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Sandbox gaming without all the guns and violence.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: February 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

"Steambot Chronicles" (known in Japan as "Bumpy Trot") is a hard game to classify. It's equal parts adventure, Bemani rhythm game, and mech combat. There are RPG elements but it's not a true RPG, as there are no experience points, no levelling up, and the only fighting is done atop battlemechs (known here as Trotmobiles). It's set in a version of the Industrial Revolution in which the first World War seems never to have happened. All with anime-style characters. The back of the box mentions a comparison to Miyazaki's films, and that's actually pretty accurate.

Vanilla -- that's you -- starts out by salvaging an old Trotmobile, which can be upgraded with different parts at garages, to suit your needs. The Trot controls utilize both analog sticks, much like driving a forklift... or a Katamari. Although it starts out on one of the worst RPG cliches ever (lead female finds hero, and he has amnesia), "Steambot Chronicles" quickly became one of the most unique and endearing PS2 games I've come across. I felt a real attachment to the characters, even though there's not a lot of depth to most of them. You're given the choice of how to play the main character -- nice guy, a jerk, or a money-grubbing moocher.

In fact you can pretty much play the entire game however you choose. There's a story weaved through it, with a significant plot branch about 2/3 of the way through, but most of the time you're free to wander around and do whatever you want. There are some randomly-generated dungeons to explore, and arenas for battling other Trotmobile pilots. You can dig up fossils, transport people or raw materials, or play one of several instruments in a band -- that's where the rhythm game aspect comes in. The songs (translations of the original Japanese lyrics) had a nice timeless folk quality to them, although the timing almost always felt a little off to me.

Graphics get the job done. The Trots themselves look fine, but the textures and character models aren't very detailed, and I'm sorry to say a lot of the game looks a little bland. Sometimes when you're moving through a city your Trotmobile will pass right through pedestrians and other vehicles. Same with environmental objects in the countryside. It's doesn't affect gameplay at all, but it just doesn't look good. Another problem is that sometimes when there's a lot of activity onscreen, particularly during a massive desert battle scene, the framerate drags and the game becomes very sluggish and difficult to control.

There are multiple story paths leading to different endings, and a ton of optional side quests, most of which can be gone back to after you complete the main story. Unfortunately, I found travel between all the different places just too tedious to complete most of them. In order to get from one city to another, you need to pick either an exit gate or the train station as your destination, then sit back and wait while your Trotmobile moves through the streets to get there. (You can speed it up with L1 but it can still take over a minute with the load screens.) Then, depending on where you're going, you may also have to navigate through multiple outdoor areas, all the while fighting off the exact same enemies who reappear every time you come through. This was tolerable for the story phase of the game, which isn't terribly long, but I just didn't have the patience for it during the free-roaming sandbox mode that comes after. If only there were an unlockable "instant travel" feature to skip all that, it would have encouraged additional exploration so much more.

Overall though, the game is a real treat. The world of Steambot Chronicles is one you'll want to immerse yourself in, and visit again and again. If you're one of those people who likes to thoroughly explore and find every hidden secret in their games, you will be entertained for months. This is one of those games that people will always have fond memories of. It saw a relatively low production run (typical of Atlus fringe titles) so it'll likely become highly sought-after and collectible once the PS2 fades and the next-gen fully takes over. Pick it up now while you still can.

Not your standard RPG, by any means.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: June 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Steambot Chronicles is unlike a lot of RPGs out there. It has a non-linear gameplay scheme - basically, you choose what you want to do by how you interact with others and how you customize your Trotmobile.

At the start of the game, you're awakened by a girl named Connie who found you unconsious at the beach. Also in this early start, you get to start forming your personality - caring, greedy, nosey, indifferent, shy, or outgoing - it's up to you and how you answer questions and react to situations. On the beach is where you also find the item you'll use most in the game no matter what you choose later - your Trotmobile, a fully costomizable mech. After a few favors for Connie, you'll end up in Nefroburg, see a concert, and help fight off the local gang, The Killer Elephants, a group of thieves with a pretty big mission.

After that, though, what path you take is completely up to you. You can join The Killer Elephants, or Connie's band, The Garland Globetrotters. You can excavate fossils and work for the meuseum, or join the Bloody Mantis. Rent an apartment, or live on the road. You can help develop a flying Trotmobile, or an electric guitar. Once again, it's up to you.

As you progress in the game, you learn that there are a few major questions that need to be answered, though - Where did you come from, and why were you on a beach? Who gave you the pendant that you wear around your neck? Who shot at you on the beach, anyway? All of these are answered in due time as you progress through the game natrually, regardless of the paths you choose to take.

All in all, the game is really fun, and provides hours of gameplay and literally a million ways to play. Highly reccomended for anyone looking for something new. ^_^

A truly open gaming experience...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: September 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

We've all seen and played the games that are said to be a "vast non-linear adventure" and things of the sort. Many times this isn't quite the case. Luckily with Steambot Chronicles this is the main calling point of the game.

Steambot Chronicles was just localized from Japan (where its original title was Bumpy Trot) due to enormous support from fans shown to Atlus Publishing. The game is about a young man named Vanilla Bean who is found washed up on the beach by a young girl named Connie. Vanilla has lost his memory but you can probably infer much of what may have happened by looking at the shipwreck just off shore (plus you can learn more by playing the tutorial before beginning your game).

While there is a driving story cultivated throughout the game, there is a time system that allows you to freely explore and pass the time. Day with slowly turn to night as you go about the days activities and in order to turn night back to day you must stay at an inn, so theoretically you can stay up in an everlasting night playing music or playing billiards to hustle people. Most of the story progresses at specific times leaving the rest open for you to do as you please.

So what is there to do? Well, for those of you who like a bit more action, you can customize and battle your trotmobiles. What are trotmobiles? Essentially they are mecha used for transportation, work, and battles. Exactly which is up to you. You can customize all your parts from cannons to running legs, or even convert it into a bus or flatbed for transporting people and cargo. There is a battle arena for when you have down time in which you can win different awards and titles throughout the game.

On top of the trotmobiles you can become a member of a band and play one of numerous different instruments and music scores. By practicing and perfecting your skills on the street, you will get better and make some money from those passing by if you do well enough. Of course though this is all optional. You could decide to spend your time doing services for others to make money or even perfecting your skill at billiards in the local bar to become a well known hustler, it's all up to you.

Graphically the game is nice to look at. While the characters aren't the type of realistically renderred CG that many characters seem to be going with, Steambot Chronicles characters are more cartoonish with bold outlines and vibrant colors. But within the context of the world they fit in just fine. There are some issues with frame-rate slow downs here and there. It is enough to be noticable but unless you are really picky, it shouldn't be enough to deter the player.

The controls are also very good. There are only a few minor issues with some of the music techniques (every instrument is different and some are much more difficult than others) and the trotmobiles will take some time to get used to. To drive the trotmobile you use both control sticks (ala Katamari Damacy) and the shoulder buttons to dash, jump, and attack. The only trouble is to lock on you use square and to change targets you use the directional pad. Normally it isn't an issue except for if you are in a battle with multiple enemies, making it fairly awkward to move and target the way you really desire. Aside from those few things, the controls are quite tight and natural.

Overall, the game is very entertaining. Aside from a few minor things that can be complained about it is a truly solid adventure game. There is enough options available that should be able to keep the player busy and entertained for a good while. From mech combat to music and even a bit of comedy here and there it is a good-feeling adventure that isn't so story heavy as to get convoluted or depressing. I recommend this game to any one who loves open environments and not being pulled through a game against your will. As well as for those who enjoy "mini-games" and want something a bit outside of the mainstream. It's not as good as it could have been, but a fun game never the less.

"Steambot" full of hot air and empty promises

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 22
Date: June 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

While I get the sense that the developers are trying for something great, they never really make it there. Let's look at it point by point.

Combat alternates between fun but easy encounters and frustratingly hard duels. Imagine a brawler with the control scheme of Katamarii Damacy. You'll laugh at your mistakes while hunting bandits, only to feel new levels of anger when the wonky camera and controls cost you your life against bosses.

Musical sidequests are okay, but don't really add anything imaginative.

Other careers (stock-market trading, delivering goods, reward missions) are intriguing, but once you realize that the money only go towards a useless apartment or your trotmobile, the novelty wears off.

Now, customizing your trotmobile IS fun, with a wide assortment of legs, arms and accessories. There's even a way to develop new ones. But it's almost purely aesthetic. In terms of combat the only difference is whether you equip a gun or not.

Now, this is all dressing that one could concievably swallow if drawn into the story. But your background (or mysterious lack thereof) doesn't affect your gameplay at all. Except for one decision, you can't really alter the mediocre plot in any way.

In the end, the game is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. If you're just sold on the idea of piloting a walking car, you might enjoy Steambot Chronicles. But if you demand more from your games, if you demand say, quality, pass on by.

One of my all-time favorites!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I used to be a hard-core gamer, back in the glory days of the Atari, then NES and SNES. Nowadays it's amazing if a game can hold my attention for more than a couple hours. But Steambot Chronicles, that's something else entirely. This is the first game I've actually played all the way through to the finish in many, many years. And not only that, but now that I've finished it I'm playing it again to choose a different path...

It's sort of like an RPG, but not. Actually, it's more like my idea of what an RPG should be like - free-roaming (but with a plot), upgrades, townspeople, all that jazz, but without worrying about constant leveling up, absurdly complicated dungeon puzzles or annoyingly frequent random battles that can grind a true RPG to a halt or make you throw your controller across the room in frustration.

There's also a great variety to the choices you can make this game - good or evil, play in a band, shoot pool, battling Trots(mechs), just playing music on a streetcorner, carrying people around like a taxi, hauling supplies for vendors... this game is often advertised as a "relaxing non-linear adventure", and that's EXACTLY what it is.

I won't delve anymore into the gameplay or mechanics, as the description and other reviews have covered that, but let's just say that if you have an urge to kick back, rock out on a harmonica and then battle giant robots in an arena, then this is your game. And man do I love it!

Amazingly Fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: July 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm 30 years old and I love my PS2...This is by far the most, fun, original game I've played in a long time!

The graphics are amazing.....You travel on machines called Trotmobiles which you can equip with different parts....You can fight in Arenas and save your medals to turn in for rewards. You can collect different instruments and put on musical shows, or just play from your trotmobile parking spot.

I love how you get to pick answers to questions in the game. It really kept me more fascinated with the scripting.....

The sidegames were fun, although some can be tedious and long winded.

I honestly can say that it's been a LONG time since I've enjoyed a game this much. Take a chance, I think you'll really enjoy it! I've been playing this game non stop because it's the type of game that I just don't want to put down.

A pretty good non-linear RPG that features 4 different endings

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Not only do your decisions give you a title that befits how you act: i.e. snobby...even wearing the clothes with those in can change your name...

And then there is the possibility of being a bad guy...man this is a fun rpg. I have not played one like this since chrono trigger.

For a none cookie cutter RPG, try this one out. You will be suprised as each time you play it, you can change the storyline..

one of the best games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 10
Date: August 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

not only can you drive a trotmobele but you can live life.

unique charm and gameplay without the gore

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

It's fair to say that Steambot Chronicles is unlike any other game you'll have played, and it's probably best suited to fans of eclectic games. It is a fusion of game styles using elements of a sim-type game, a few economic principles, vehicle combat, roleplaying story, with some emphasis on musical performances. In other words, it's hard to define by normal game labels.

The game is not a big-budget production, and I would not want to pay full price for it. But as a collector of off-the-wall or niche games, this one is a perfect addition to my library. It makes me laugh, keeps me curious, and is usually relaxing.

You can only play as a boy character, a teenager who has lost his memory during a cruise ship accident. The technology is early 1900's, in a fictional country similar to the US. However, this world has developed the splendid Trotmobile, a sort of 19th century robot that requires a pilot. Your trotmobile can be used for commerce or combat and is the focus of the game. However, you will also spend a good deal of time meeting people, running errands, and raising money to support your other habits.

The game should not be taken too seriously, partly because is intentionally light, and partly because it's a bit choppy in places, and you'll be disappointed if you depend on every plot twist to make sense, every action to have a logical result. But if you can take the story with a grain of salt, it is wonderful and very charming. The graphics are not first-rate, but they do have a unique style and simple charm.

Technical prowess is not one of the game's strong points. There are sometimes load lags, as you pass into new territories, which seem unreasonably long. The camera work is sometimes choppy, and the camera angles are occaisonally frustrating. I find myself able to forgive these weaknesses for the sake of playing in this game world, but it is something to consider, if technical finesse is important to you.

Parents: Language used in the game is almost completely mild (there will be the occasional minor expletives). There is no graphic sexual or violent content. There are mild references to romance, as dating is a part of the game. There is also violence, as you'll be clubbing and shooting mechanical opponents fairly regularly, but it's all within tasteful limits, in my opinion. I would let a small child watch me play without any worries. A lot of girls might like this game, so it's a real shame they didn't allow for a female lead character.

The reviewers here critical of this game should probably be playing a more mainstream, less artful game. This game is for the rest of us, who enjoy a break from the dull, repetitive products that come from the major game houses.

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