One-Armed Robber: The Banditry Balancing Act
A one-armed heist symphony with a free-to-play rhythm
last updated Dec 18, 2023
This bandit's life ain’t easy, but for those patient enough to navigate the bumps, it's a heist worth considering.
Looting With Limitations
One-Armed Robber takes the heist genre and flips it on its proverbial head by equipping the player with only one arm, siccing them on banks and boutiques galore. The gameplay, as chaotic as a monkey in a diamond shop, makes for some truly comedic heist-hatching. However, let's address the elephant in the room: the game dendy's communal handout of a gameplay model is not without its labor pains, requiring players to revisit the same old maps repeatedly to grind up levels like they're working a medieval millstone. It's about as subtle as a flying mallet and whispers 'pay to win' like a con artist in a seedy alley. Add to that a lock-picking mechanic that is as annoying as a mosquito's serenade, and you've got a game that sometimes tests patience more than skill.
No Silent Alarms Here
For a game that's all about the subtleties of pulling the ultimate heist, the audio experience should be less subtle than a police siren - and One-Armed Robber delivers. Guns sound like a fireworks factory going off—satisfying and loud. The 'clink' of valuables makes you think you're Scrooge McDuck counting your coins, but the audible gasps as you fail to hold onto your swag add to the tension. However, the lack of a diverse soundtrack is like attending a heist enthusiast's concert only to find the band forgot everything but the drums. While chaos has a sound, variety would be the loot to steal here.
Art in the Eye of the Robber
One-Armed Robber isn’t winning any beauty contests, but it isn't buckling under the ugliness of an orc's breakfast either. The graphics are decent enough for the job, yet lack the polish of some bigger titles. Environments are diverse enough, but the character models seem cloned from a very limited criminal gene pool. Performance seems generally reasonable, although the sticky-fingered bugs of the lobby system and occasional infinite loading screens can make for an experience more taxing than a government audit. Remember, you can't stealthily avoid a glitch, they're about as subtle as a foghorn in your ear.
A Multiplayer Heist or Hostage Situation?
Gathering your band of merry bandits should be the highlight of any heist. Enter One-Armed Robber's multiplayer—an experience akin to coordinating a bank job via carrier pigeon. When the stars align, and it works, the camaraderie of co-op kleptomania is second to none. But often, you’re met with a banquet of bugs that can leave you as paralyzed as a mime artist in a glass box. A multiplayer heist should feel like an organized ballet of burglary, not a solo game of cops and robbers where friends are stuck watching from behind the loading screen.
The Problematic Police Presence
Now, a game's fighting force should be challenging, but the SWAT teams in One-Armed Robber would have you believe they've all got adamantium skeletons. Their bullet-sponginess can make heists feel like you're lobbing pebbles at a tank. More enemy variety wouldn't hurt either - variety is the spice of life, folks, even if that spice is currently just a couple of saltine SWAT crackers. While there's something to be said for pushing through tough opposition, at times it's like trying to spread cold butter with a spoon. Soften those officers up or provide some more challenging alternatives, developers!
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Duhndal
Release Date
December 15, 2023
The Getaway Summary
One-Armed Robber is a valiant effort in a sea of heist games that manages to pack a punch with its unique one-handed gameplay and a sprinkle of chaos. The game is like an underdog story - undeniable potential with a few hurdles to leap over, such as the grindy progression, the carbon-copy enemies, and the dichotomy of multiplayer madness. It has the spirit of a gritty indie darling with the occasional technical faux pas of a rookie caper. This bandit's life ain’t easy, but for those patient enough to navigate the bumps, it's a heist worth considering.