Nintendo Introduces New Line of Robotic Helpers

4-Inch Chibi-Robo Stands Tall in New Nintendo GameCube Title

This week a legion of diminutive Nintendo robots invades American homes. Chibi-Robo, made exclusively for Nintendo GameCube, puts players in control of a 4-inch-tall robot who travels back in time, meets aliens and blasts robotic spiders, all in a day's work. The cute anime cartoon style of Chibi-Robo belies a bizarre, creative storyline that revolves around little Chibi-Robo, who only wants to bring happiness to his human family.

With the help of his lounge-singer-wannabe sidekick Telly, Chibi meets and communicates with a host of wacky toys that come to life at night. These include a pirate, a mummy, Space Hunter Drake Redcrest (a legendary action hero) and the Free Rangers, a battalion of egg-shaped soldiers. Each character has a distinct personality that shines through as Chibi works to help his family achieve happiness. That's not always easy to do in a home where the parents are having marital troubles, their daughter thinks she's a frog and the teddy bear has an unhealthy addiction to honey.

"Chibi-Robo represents a great blending of American and Japanese pop-culture sensibilities," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Its freewheeling approach lets players progress at their own pace while they explore a huge, adventure-filled world."

Chibi can don a variety of different suits that give him new abilities and help him communicate with other characters in the game. For instance, while wearing his dog outfit he can interpret what the family dog is saying when he barks. Chibi can scare people while wearing his ghost outfit or even turn day into night after putting on his pajamas.