RoboWarrior is an action video game developed by Hudson Soft and EXA Planning for the Nintendo Entertainment System. A follow-up to Bomberman (1985), it was released in Japan on August 7, 1987. Internationally, Jaleco published the game in North America in December 1988 and Europe in November 1989 respectively.

Comtemporary reviews for RoboWarrior were mixed over its bombing gameplay and difficulty. An MSX port was released in 1988. A sequel, Blaster Master Boy, was developed by Sunsoft and released for the Game Boy in 1991.

Gameplay RoboWarrior is an action game where the player controls a cyborg named Z-Type Earth Defense (ZED). It takes place in the year 2395 on an artificial planet Altile, a colony constructed to help ease Earth's overpopulation. Altile is invaded by an alien race, the Xantho Empire, which takes over its weather-control stations and turns it into a barren wasteland, forcing citizens to flee underground. Sent by Earth in response to a distress call, ZED's mission is to fight the Xanthos and defeat its leader, Xur. In the Japanese version, the protagonist is known as Knight.

ZED is equipped with two types of weaponry, bombs and a laser gun. Two different buttons on the controller correspond to the two weapons. The bombs are automatically set off shortly after being installed on the field, and their explosion can hurt both the Xanthos and ZED himself. The laser gun rapidly fires bullets that can damage enemies. The bombs are used for clearing out blocks that hinder ZED's path, but are limited in numbers. They can be resupplied from the Xanthos, who drop bomb items upon defeat.

Altile is made up of eight levels. These are called "Periods", and each contains one to three smaller stages. The objective of each stage is to reach the exit at the end while destroying blocks and enemies. To open the exit, the player has to acquire a key hidden under a block nearby. Certain stages also requires the player to discover a chalice. If the player fails to secure it, the stage will loop indefinitely until it is found. Throughout the levels, ZED can access optional stages such as the underground areas, where he can stockpile items, or the Rooms of Idols, where ZED can win rewards by bombing statues in correct order.

Similarly to The Legend of Zelda (1986), the player can accumulate numerous items and weapons. They are usually acquired by destroying blocks in the levels or purchasing them in shops. The items can be selected and expended through the sub-screen menu that displays all the collected ones. Each item serves to help ZED survive various challenges and situations in the game. For example, in the underground areas, ZED can use either candles or lamps as a light source to reveal the level layout. The candles are more common than the lamps, but they don't last as long and don't provide ZED as much light. In another example, ZED's energy meter functions as his health and decreases over time until its total depletion, which will kill him. It can be prevented by replenishing the meter with energy batteries. Other items include waterproof wellies that let ZED pass through water as well as missiles and super bombs.

It consists of five level formats and there are 27 levels in the game. In one, the player must obtain a key before the time limit expires. In another, the key is unavailable until the player acquires a crystal or chalice. Some levels are cast in darkness, rendering obstructions invisible unless the player has a lit lamp. Other levels are mazes where the player must find and blast through weak points in walls to proceed. Periodically, the player engages a boss level. Multiple bombs are required to blow up certain unconventional areas. Robowarrior also features water stages.

Enemies respawn in each stage allowing the player to stock up on bombs. ZED is controlled via an overhead viewpoint and the player can move him in four directions.

Development and release RoboWarrior is a follow-up to Hudson Soft's Bomberman (1985), and was developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was co-developed by EXA Planning, Aicom's predecessor, and Hudson. RoboWarrior draws elements from Starship Hector (1987), which had a similar main theme and ZED as a secret playable character. The soundtrack was composed by Takeaki Kunimoto.

RoboWarrior was first released in Japan on August 7, 1987 under the title Bomber King. The international versions were published by Jaleco. It was released in North America in December 1988 and Europe in November 1989. The North American and European versions were made easier than the Japanese version: in Bomber King, the bomb explosion kills ZED in one hit, while in RoboWarrior, it reduces a significant amount of ZED's health but does not kill him instantly. The Japanese version has an exclusive Theme Song mode that displays lyrics for the game's main theme song. Tying to this feature, Hudson Soft hosted a karaoke contest that encouraged players to record their performances of the song and sent them to the company, with the winners getting their enactments aired on television. An MSX port was released in Japan on March 18, 1988.

Reception and legacy Critics of Computer Entertainer recommended the NES version for its gameplay, which encourages the player to learn all the available powers and implement them correctly in battle. Mark Caswell from The Games Machine gave it a negative review, finding it tedious due to the repetitive gameplay and level layout. Computer and Video Games Paul Rand likewise left an unfavorable review for its high difficulty.

In retrospect, Steven Barbato from Hardcore Gaming 101 called the game "interesting but flawed", and found it difficult to recommend due to its frustrating game designs. Nonetheless, he found the game fascinating for taking the concepts of the Bomberman series and inserting them into wildly different environments. A sequel, Bomber King: Scenario 2, was developed by Sunsoft for the Game Boy and released in Japan in 1991. It was localized for overseas release as part of Sunsoft's Blaster Master series, being published as Blaster Master Boy in North America and Blaster Master Jr. in Europe.

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