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A Review for Newcomers to Mecha Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: October 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I remember first seeing parts of the Robotech series when it aired originally in the States in the mid-1980s. I was too young then to know or even care that it was Japanese - I just liked how it was very different from other cartoons at the time and really presented a true ongoing story. When I had the chance a few years ago to acquire the entire series on videotape, I jumped at the chance, and finally saw everything from start to finish (all 85 episodes), truly relishing for the first time the storytelling ability of the series and its impressive mecha.

Robotech: Battlecry is indeed as close as us average Humans will ever come to piloting any of the mecha in the Robotech series. Generally, I stay away from mecha games, but given how much I deeply enjoy the Robotech series (of the 100+ videotapes and DVDs in my collection, it is the anime series I watch most often), I simply could not resist :-)

For those with even a minor interest in the Robotech series, this is a must-have game! However, for those new to mecha games, this could get rather confusing initially, because virtually EVERY button of the PlayStation2 controller is used. There are three Training scenarios to teach the basics of piloting a Veritech (one scenario for each of its three configurations), but given that there is really no danger or time limit in which the Training objectives must be accomplished, about the best that these Training scenarios will do is give the player some familiarity with movement and changes in configurations. Beyond this, the only way to truly come to know the Veritech's capabilities is to go out on actual missions.

As for the missions themselves, they more or less wrap themselves in a storyline which itself uses the Robotech series as a starting point (for example, the earliest missions provide a different viewpoint on the opening events of the Robotech series) and moves on from there, with appearances by characters originally appearing in the anime series. However, there is no need to really know anything about the Robotech anime series itself - but for those (diehard fans) familiar (perhaps intimately) with the series, the storyline of Robotech: Battlecry is all the more involving.

Those new to mecha games will also likely have trouble with the opening missions. I am only on Chapter II as I write this review and am having extreme trouble with one particular mission, thus preventing access to Chapter III. In some cases, familiarity with the Robotech anime series will provide some clues, but this is not generally true. Part of the initial "trouble" comes from not necessarily knowing when to change from one configuration to another, as each configuration has its strengths and weaknesses; even if a newcomer to the genre knows which configuration to use, the button layout is initally so complex that time will be required to determine which button performs which function. Once the configuration changes and button assignments have been learned, however, the main consideration is how to complete each mission - this is often fairly straightforward, but there are times when there is little assistance provided to show the right path to mission completion (despite hints shown as each mission is loaded).

One important note: Some missions have multiple sections. Sometimes, these sections are essentially standalone mini-stories within themselves, allowing the player to enter any mini-story at will. However, some missions MUST be completed in order, with no chance to enter in the middle. Therefore, unless a player is CERTAIN that a mission section is a standalone mini-story, players should NOT quit after a mission unless they also save their game progress.

One of the strong points of the game is the frame rate. There is virtually NO slowdown in game action, even with multiple missiles, numerous targets, and massive amounts of smoke and flying debris all being rendered on-screen at once. Another strong point is that the music from the Robotech series has been presented (in a more orchestral form) and used in such a way that players will feel as if they are truly inside the Robotech anime series itself :-)

For those genre newcomers unfamiliar with the Robotech anime series, this game will probably rate only a 4. For those with strong familiarity with the series, Robotech: Battlecry will definitely rate a 5.

Excellent, definitely will not disappoint Robotech fans

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The short of this review: if you don't know anything about Robotech or are not a fan of Japanese animation, this would probably rate as a very good flight sim/space shooter game (probably 4 stars). I am pretty sure people not familiar with Robotech would still enjoy it, but they might get impatient with the cut scene/story exposition segments (I doubt that, though. They are very well done, the voice acting is very good, and the new artwork is lively and beautifully done). Much MUCH better than Zone of the Enders- better control of the mech with controls that are easy to understand, challenging enemies, and they gave the 3 transforamtion modes of the mech their own unique characteristics. I've only played it for about an hour but I can tell that some modes will be better than others in certain situations (ie using the fighter mode to catch up to an enemy, then transforming to battloid mode for precision fighting). For Anime and especially Macross and Robotech fans, this game is OUTSTANDING and warrants 5 stars.

The longer review:
For those who know the series, this takes place right at the start of the Macross saga. You're character is a new one, so you don't get to be Rick Hunter. But actually that's a good thing-- it expands on the Macross story and you get to experience it from a different perspective. The cel shaded style fits very well with the cartoon style of the TV series, an excellent choice in my opinion. The missions that I've seen so far (I've only gotten through three) are taken from the series-- ie the first mission is to defend the SDF1 on the ground when the Zentraedi first attack, then flush them out of Macross city in Battloid mode. I took quite a bit of damage but got through the missions initially and was starting to think that the game was going to be too easy.

Boy, was I wrong. The next mission took me to outer space to defend the SDF1 after it returns to Earth (the game character was not caught in the space fold which took the SDF1 to Mars). Midway though the battle I encountered the enemy ace pilot who was decimating the squad and the mission became to take her out(yes, it must be Myria). Ouch. Suffice it to say, I changed my mind and didn't think the game was going to all that easy. She beat me soundly and I am anxiously waiting to get home to try again.

There is more to the game, including a versus mode where you can battle another player but I haven't gotten to the extras yet. Even without them, this is the best game that I've played in a long time. A must buy for anime fans and a very good buy for non-fans.

Brings back Memories

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: September 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

TDK has done an excellent job portraying this epic 1985 animated series. The movement of the controls to the game are amazing. Buildings crumble when shooting them, explosions are Cool. Each mode has its limits and its scaled manuverablity like the series. The best modes to be in are either fighter jet or battloid. Havent completed the game yet but the best thing about it so far that I like is the stream of lines after firing a salvo of missiles at an enemy and watching him blow sky high. Theres one draw back, but it wasnt enough to hinder 5 stars, when in guardian mode to accel/decel. you have to use the direction pad at the same time using the left analog to manuvere, so I just used the boost button off and on. Its a must buy to Robotech fans everywhere,to those who enjoy anime and to those big kids out there as well. Side note Robotech Series is what got me started watching, enjoying, and buying anime. I will continue for years to come and I'm 22 today the 25th of Sept.

A Dream Fulfilled

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Since I was about 9 years old, I always wanted to pilot a Veritech and finally, with Robotech: Battlecry I got my wish--sort of. The greatest thing, to me anyway, is that you can change modes on the fly, which gives it about as much realism as you can expect without being in the cockpit. I love to come screaming in on some Battlepods in Fighter mode than snap to Battloid mode and land in their midst to blow the heck out of them with my gatling gun. The versatility of being able to choose which mode I want to play in makes it a lot more fun than if you were stuck to one mode per mission, as I suspect would have been the case in the 8-bit days.

The biggest disappointment is of course that you aren't Rick Hunter, so you don't get to do all the cool stuff like battle in Saturn's rings or on Mars--Earth's orbit is the farthest you get until the very end. The story itself is pretty neat and I couldn't believe how it ended, which didn't leave the possibility for a sequel. I almost--ALMOST--cried at that point for my poor guy who had been through so much.

Well anyway, some of the missions are a lot of fun, like the colossal dogfight where you have to save Rick Hunter's bacon, and others are the annoying protect missions like where you have to defend the townspeople of Gravestone and the one where you have to escort the Cat's Eye and somehow defend it while it flies straight and level through a gauntlet of enemy fire. When I first bought the game, a few of those missions prompted quite a bit of screaming and swearing--much more than a grown man should do at a video game--but ultimately I got lucky and beat them. There are plenty more of the fun missions than irritating ones.

The best mission to me was the one where I finally got to pay Hiro back for bossing me around all the time by disabling his Destroid. That's also one of the easier missions, but it's just so sweet to knock out one of those whiny, helpless, useless Destroids.

As for repeat game play, there's not much to it after you get all the awards and mechs, but sometimes (like right now) I like to go back and start over again to beat it all over again. Only of course this time I have the invincibility cheat so no Zentraedi can touch my VT. It's also fun after you have all the mechs to go back and try missions again with an S, R, or Armored Veritech.

There's not much more I could have asked for from this game. It was well worth the money I paid not just for it, but for the PS2 I bought pretty much for the expressed reason of playing this game. I wish and wish TDK would come out with sequels for the Hovertanks and especially the Cyclones, but I'm not sure it'll happen. Even better would be a game where you could do all three. How much fun would it be to blast Invid with a Veritech? Or Battlepods with a Hovertank? The sky's the limit.

RoboMania!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 18
Date: September 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Best Game For PS2 that I have seen in a while!!! A Must buy!!!

If you're a Robotech Fan... This game is a must have

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 10, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I wait a long time for for this title, 'cause I'am a Robotech Fan, I saw a couple of titles of this excelent anime on Dreamcast and another console... but this game rocks....

Pros
- Best Game for the Robotech Saga
- Graphics like the anime...(Really Cool)
- Controls are easy to use
- Good Line Story
- Weapons... Missile launcher really cool!!!

Cons..
- Wheres is Rick Hunter...
- Becareful..in some missions the constantly transformations is fundamental to succeed.
- Some missions are to long... and with 3 or 4 objectives... and if you accomplish 3 or 2 but your die accomplishing the last objective.... you must star all over the mission.
- Very few maps on VS mode.(You start only with one map... and during the game you unlock more maps)

Veritechs galore

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

this game was ... i can think of a word to describe it. It had great graphics, cool game play, and on top of that it has a TV show counterpart to get it more fans. This game has lodes of things to do, collect badges, gain ranks, and 2 player mode. If you love Mechwarrior youll love this game. 5 stars all the way

I always wanted to be a veritech pilot

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game was everything I hoped it would be. Remember when we were kids and we rushed home to watch this show? I know I was enthralled by the story and fascinated by the mecha. Now I can play this game and I feel like I am part of the story. I like that you aren't playing one of the main characters. It makes it seem like this your part in the saga. If you always wanted to fly a veritech and fight for the RDF this is it!

Robotech at last. Prepare for This Robotech Saga.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: September 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

For me, this is the most anticipated time ever. Finaly, a Robotech game on a console and believe me the saga series was pretty cool. This game will kick some fanny!
My expectation on this game are high as the sky, i don't have it yet but if it based on the macross saga. It is a winner already!!!!

One of the best for ps2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: October 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

As a huge fan of Robotech, I was thrilled to see a long-awaited video game title. Battlecry definitely captures all the elements that made Robotech a hit. It has a great story, awesome gameplay, and an awesome soundtrack to boot. Any fan of the series will love to take on the role of Jack Archer, an RDF veritech pilot, and fight against the Zentraedi fleet on earth, in space, and in the air. Simply a fantastic game...buy it today!!!!!!

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