Robotech:
Battlecry
Game Format:
Xbox, PS2, Gamecube
(Xbox reviewed)
Game Publisher: TDK
Game Developer: Vicious Cycle, Inc.
Ah, Robotech,
how sweet the memories….
Robotech:
Battlecry, as you would expect, puts you in the now somewhat-familiar
cockpit of the Veritech Valkyrie. The main difference between
this and previous incarnations is the 3D aspect.
In some
respects, this game plays much more like a part of the Mechwarrior
series than as part of the Robotech family (we'll ignore the
minor fact that you do not get to play as Rick, or Max, or
Miria, or Roy. I was disappointed, too). In previous games
in the Robotech family, the action was set up as a side-scrolling
shooter, but in Battlecry, your perspective is from a behind-the-soldier
view.
A nice
change of pace is also present in the three shapes your Valkyrie
can assume. Each one is actually better for different situations;
often, you will switch from one form to another to maximize
the advantages from having a variable-geometry fighter.
The first
form is the Battloid (or Battroid). It is the giant robot
form of your Valkyrie, and is armed with an appropriately
sized rifle. The rifle if the key to Battloid mode, having
three modes of operation: regular, rapid fire, and sniper
mode. The regular fire is the least useful of the three firing
modes, and should be learned first. Rapid fire is used holding
down the secondary fire key and can be used to shoot down
incoming missiles and to fire on enemies. Sniper mode is probably
the most fun; you can zoom in or out, and a fully charged
sniper shot will destroy a Battle Pod in one hit.
The second
form, Gerwalk, is where you will be spending the bulk of your
fighting time. Roughly, it looks like the fighter mode, only
with arms and legs. It is maneuverable and is the only form
that can hover indefinitely. The only downside to the Gerwalk
is that it has no onboard missile defenses, and it cannot
move backwards.
Unlike
the Battloid, the Gerwalk can fire missiles. Lots of them.
Although the missiles lauched from the Gerwalk do less damage
and don't have as long a range as the Fighter's heavy missiles,
the light missiles are far more maneuverable, able to catch
Battle Pods, Power Armor, and Starfighters after they've left
your field of vision. The Gerwalk is also the only mode in
which you can pick objects up (like supply crates, or downed
pilots).
The final
mode, the Fighter, is an aerospace fighter. Armed with a rapid
fire cannon and heavy missiles, the fighter is the mode of
choice or aerial dogfights, or pitched battles in space; everything
you do will be at range, and the heavy missiles can accommodate.
The Fighter can also drop a decoy, to lure away missiles launched
at you or launched at the things you are trying to protect.
The mission
backgrounds are slightly repetitious, but the objectives keep
every scenario feeling fresh and feeling full of life.
The levels
are 3-D and textured appropriately. It's a very cool thing
to be in space and fly through the destroyed superstructure
of a Zentradae Destroyer. Except for the ground and the various
kinds of smoking wreckage you find scattered about, everything
is cell shaded and looks amazing, especially on the Battle
Pods and Veritech skins.
I did
notice clipping errors, typically when walking your Valkyrie
underneath an angled structure like a bridge, but I haven't
seen anything vanish and reappear.
All in
all, Robotech fans are going to love this game, and the casual
gamer will have fun blowing stuff up.
Overall
Rating: 
Robotech: Battlecry (Xbox)
Robotech: Battlecry (PS2)
Robotech: Battlecry (Gamecube)
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