to-listen-to show, starting with Episode 60!)
The RCR Podcast (Thanks to the Retro Computing Roundtable: Paul Hagstrom, Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vance, for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 167!)
The Retro MacCast Podcast (Thanks to Retro MacCast hosts James Savage and John Leake for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 475!)
Retro Video Gamer Forums (Thanks to Eugenio/TrekMD for helping to promote The HandyCast on his wonderful forums!)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks go to everyone who contributed feedback about Robo-Squash (and other games) for this episode: Ron Alpert, Eugenio (TrekMD), Kieren Hawken, Michael Hayes, Scott Rhoades, Shinto, Bobby Tribble, and ultramagnus_tcv. I really appreciate your feedback!

Also, I would like to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “8-Bit Core” by Tagirijus (opening and closing theme music), along with "Concentric," "Digital Savanna," "Energy," "Escalator," "Imaginery Intelligence," "Intermission," "Sand Dweller," and "Transfixion," all by Metre.

Thanks also to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson) for the "Oooh, let's party!" and "Leaving so soon?" digitized speech clips captured from the Atari Lynx game Pinball Jam that are used at the beginning and end of each episode of The HandyCast.

I would especially like to thank Shinto for submitting his memories of various Atari Lynx games he's owned in the past to The Atari Lynx HandyCast...they are greatly appreciated. And you should all check out Shinto's wonderful Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast; it's definitely worth listening to, even if you've never owned a Jaguar. You can find it here.

Many, many thanks also go to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, Please Stand By.

Finally, my thanks to the Podfather himself, Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. Please, check out his don't-miss podcast, even if you're not an Atari 2600 collector; you should also visit his website here.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Atari Lynx HandyCast. And please don't forget to visit the official Atari Lynx HandyCast website by clicking here!

-Mark

Next Episode: "EPISODE 17: RoadBlasters"