Z-Bot

A Z-bot going right past Stinky.

Z-Bots are small, quick enemies that will electrocute the player character when the two come into contact. Being electric, they will short-circuit and explode on collision with water or lava, giving the player 250 points. Z-Bots, like many other enemies, can be made helpful if the player character or level creator traps them inside a closed, isolated area with buttons. Their movement is faster than a Stinker and slower than a Fireball.

In the Classic Trilogy, they play little role in the storyline. However, they play the major role of the main antagonists in the third Wonderland Adventures game, Planet of the Z-Bots.

Motion Rules

Z-Bots will move in a straight line until colliding with a wall. At this event, they will turn to their preferred direction if possible. Otherwise, they will turn in a different direction. The preferred direction can be set in the editor.

This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall and turn left, because that is its preferred direction.

This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall and turn right, because that is its preferred direction.

This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall and turn right, because it can't turn left.

This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall and turn back south, because it can't go neither left nor right.

Stinkers do not block Z-Bots. This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall, turn left and destroy the player character.

Water does not block Z-Bots either. This Z-Bot will go straight north, collide with the wall, turn left and die in the water.

Planet of the Z-Bots

The seven different kinds of Z-Bots.
Top row, left to right: MooBot, ZipBot, ZapBot, UFO.
Bottom row, left to right: Master Class Z-Bot, Mothership, Class 001.

Wonderland Adventures 3: Planet of the Z-Bots focused on the Z-Bots greatly, with many different types of new Z-Bots being introduced. The ones in The Classic Trilogy did not make many appearances. However, the UFOs made a triumphant return as one of the enemies. New Z-Bots include MooBots, ZipBots, ZapBots and Master Class Z-Bots.

MooBots

The tamest of the Z-Bots, MooBots are robots designed to move at the press of a corresponding coloured button. MooBots can be activated by Pop Magic too. Being absolutely harmless, the player can stand in front of a MooBot to obstruct its way.

ZipBots

These quick Z-Bots behave like the original Z-Bots in The Classic Trilogy, with the exception that they can be programmed to follow a fixed path, and will not fling themselves into water.

ZapBots

Also known as Sentinel Class, ZapBots will shoot a laser if the player is lined up vertically or horizontally to it. This laser cannot be avoided and death is immediate. Its range is, unlike the UFOs, not endless, and can be changed in the level editor. ZapBots can move, and the speed of movement can be changed.

Unlike UFOs, ZapBots will not attempt to shoot through walls. The only exception to this is when the player moves from an unprotected tile to a protected one (e.g. with a wall separating the player from the ZapBot) while the ZapBot is passing by. In this case the ZapBot will attempt to shoot the player through the wall, but the player will always survive.

ZapBots unleash their laser beams before the player character completely moves into a tile. This means that if a player walks down a path with ZapBots on two opposite sides, they will start firing before the player is actually in their line of fire. They will destroy each other and the player will move into the tile unharmed.

ZapBots constantly make robotic noises and occasionally utter phrases such as "I am a Z-Bot", "we are the Z-Bots", "eliminate", and "eliminate the Stinkers".

UFOs

Also known as Battle Class, a UFO will shoot Fireballs at the player if the player is lined up vertically or horizontally to it. Although this fireball can be avoided, the UFO will keep shooting as long as the player is on the same row and column, even if it is not within the player's sight range.

Master Class

The Master Class Z-Bots, or Z-Bot NPCs, behave like Thwarts. Touching them is not lethal, but some have the ability to shoot fireballs. When a Master Class Z-Bot is killed, it spins before exploding. Z-Bot Prime is a Master Class Z-Bot.

Motherships

Unlike the UFO Motherships in the Classic Trilogy, the function of Motherships is no longer simply limited to spawning UFOs – they can now spawn other adversaries, such as ZapBots and Chompers.

Class 001 Low Level Influence Z-Bot

This class of Z-Bot refers to the Z-Bots in the Classic Trilogy. In Planet of the Z-Bots, it is against the use of the Void Crystal, and Z-Bot Prime's nefarious scheme. It helped the player on his way to destroy the Void Crystal, and was eventually destroyed with the rest of the Z-Bots. Its essence, however, was uploaded into the Data Stream, thus ensuring its survival.