Robotech: Battlecry (PS2)

The game play involves a small amount of training followed by 46 space, land and air based missions. With the exception of the 4 mission first chapter the action takes place during the Zentraedi Malcontent Uprisings. Further despite a handful of protection missions the goal is full scale mecha destruction. Not that this is a bad thing, just that if you are after finesse and subtlety ala MGS, well play MGS as Robotech Battlecry is pure 3D action shooter.

Stronger points -
· The cell shaded graphics are a anime fan's wet dream. Further the accuracy of the rendering for the Veritechs and Zentraedi craft is sublime perfection.
· The use of the original voice actors, somewhat expanded story line and music is one for nostalgia junkies. It has been a long time since a game made me laugh as much as 'The Road to Ruin' mission where you travel to Granite City with Rick Hunter to save the insipid singing sensation Minmei after she gets in the way as usual. Well I suppose even the greatest fighter pilots need some R&R.
· Controls and techniques are not particularly difficult to master.
· So much to destroy. So many missions involve non-stop mayhem and ridiculous odds that it is hard to believe a landscape would have remained.
· Collection of campaign medallions to unlock missions and Vertiechs with greater armour and firepower. Anyone remember the Distinguished Service Medal from 'Sweet Sixteen'?

Weaker points -
· Some missions lack real 'variety' and seem a rehash of previous objectives and settings.
· There is so much detail on screen with missile trails, Zentraedi and explosions that the processor cannot cope.
· Programming glitches sometimes mean that the sound has an inconsistent quality and mission updates from virtual teammates and commanders remain on screen when they should have cleared.

From a difficulty point of view I would not rate the game as especially difficult. Some missions are genuinely challenging with some annoying enemies but it is not going to take you a month to complete. The missions are entirely re-playable, however it somewhat lacks that tremendous sense of achievement that some games truly have.

Although not particularly fitting with the story line it would have been perhaps interesting to play the game from both sides, ala Gundam Federation but you can't have it all. The game demands a sequel (well several really) containing action from the other two parts of the trilogy but considering the wait for this one who knows how long that will be?

For the purists just take a Super Veritech with Skull Leader colours into the 'Force of Arms' mission and you try and tell me that it doesn't send a tingle down your spine!