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Gundam/Mecha Game Recommendations?
Red or Alive
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Registered User regular
So, I've found myself building several Gundam model kits recently and have developed an appreciation for mecha design in general. Does anyone have any recommendations for mecha games that straddle the line between hardcore simulation and arcade-style gameplay? I guess the closest analogy would be what TIE Fighter was to the flight sim genre.
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Import it. Hell buy a PS3 for it.
If you want something slower with more customization and strategy behind it, MechWarrior: Online is an alternative.
This, specifically Armored Core: For Answer. Especially as you're into the design aspects. The customization in this installment may be the best in the series, and there are a lot of Gundam-reminiscent parts and a whole bunch of "stabilizers" that ostensibly are for tuning performance but really are more stylistic flourishes. You can get crazy detailed with paint jobs and decals, as well. So it's like building a model kit and flying it around blowing essay-chai-tea up.
Robotech: Battlecry if you can dig up a GameCube
Keep an eye out for the new Heavy Gear game that's in the works, and check out Heavy Gear 1 & 2 if you're not averse to old games.
Definitely check out Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, even though it's also older. No space flying aspect, but it handles the mecha side really really well.
Robot Alchemic Drive ("RAD") for the Playstation 2 is also work a look. It also has no flight option, and it's got kinda wonky controls, but it captures a sense of scale of giant fighting robots that you don't really get with other titles.
Project Sylpheed for the 360 doesn't have a robot aspect, but its space flying model is very much in line with the style of robot space fighter planes.
Zone of the Enders is most definitely worth a look. I think there's a new 'HD' compilation of the games for modern consoles.
Also, I already own Zone of the Enders 2 for the PS2. I probably should play it one day.
Does anyone have any opinions on 0079 Side Story for the Dreamcast?
Did they ever improve the horridly slow progression in Hawken?
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It's sort of a Gundam meets MechWarrior game in that the MSs are slower and a little clunkier than how they're usually depicted in the series. Overall I thought it was pretty fun.
If you have an import-capable Dreamcast, look into Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon.
I know MechCommander is good and the only other mech RTS game available, but metal fatigue is way more gundam-y, although it is a nice middle ground. You're mechs can have long or short range weapons, at late tech levels they can fly, etc. Cool part was that for the campaign crews could earn experience and get better, and the higher the rank the mech would change visually (one faction had larger shoulder pauldrons).
There were also conventional forces like tanks and aircraft.
Not really, but the starting mech at level 1 is basically stronger than any other in the game. If you have decent FPS skills you'll be cleaning up each match and before long have enough to buy a more specialized mech. After that it slows down considerably, so it's worth test-driving as much as possible before settling on something.
The way the Armored Core series works is that each numbered installment represents a significant change to the game's formula, while the subtitled entries are followups for that particular installment. In AC4's case, it has AC:For Answer as a followup game, whereas AC5 is the latest game in the series and stands on its own.
Prior to AC 4, the games were fairly clunky and slower paced. You had to intentionally build towards a fast, light mech if that's what you wanted, the default was a lot more UC Gundam-ish in terms of mobility. AC4 changed the formula to be a lot more Macross-like. You can still make whatever kind of mech you want, but everything across the board is much faster, and it's much easier to do things like fly indefinitely.
This change did annoy a lot of people, and AC 5 was a switch back to the slower, more tactical kind of gameplay. What it also did, however, was heavily integrate online play, so you can do things like campaign coop. Neat, but this also makes just playing the game a lot more cumbersome as there's more hoops to jump through just to get a game going.
Personally, I preferred For Answer, but it's really up to what style of combat you prefer. If you want to dig into the older titles, there's a ton of sheer content to be had, though.
It's fairly neat for the time it came out, but pathetically short and kid of light on the gameplay. If you've played any of the PSP Gundam Battle games you've got the same basic thing, but with like 50 times the mech selection.
While these games are great (and insanely popular in Japan, I have seen floors of arcades dedicated to the game with over 30 cabinets) they aren't really simulation-y at all. They are arcade-y through and through. Lots of fun strategy in the 2v2 stuff, but, its not exactly what the OP is looking for.
Of course, the exact thing that the OP is looking for is Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senjō no Kizuna which is an arcade game in which you sit inside of a giant pod and control a gundam with pedals and levers. Unfortunately, unless he lives in Japan he probably has no access to it (I'll be sure to sneak in some rounds of it this weekend in your honor).
Something I haven't seen anyone mention are the Front Mission games. They are turn based, but they are some pretty solid mech action. I believe the 3rd one (which is the best in my opinion, even if the graphics may not have aged well) is up on the PSN these days.
Oh snap, I somehow missed Front Mission 5 (I guess because it so no US release) the last Front Mission game I remembered hearing about was the one that was actually an action mech game.
I need to snatch a copy of 5 up asap!
1.) Go on Ebay and get yourself an old original XBOX
2.) While you're there, get yourself Steel Battalion.
3.) While your packages are en route, clear off some desk space because you're gonna need it.
4.) Enjoy the greatest mech game ever made.
The gundam versus games are always worth a play, last one i had was gundam vs zeta gundam on the GC, that had an endless selection of mechs to play.
You can pick up a copy of Gundam Battle Operation on the PS3 for free. Its basically a multiplayer deathmatch version of the versus games. It will require you to set up a japanese psn account and you'll need to trawl the net for menu translations. Theres an element of pay to win about it, but you can collect a decent array of suits and parts through normal play. The servers are in Japan, I've heard US players get reasonable ping. In the UK though I'm stuck with no connection bars, which normally sees me kicked from lobbies despite the fact it seems to run with no lag.
I actually have a copy of FM5 that I picked up for 10 quid shortly after the release of the (very competent looking) fan translation. Hardcore Gaming 101 said it was the best in the series but required a working knowledge of the plots of the previous games in the series (which I have never played).
Speaking of Japanese exclusives, how import-friendly are the Another Century's Episode games?
I think my favorite treatment of mechs in games was in Lost Planet. I liked being able to get in and out of them, and that gameplay both on-foot and in a mech was relevant and useful in their own ways.
I want a mech game like that, but less linear, and with customization. Lost Planet 3 seems to be going that route, but I'm skeptical.
Oh BTW, whatever you do, DO NOT get Front Mission Evolved.
Ring of Red is interesting. I keep having PS2 issues, so I haven't finished it.
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Good, you already own it. You can literally finish it in under 10 hours. I expect impressions by tonight.
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Since you've already said you liked Virtual On that is an option on XBLA, and maybe PSN, if you don't currently own a copy. Plays better with a twin stick so you need to mod something if that's a must, but it's still a hell of a lot of fun with a controller. Has online multiplayer that was very playable the few times I've used that aspect of it; not sure if they're flukes or that's the norm though.
Maybe more than one person recommended it and I missed it, but Robotech: Battlecry is a hell of a lot of fun. More on the arcadey side than in the middle like you wanted, but if you like any of the newer Gundam shows/mecha designs where they fly around like they're in Valkyries/Veritechs anyway, you'll appreciate it. Gameplay wise it's fun as hell if you like mecha in the slightest, still a good game even if you don't. On PS2 as well as the already mentioned GC.
Tried Mechwarrior online, but it didn't seem like my thing. Seems a damn sight harder to get into than Hawken.
I heartily endorse the recommendations for Armored Core. AC:2 all the way through to AC:FF will give you tons of gameplay content. I belong to the camp that actually liked the pre-AC:4 games better, since you had greater variety in feasible builds. Want a missile boat? Sure. Want something all kitted out in bazookas and rocket launchers? Done. Want an entirely melee based mech, swinging Moonlight in one hand and a parry blade in the other? Not a problem. CHAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIINGUN? Easy. Quads too! AC:4 and AC:FF took a lot of that away, but in exchange you get ultra fast paced action that some people might enjoy instead. With all the HD re-releases these days, it would be nice if From used some of that cash from the Souls series to put out an HD collection for the older ACs...
No matter what you do, do NOT pick up ACE:R. The gameplay is absolutely horrible. If I still had my copy I would pay you to take it away from me.
If you have an import capable PS2, get ACE 2 or ACE 3. Both are miles better. No need to really follow the plot, and once you get the menus down (there are translations available on the Internet) they are quite import friendly.
The newest Macross game for the PS3 might interest you, being basically Ace Combat. With transforming fighters. It also provides the best import support in that there is an entire fan made English encyclopedia for everything in the game.
Mechwarrior is basically a sim, so yeah, a bit hard to just jump in and play IMO.
It is really satisfying when it goes right though.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/178461/mechwarrioronline-weapon-rebalancing-on-the-21st-oosik-sigs-on-p19#latest
We'll all be glad to help you out with any questions you have!
That's the one I was talking about: Macross 30. It's quite good.
and justifies a PS3 for me if I wasn't poor.
Why do I watch this to hurt myself?
Assuming you're still checking this thread, here are the differences.
For Answer has a more interesting campaign in that you get to blow up a bunch of big-ass armored forts that are basically walking aircraft carriers with as many as five or six battleships stacked on top of them. Bring ammo. All the ammo, ever made. You also gets some decent duels here and there. But be aware that in AC4 and For Answer, you're flying around in jets with legs. You're that kind of mech, and if that's not your style, then stop reading this and go play Mechwarrior Online. Hell, you should probably just stop reading this and go play Mechwarrior Online until you're sick at the sight of it, then come back.
I know, right? That totally kicked ass. But you're not done playing mech games just yet. Also, am I still alive in the future? Anyway, stick with For Answer. There are more customization options, including the ability to build decent Gundam lookalikes and then play a game that isn't lame Bandai shovelware with them. And the ratio of gigantic armored fort enemies to Chinook helicopter enemies is at least a non-zero number, unlike AC4.
Armored Core V is a multiplayer game, the single-player is a tutorial, more robust than what was included with Chromehounds, but unsatisfying nonetheless. I can't think of a worse Armored Core game to be your introduction to the series. And that includes the PS1 games, some of which rocked pretty hard. And Armored Core 2, which despite having weird controls has a special place in my heart.