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A Good Game.. But Not the Ultimate Game For Robotech Fans

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: September 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Robotech: Battlecry is an action game inspired by the Robotech: Macross Saga cartoon series. In it, you play Jack Archer: ace pilot and mercenary. Jack is selected by old friend Roy Fokker to be a member of a new elite squadron of Veritech pilots - pilots that control jets that can transform into robots. That's where the game begins...

It is important to remember that R:BC is an action game and NOT an RPG or a simulator. Missions usually only have two possible outcomes - victory and defeat - and the only "role-playing" involved is how well you can pretend to be a great pilot. The game is also not a simulator; play typically happens in the third-person view from behind the veritech ala Armored Core 2's standard play mode (though who knows what "easter egg" codes will unlock..). Walking and flying are unrealistically smooth (NOT like the old PC game Mechwarrior 2), and most targetting is done automatically. Yes, there IS a story line and combat does take skill - but those buying Battlecry looking for an RPG or Simulator will be very, very disappointed.

During play, various game modes and options are unlocked after completing specific missions and objectives. Some of these bonuses are very minor, like being able to use a new paintjob for your Veritech; others, however, are huge.. and include activing a two-player "versus" mode and new mecha such as the armored veritech.

As to the actual missions, they tend to be either too easy or too hard. Only a few meet the "just right" level of not being win-able on the first try, but also not being so hard that it takes a miracle to win. Still, there are enough of these missions that I've enjoyed myself so far, and believe the money spent on the game to be worth it.

While I would have MUCH preferred this game to have been a simulator, it is still a very nice PS2 game. The cartoon-style graphics (which are still 3D) look very nice, and will suck old-school Robotech fans right in. Still, non-Robotech fans aren't going to enjoy the game as much - to them, the rating would probably only be "three stars" rather than four. I'd still recommend buying it, though. :)

Note: The game's storyline brings players into some of the "major" events from the cartoon series; much of the game's story, however, is different. Don't expect the character of Jack Archer to be following Roy Fokker and Rick Hunter around all the time, because he doesn't. ;)

4 1/2 Stars !!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: September 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is Pretty good! after all of these years of being a fan, someone Finally releases a game that is pretty good for a "robotech" game...

however it does have its flaws, what game doesnt? one of my MAIN compaints I have is with the controls, the controls seem a bit sluggish when turning, could have used a little quicker response time for quicker/tighter turns.
and when you hit something in fighter mode you automatically transform into battloid mode?? It also Needs a button that lets you quickly turn to face enemies, an In cockpit mode wouldve been nice also. All in all Its a GREAT game even with the control problems!!! the music is great, the cell shaded graphics work for me, the cut scenes are nicely done and voice overs are done quite nice also.
this game reminds me of a cross between Mechwarrior 2 and Colony wars for the original playstation. If you like these kind of mission based games you'll LOVE this one! Robotech is BACK! and hopefully some sequels involving "masters" and "next generation" are in store for us DIE HARD fans!!!

I just LOVE how you can transform at any time and each mode handles differently!! just like in the show!

The controls drop it down to a 4 1/2 for me....if the controls were a little tighter it would be a straight 5!

The 17-year wait is over

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: September 25, 2002
Author: Amazon User

As a long-time Macross/Robotech/anime-in-general fan I've been waiting for a game like this for a long time and it's finally here. After the disappointing cancellations of the US releases of Macross VFX 1 and 2 I thought I'd never get my chance to fly a Veritech. So after seeing the limited edition release of this
game I decided to give it a try and it has not dissapointed.

Fans of the series will relish the fact that TDK has created a storyline that is original but at the same time allows you to experience some of the events seen in the TV episodes. Another welcome feature is the return of the voice actors for Roy, Rick, Lisa, and Mynmei to reprise their roles (as well as Max's actor, although he's playing the lead role Jack Archer). Hearing Lisa's voice telling me to go rip it up with the Zentraedi made me feel like a kid again.

But it's not just fanboy appeal that makes this a great game. The cel-shaded graphics look awesome and really enhance the anime atmosphere. Dogfights and ground combat are amazing, with dozens of friendlies and Zentraedi (and scads of missiles) making for a lot of furious and jaw-dropping furballs. The controls are also great and make the transformations into the three modes easy and seamless.

The game is not without faults however. The missions are very creative in design, variety, and execution but can sometimes be frustratingly confusing when it comes to knowing where to go or what to do to complete them successfully. The escort/defense and occasional rescue missions can be maddening as well. And as I said the controls are great but the Guardian and especially the Battloid mode don't really give you the sense of moving in 3-D especially with the camera angle generally staying behind your Veritech and therefore not allowing you to see targets almost directly below or above you (even though you have the gun aimed and firing at them).

Both of these problems - and a few more niggling ones which I'll omit for brevity - are more than outweighed by the overall quality of this game. Admittedly it will most likely appeal to fans, but license aside it's still a great action game that will appeal even to gamers with no knowledge of the anime.

On a side note: True fanboys might be interested in the limited edition version which is exactly the same game but has a bunch of nice swag (such as a soundtrack CD and t-shirt) packaged with it.

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.

It's about time!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 25, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Once I saw this game, I could not resist buying it. I grew up watching the cartoons, and I even own 4 of the box sets; so to say I am a geek would be entirely superfluous. The game it's self is a lot of fun, and there looks to be a good deal of replayability. The controls are pretty straight forward, although the superimposed physics can be annoying, they too seem pretty realistic. The game follows the first chapter of the Robotech saga faithfully, and all the units look like the cartoon. The Veritech fighter can be easily changed to the 3 different modes simply by pushing the directional pad up, left, or right. There seem to be approx. 25-30 missions, all of which can be replayed, and several of which you have to replay to get the Medal, and thus unlock goodies. There is a multiplayer feature as well, but I've not yet checked it out. Overall this game is pretty good, and I would definitely suggest it to all Robotech fans. Those who don't know the Robotech saga may not enjoy it as much, especially if you weren't like 9 or so back in 1985. Good game.

Well worth the wait!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: September 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I'll admit it, I'm a cynic and a skeptic plus extremely picky when it comes to details. I've been waiting well over a decade for a decent Robotech game to be released, I mean it's a franchise that has been screaming for a game since the series premiered. Well, after all the time that has passed I can happily say "BOO YA BABY! IT'S ABOUT TIME!" Graphically, this game is beautiful and faithful to the series. The cel shading approach works wonderfully and the animation is equally due praise. Transforming from Fighter, to Guardian, to Battloid, and back to Fighter is a truly fluid thing to watch. The game looks to be running around 60fps, although I did notice a bit of slowdown during some of the space battles. All the mechs are here. From the Zentradi power armour to the RDF Destroids. The music and sound effects are rich and the voices are crisp and authentic. The attention detail is to be commended. The control scheme takes a little getting used to, more than once you'll fire off a volley of missles when you meant to hit your boosters, but no big deal. The story runs parallel to adventures of Rick Hunter and the gang, so those of you expecting to play Roy, Rick, or other members of the Vermillion group might be disappointed. Still, the game is a wonderful tribute to a fantastic series and I can only hope this is only the first of many games to come.

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.

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.

The only thing missing is your chance to whack Lynn Kyle

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Ordinarily I do computer game reviews, but I picked this up for my brother for Christmas so I figured I'd give this a whirl. "Robotech" was a 3-part anime feature from the mid-eighties that chronicled the events of the Robotech Wars. This game covers the area of Book One, or the Macross Saga. The show itself was patched together from 3 different Japanese cartoons that had nothing in common, other than they were the product of the same Japanese publishing house. The producer Carl Macek, out of desperation (and what turned out to be an act of brilliance) changed the storyline dramatically so that the 3 cartoons became one epic saga about Earth and it's discovery of Robotech, and it's defense against the Zentraedi, Robotech Masters, and the Invid.

But let's do a quick review of the game here. This game is going to appeal strongly to anime' afficianados and fans of the original series, the latter group comprised mostly of 30+ males who were in thier teens during the mid eighties. This is a game that is focused on a very specific segment of gamers and as such is probably not going to get a warm welcome from the average 15 year old dumping thier cash on a game with pretty packaging. To further compound this the storyline allows you to take part in several big battles from Book One episodes, but it does so in a *really* disjointed manner. A person who has no knowledge of the Robotech storyline is liable to get really lost in no time flat as the story will make absolutely no sense. The storyline jumps from the Episode "Boobytrap" all the way to the episode in which the surface of the Earth is destroyed by the enormous Zentraedi armada, and then further jumps to the period during the reconstruction. Essentially about 30+ episodes squeezed into the first 5 missions alone!

I particularly enjoyed the mission of taking on the Zentraedi in space as the SDF-1 was about to make it's climactic assault on Dolza's flagship. The scenery is simply beautiful! I was a little let down by not getting to see the Grand Cannon fire, but that's a small thing. Again, this will appeal strongly to a Robotech purist, and to a lesser degree anime fans, but to anyone else they probably won't get much from the plot other than confusion.

How does the game handle? Fluid as a dream! If ever you wanted to *be* in Robotech I can't think of a better way to do so than Robotech: Battlecry. Battloids skid left and right, stop on a dime, and shoot missiles out of the sky. The cel shading effect simply puts you in a live action anime cartoon. I cannot get over how beautiful this game is...it is literally like being at the controls of a Veritech. Fighter mode in my opinion is the easiest to control overall and I spent a good portion of my time fighting in that configuration. On the whole I have seldom seen a prettier game than this one.

Sound is a mixed bag. The sound effects don't irk me much but the one gripe I do have is the music. I wanted to hear the classic Robotech score as I flew in combat, it would have added to the tension and feel of the moment *just right*, whereas the synthesized almost-midi tracks overall will detract a bit from the experience for a Robotech fan like myself. There were only a few missions where the original score was allowed in and when it was it truly added to the experience.

Likewise the control is a little complicated and confusing (especially to a 31 year old like myself who's reflexes aren't as catlike as they were even 10 years ago), but after a few missions you'll find yourself able to do amazing things with a few presses of the button. Give it some time, older folks...it will come to you! :)

Overall I cannot help but be pleased with the game. The look and feel of it is pure Robotech and it is a thing of great beauty. Bring on the next game and include Hovertanks and Cyclones! Please!

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