# Grobda

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1984 video game

1984 video game

Grobda Japanese arcade flyer Developer Namco Publishers JP: Namco NA: Magic Electronics Designer Masanobu Endō Series Xevious Platforms Arcade, PC-6001, PC-8801, Sharp MZ, Sharp X1 Release Arcade JP: August 1984 NA: September 1985 PC-8801 JP: 1985 Genre Multidirectional shooter Modes Single-player, multiplayer

***Grobda***[a] is a 1984 [multidirectional shooter](/source/Multidirectional_shooter) [video game](/source/Video_game) developed and published by [Namco](/source/Namco) for [arcades](/source/Arcade_video_game). It was released in Japan in August 1984 and in North America in September 1985 by Magic Electronics.[1] It is a spin-off from *[Xevious](/source/Xevious)*, as the player's tank first appeared in that game as an enemy.

## Gameplay

The player avoiding collision from enemy projectiles.

*Grobda* is a [multidirectional shooter](/source/Multidirectional_shooter) similar to the 1977 [Atari 2600](/source/Atari_2600) game *[Combat](/source/Combat_(1977_video_game))*.[2][3] The plot involves humans using powerful, laser-emitting vehicles in a dangerous competitive sport known as "battling", thousands of years in the future. In the game, the player assumes control of the Grobda, a [screw-propelled](/source/Screw-propelled_vehicle) tank capable of firing laser beams at enemies. The objective of each level, known in-game as "battlings", is to destroy all of the enemies while dodging their projectiles as quickly as possible.[4] There are 99 levels total, each becoming progressively more difficult.[5]

Grobda's laser weapon is capable of destroying most enemies in one hit, although some carry shields that require additional shots to destroy.[6] When an enemy is destroyed, it causes an explosion that will destroy any other enemies in its blast radius, including Grobda.[4] The remains of the enemy are left in its place, which cause the Grobda to slow down if they move over them. Grobda has its own shield that briefly protects them from enemy fire, indicated by the meter at the bottom of the screen.[4] The shield disappears if it is inflicted with enough damage, and does not refill until the next round.

## Development

The eponymous Grobda was originally an enemy in *[Xevious](/source/Xevious)* (1983), where it evaded the player's air-to-surface bombs.

*Grobda* was designed by [Masanobu Endo](/source/Masanobu_Endo) and a small team of developers within [Namco](/source/Namco). Endo is best known as the creator of *[Xevious](/source/Xevious)* (1983) and *[The Tower of Druaga](/source/The_Tower_of_Druaga)* (1984), two widely-successful arcade games from the 1980s; most of the developers behind *Grobda* had worked on both titles.[7] The Grobda was originally a defenseless enemy in *Xevious* that attempted to evade the player's air-to-surface bombs. Endo believed that the idea of giving Grobda powerful weapons and attacks was a humorous idea, and made for an interesting game concept.[7] The game was planned and completed in three months, one of the shortest development times for a Namco game, and was developed on a small budget.[7] The soundtrack was composed by Yuriko Keino, known for her work on games such as *[Dig Dug](/source/Dig_Dug)* (1982).[8] She envisioned the tempo for the background humming to become faster as the Grobda moved faster around the playfield. The current-sound hardware was unable to accomplish this, so Keino wrote a custom program that enabled it.[9]

## Release

*Grobda* was published in December 1984, running on the [Namco Super Pac-Man](/source/Namco_Super_Pac-Man) arcade system board.[10] In promotional material, Namco used the tagline "Grobda has awakened its combat instinct". The game was distributed in North America by Magic Electronics in September 1985.[10] *Grobda* was ported to the [PC-8801](/source/PC-8801) home computer in Japan the same year, developed by Dempa Software.[11] *Grobda* has been included in multiple *[Namco Museum](/source/Namco_Museum)* collections such as *[Namco Museum Vol. 2](/source/Namco_Museum)* (1996),[3] *[Namco Museum Battle Collection](/source/Namco_Museum)* (2005),[12] *[Namco Museum Virtual Arcade](/source/Namco_Museum)* (2008),[13] and *[Namco Museum Megamix](/source/Namco_Museum_Remix)* (2010).[14] The latter also includes a minigame based on *Grobda* titled *Grobda Remix*, where players control [Pac-Man](/source/Pac-Man_(character)) as he must destroy as many enemies possible under a time limit. *Grobda* was added to the [Wii](/source/Wii)'s [Virtual Console](/source/Virtual_Console) in Japan on November 16, 2009, alongside dozens of other Namco arcade games.[15] [Hamster Corporation](/source/Hamster_Corporation) released the game as part of their *[Arcade Archives](/source/Arcade_Archives)* series for the [Nintendo Switch](/source/Nintendo_Switch) and [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) in February 2023.[16]

## Reception and legacy

Reception

Review score Publication Score AllGame 3.5/5[2]

According to the arcade game magazine *Game Machine*, *Grobda* was Japan's top-grossing arcade game of December 1984 by revenue.[17][18] In 1998, [AllGame](/source/AllGame) labeled *Grobda* as "a refreshing departure from slower, more methodical tank shooters such as *[Combat](/source/Combat_(1977_video_game))* and *[Armor Ambush](/source/Armor_Ambush)*", praising its fast-paced gameplay but criticizing its high difficulty.[2] In a 2014 retrospective review, *Hardcore Gaming 101* said that the game was a lot simpler in gameplay compared to *[Xevious](/source/Xevious)*, and felt mixed towards the game's difficulty level.[4] According to former [Wolf Team](/source/Wolf_Team) designer Kazuyoshi Inoue, *Grobda* was an influence for *[Granada](/source/Granada_(video_game))* alongside *[Assault](/source/Assault_(1988_video_game))*, as co-designer Toshio Toyota was a fan of arcade games.[19]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): グロブダー, [Hepburn](/source/Hepburn_romanization): *Gurobudā*

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). [*アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005)*](https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n124) [*Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)*] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 52, 123. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4990251215](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4990251215).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Allgame_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Allgame_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Allgame_3-2) Allan Weiss, Brett (1998). ["Grobda - Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141116012705/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10201&tab=review). *[Allgame](/source/Allgame)*. Allmedia. Archived from [the original](http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10201&tab=review) on November 16, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Edge_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Edge_4-1) ["Retroview - Namco Museum Volume 2"](https://archive.org/details/edgeuk032?q=Grobda). No. 32. [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing). [Edge](/source/Edge_(magazine)). April 1996. p. 88. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HG101_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HG101_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HG101_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-HG101_5-3) Savorelli, Carlo (December 10, 2014). ["Grobda"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190714111906/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/grobda/). *Hardcore Gaming 101*. Archived from [the original](http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/grobda/) on July 14, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Namco Museum Vol. 2"](https://archive.org/details/Edge_UK_029?q=grobda). No. 29. [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing). [Edge](/source/Edge_(magazine)). February 1995. p. 89. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Special Oldies - Back to the Future"](https://archive.org/details/MegaFun0696?q=Grobda) (in German). MegaFun. June 1996. pp. 93–92. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AAN_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AAN_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AAN_8-2) Microcomputer BASIC Editorial Department (December 1986). *All About Namco* (in Japanese). Dempa Shimbun. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4885541070](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4885541070).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["『ディグダグ』の音楽はBGMでなく歩行音。慶野由利子さんが語る80年代ナムコのゲームサウンド（動画あり） - ライブドアニュース"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103427/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/). *[Livedoor News](/source/Livedoor)* (in Japanese). August 24, 2011. Archived from [the original](http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-STG_10-0)** "シューティングゲームサイドvol.5 慶野由利子インタビュー" (in Japanese). Vol. 5. Micro Magazine. Shooting Gameside. June 7, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TV_Book_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TV_Book_11-1) Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). [*アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005)*](https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n51) (First ed.). Japan: Amusement News Agency. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4990251215](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4990251215). Retrieved August 16, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Super Soft Corner: マイコンソフト - Grobda (グロブダー)"](https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1988-09#page/n221/mode/1up). *Micom BASIC* (in Japanese). No. 75. [The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%BB%E6%B3%A2%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A4%BE). September 1988. p. 234.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Nix (August 25, 2005). ["Namco Museum Battle Collection"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190517201838/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection). [IGN](/source/IGN). Archived from [the original](https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection) on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Geddes, Ryan (November 6, 2008). ["Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190616231512/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review) on June 16, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Buchanan, Levi (November 22, 2010). ["Namco Museum Megamix Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190216185805/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review) on February 16, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["「バーチャルコンソール」「バーチャルコンソールアーケード」11月10日配信作品"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191207082554/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2009/11/09/38669.html). *Inside-Games* (in Japanese). IID. November 9, 2009. Archived from [the original](https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2009/11/09/38669.html) on December 7, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Hagues, Alana (February 23, 2023). ["Nintendo Download: 23rd February (North America)"](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/02/nintendo-download-23rd-february-north-america). *Nintendo Life*. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200131231437/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19841201p.pdf) (PDF) (in Japanese). No. 249. Amusement Press. Game Machine. December 1, 1984. p. 31. Archived from [the original](https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19841201p.pdf) (PDF) on January 31, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Game Machine's Best Hit Games"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191201074836/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19841215p.pdf) (PDF) (in Japanese). No. 250. Amusement Press. Game Machine. December 15, 1984. Archived from [the original](https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19841215p.pdf) (PDF) on December 1, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Keisuke, Sakuma (July 1990). ["ウルフチームの最新作『グラナダ』の魅力に迫る!!"](https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-07#page/n217/mode/2up). *[Micom BASIC Magazine](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3BASIC%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3)* (in Japanese). No. 97. [The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%BB%E6%B3%A2%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A4%BE). pp. 220–224. ([Translation](http://shmuplations.com/wolfteam/) by Shmuplations. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190629073436/http://shmuplations.com/wolfteam/) 2019-06-29 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)).

## External links

- [*Grobda*](https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8015) at the [Killer List of Videogames](/source/Killer_List_of_Videogames)

v t e Xevious List of media Games Main entries Xevious Super GAMP no Nazo Fardraut Saga Arrangement 3D/G Resurrection Spin-offs Grobda Solvalou Other Bandai Namco compilations Namco Museum Namco Arcade Classic NES Series Microsoft Arcade 3D Classics Xevious Shadow Labyrinth Related Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment Masanobu Endō Yellow Magic Orchestra Tinkle Pit Atari 50

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grobda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grobda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grobda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.