It's the end of the year, and we have two islands to mark it--and totally not because I got so lost in the holidays that I forgot to make November's post!

However, I will make sure to highlight both islands selected for the past couple months, which are...

Game Show & Mocktropica!!

While not often listed among the most favorite classic islands, many fans have good memories of Game Show, and it has a particularly unique design and setting! It takes the futuristic aspects of Astro-Knights and the apocalyptic ones of Steamworks, and fuses them together in an A.I.-takes-over-humanity story. Also includes the fun-and-games of Reality TV, this time with more danger!

More Robots: It's like they've taken over or something.

Unlike Sprocket and Merlin however, these robots are not so friendly, all culminating to an epic battle against the evil supercomputer Holmes...who you defeat with a flash drive. Ahem. Definitely a brains-over-brawn island!

Deep Thought: Putting processing power to good use.

All jokes aside, this island does have a lot of fun puzzles, at times requiring players to test their real-world knowledge with fun facts! It also features several IRL locations, including Istanbul, Miami, and Buenos Aires.

Operating System: When technology meets talent, anything is possible.

For our second and final island, we have a special one that is not remembered so much for storytelling, worldbuilding, or puzzles, but for its humor that pokes fun at the game itself, and all the negative directions the game and its developers could turn...some of which hitting a little too close to home now.

Also, the theme music is severely underrated.

Strap In: Concussion prevention starts with sensible headgear.

Mocktropica is definitely a cult classic, although will the devs ever re-release an island that would be even more self-deprecating now (especially considering the references to former employees)? Only time will tell.

So let's not forget the official Mega Fighting Bots Website! Let's remind the Creators why these islands became so memorable, and why the efforts that went to create them should not go to waste! Encourage them to preserve their past stories and the potential they held!

Until next year!

Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles