Steel Batallian

[Shard O'Glase]

Ok its sold out and I'm about to buy it off their web site with there limited extra suply

Befroe I drop the 220$ I want some opinions on it. Yeah the controller is selling me almost on its own. But if you can separate the game from the controller how is it. The screen shots looked good, but in play does it look good, how is the playability, the sound(sounds are frequently not focussed on enough IMO) etc.

 

[shadowlight]

I don't understand the appeal of an uber-controller for $200. MechAssault I love, Steel Batallion... I just don't get it

 

[Ristamar]

I don't understand the appeal of an uber-controller....

I can understand the appeal, but then...

....for $200.

..... ... ......... @$#?&!!!!

Yeah, that's the kicker.

To be fair, while I've seen multiple reviews, screenshots, and movies, I haven't played the game.... But I think I'd rather purchase 3 or 4 other games, or another console, or upgrade my PC with the $150 that's going toward the 'Mech Controller of Doom,' unless you have cash to blow on gaming like there's tomorrow. If that's the case, jump right in. I'd imagine it's a must have for hardcore 'mech fans, as well.

On a side note, can you find this game in stores anywhere, or must it be ordered? I've looked around, but have yet to see gargantuan Steel Battalion boxes at any retailer.

 

[Tsyr]

It's a tough question, because it's so hard TO seperate the game from the controller. I honestly couldn't imagine playing the game on anything other than the controller it comes with.

Is it fun? Yes. No question. It's one of the better mech games I have played.

However, there are a few of provisos there...

1) It's not a Gundam-type mech game. Don't expect to start pulling off fancy stuff in these... they are big, lumbering, they can tip over if you aren't careful, be knocked over by an impact, run out of fuel, stall, overheat, you name it. These things are called a vertical tank, and the name fits. It's VERY important you understand this before you buy the game, IMO. The game is very fun, but it's not paced the same was most mech games are. If you go into this expecting a game like Starsiege or Mech Assult, you are going to be disapointed. It's more akin to the feel of an old PC game called "Battledrome", really.

2) Expect to suck at first. Learning to co-ordinate the multitude of functions on the controller takes a while. Don't expect to strafe or dodge or anything much at first... concentrate on staying vertical and hitting your target.

3) You really have to have a good setup to use the controller on... a card table, for example, placed in front of the TV.

4) I wouldn't try to play it on an exceptionaly small TV... 29" would probably be the minimum I would suggest... You might manage on a 21", but I wouldn't wanna try it.

5) This is a big one. If you don't have a memory pack to back up your games on, keep the eject button uncovered. You don't want to die. If you die (That is, your mech is destroyed and you don't eject in time), your pilot is killed... which means your mission progress is lost. It doesn't delete your saved game (Like some people say), it just moves the pilot to the KIA roster, and you can't play him anymore.

 

[Ristamar]

Tsyr, how beefy is the base of the controller? And about how much does the whole thing weigh?

I've always hated flight sticks and arcade sticks that have a weak, flimsy base. I prefer it to be a chunk of cold, hard steel capable of striking fear into the hearts of small children with a mere glance...

 

[Tsyr]

Tsyr, how beefy is the base of the controller? And about how much does the whole thing weigh?

I've always hated flight sticks and arcade sticks that have a weak, flimsy base. I prefer it to be a chunk of cold, hard steel capable of striking fear into the hearts of small children with a mere glance...

Size wise, it's a hair under three foot wide, a hair under 1 foot deep. The footpedal unit is 11" x 14".

I don't know how much each one weighs, but the whole package (Game, controllers, box) is about 23 lbs.

The footpedal unit is nice and solid. You could beat a person to death with it with little worry of it breaking

The main consol is a bit more flimsy... but considering how it ships, that's understandable. To keep the box size to something close to a sane size, it ships in three peices, which you connect together... each one is really only held together by a peice of hard plastic and four screws... It's solid enough that you can handle it abit, but it's not terribly sturdy... each individual section is just fine, but they aren't connected terribly well.

 

[Hollywood]

It's a tough question, because it's so hard TO seperate the game from the controller. I honestly couldn't imagine playing the game on anything other than the controller it comes with.

Is it fun? Yes. No question. It's one of the better mech games I have played.

Damn, too bad its a freakin' console game.

My PC eats consoles for lunch [it especially likes PS2s and Nintendos] and the only game so far I wish I had for it is DOA3 and maybe SB if its as good as you say it is [can't stand the latest MechWarrior series... MW1 or MW2 are so much better].

 

[Ristamar]

Damn, too bad its a freakin' console game.

My PC eats consoles for lunch [it especially likes PS2s and Nintendos]....

Wow. I could be misinterpreting that remark, but that looks to be 100% bona fide videogame flamebait. A classic (old and tired?) one, too.

I'm not even touching that statement, as this isn't the place for such a discussion, other than to say I strongly disagree and could give numerous valid reasons to support my discordance.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

As to finding this game. Apparently it was a very limited release so every store that had it probably no longer does. Amazon no longer has it as well. You can get it off the Capcom site but it comes in Feb 2003 since this is the 2nd and maybe final batch. Apparently it's selling well so maybe there will be a Steel Batallian 2 that goes on LIVE.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Tsyr thanks for your opinions on it. I think you've solidified me desrie to get it. I like giant robots, even the non-ninja giant robots, a difficult to master game is even better. And thanks for the warning on character death.