Reviewed: November 12, 2002
Reviewed by: Aaron Daigle
Publisher
TDK Mediactive
Developer
Vicious Cycle
Released: September 23, 2002
Genre: Action
Players: 2
ESRB: Teen
7
9
8
8
8.0
Supported Features:
For years anime fans have been clamoring for a good Robotech action game. While there have been previous Robotech titles released in the past, fans and gamers in general found them to be disappointing and instantly forgettable. The latest attempt to recreate the events on and around Macross Island, Robotech: Battlecry comes courtesy of Vicious Cycle and TDK, and finally delivers all the alien invasions, campy plotlines and Veritech piloting action that fans have been after.
Players need not be familiar with the Robotech anime to enjoy the game’s story, which starts on Macross Island and picks up speed as the Earth is attacked by the Zentradi. Fans will find a lot to enjoy including some familiar faces and assorted other goodies.
Robotech: Battlecry’s gameplay is standard giant robot action mixed with a lot of arcade flight combat. The vehicle that your alter ego, Jack Archer, pilots is called a Veritech fighter. The Veritech has several configurations that can be switched between on the fly, the Jetfighter, Guardian and Battloid. While the Jetfighter and Battloid mech are fairly straight forward, the Guardian takes a little explaining. Basically the guardian is a slow, clumsy version of the Jetfighter with the Battloid legs hanging out the bottom.
Piloting the Guardian is when the game’s semi-awkward controls make themselves apparent. Robotech’s control setup is as follows: The control stick controls the movement of your Veritech and the shoulder buttons activate left and right rolls and strafing. The “A” button activates the maneuvering boosters, while in flight they give your Veritech an extra burst of speed and act as jump jets for the Battloid. The “D” pad switches between the three Veritech modes. The “C” stick and “B” button switch between targets. “Y” fires the main gun, “X” fires the secondary weapon and “Z” activates the Veritech’s special ability.
This control setup isn’t necessarily bad, but it can’t be reconfigured to your personal tastes. Also the extra click in the Gamecube’s shoulder buttons isn’t utilized in this title. It would have been nice to have one or two more single button press actions, such as an evasive maneuver.
Combat in Robotech is fast and intense. Enemies swarm around the battlefields and have just as much maneuverability as your craft. The three Veritech forms are generally well utilized in each level, though the space combat levels seem to play at a faster, more enjoyable pace than the game’s more urban maps. Some of the game’s weapons, such as the rapid fire gun pod, take some time to master and the Battlecry’s tutorial is an excellent way to practice your shooting and targeting skills.
The only time the gameplay gets frustrating is when the camera angles conceal enemies from your view. You can see the S.O.B. on the radar but you can’t see him because he’s 5° below your craft and you can’t see through it to shoot him. Or, as is all too common, you’re left looking at the back of your Battloid while enemy fire is hammering all around you because the camera doesn’t seem to be keeping up with the action. Also, it’s too bad that the developer didn’t take more time to really work on the game’s two player mode. If it had been more engaging it would have greatly increased the product’s replay value.
While it is easily the most overused style out there, Robotech’s Cel-Shaded graphics are, in fact, the bee’s knees. The overall visual impact of the game is impressive. The flat textures look like a cartoon come to life. The explosion effects look excellent like they were pulled straight from the anime, its fun to fly close to buildings in the middle of a fire fight and watch them take damage from enemy fire.
Also noteworthy is the rock solid frame rate that rarely drops, even in the heat of battle. The only thing marring the fine visuals of this title is the game’s camera, which never seems to show what it should be showing. I don’t know weather the developer was shooting for a certain visual perspective or maybe they just ran out of time because the clunky camera doesn’t fit with the overall high-quality of this title.
While it doesn’t support Pro Logic II, Robotech: Battlecry is no slouch in the sonic arena. Many of the voice actors who worked on the popular anime have contributed their talents to the game, instilling that campy feel the series had and making it an excellent addition to the Robotech franchise.
The music has a good feel to it and really tends to fit the action on the screen very well. While the effects suffer somewhat from lack of Pro Logic II, they still sound very good and do a good job of pulling the player into the game.
When it comes to lasting value, the main thing that Robotech has going for it is its length, around 40 missions all totaled. While some players may find the two player split-screen mode entertaining, most will likely be more apt to hand the controller back and forth during the single player campaign.
Also there are tons of medals to earn through superior piloting and if Super Smash Bros. Melee was any indication, gamers like to collect things. I could see easily spending 50 hours with Robotech: Battlecry before I had it licked.
For Robotech fans, this game should be at the top of your wish list for the holidays, what with its excellent usage of the Robotech source material. Gamers who are fans of the flight combat genre may also wish to check out this title, but I feel that there are enough flaws to warrant a rental prior to purchasing this title. Battlecry is easily the best Robotech game yet and if TDK and Vicious Cycle decide to do a sequel, I won’t be the least bit surprised if it is even better.