BattleBots: Beyond the BattleBox is a video game created for the Game Boy Advance released on December 10, 2002. It was developed by Cave+Barn Studios and Pipe Dream Interactive, before being published by Majesco Entertainment.
The game features 16 robots, four from each weight class, from the hit TV series BattleBots as well as multiple arenas to fight in and the option to make your own robot to compete in a tournament.
A remake of the game, called BattleBots: Design & Destroy, was released on August 31, 2003. Despite being the same game released under a new name, it was marketed as an official sequel. Aside from fixing bugs, the most noticeable difference between this version and its sequel is the lack of fight commentary. Both games feature both single player and multiplayer gameplay.
Initially, a player is given access to two battle arenas and all 16 robots. Unlocking the other arenas requires players to compete in Tournament Mode with the player's own robot design. The player starts in the Lightweight Division and has to work their way up, earning cash for every victory instead of $5000 for the entire tournament, as well as a sponsorship award that gives the player free components such as motors or batteries. Regardless of the robot design a player chooses to build, the resulting bot is always able to self-right.
Each battle can be set to 3 minutes, 2 minutes or an unlimited time limit. Much like the show, a judges' decision is awarded for any battle that goes the full time limit (if given) and all points for each category are included. If it is a three or four-way battle, the totals of each robot will still add up to 45 and is the only occasion where the initial robot totals will not reach 45 on their own. The player can also pick one of the sixteen included robots and add up to three others to battle against. The four-way battles also include additional bonuses that are designed to help repair the robot's damage such as armor and battery. They appear as white dots in the viewfinder and players can also turn off simulator mode to allow all robots, even ones that cannot normally self right, to be able to right themselves when flipped. The hazards in the arena greatly resemble the ones used on the show, though except for each of the Screws, the hazard activates when a robot gets close enough. However, if a robot gets near where the Spinner and Ramrods are closest, then the player will have to go around one of them to get past as they will otherwise leave a robot unable to move forward, regardless of the robot's weight.
