GunGriffon: Allied Strike

"Possibly one of the best mech games ever made"

What can I say, this game is amazing, and features the best kinetics of any mech game I've seen. I prefer GunGriffon: Allied Strike over the Mech Warrior and Mech Assault series, as well as the Robotech games.

Not that I really care about plot when playing a mech game (hey, it's really just an excuse to blow mechs to pieces), the scenarios in GunGriffon are both sophisticated and relevant to today's resource-hungry world.

Calibration of the mech's interface and zoom resolution is excellent and well refined. Flight and handling is smooth and allows for accurate targeting while in air. The level of agility of the mechs is high, without going overboard. Nice attention to detail is given to the process of taking damage and losing systems. However, the indicators on-screen are a little bit cryptic and it's sometimes difficult to tell what direction the player's radar scope symbol is facing. A clearer directional indicator would be a welcome change, too.

The tension level in this game is crazy, as GunGriffon demands that players work to the wire. On that note, I should mention that this game is insanely difficult. Another example of game developers getting too used to their own game during the debugging and play-testing process. This game could really use a skill level or two below what they refer to as "easy" (far from it). Hopefully, someone will dig out a cheat code to make it a bit more tame.

It's a rare case when I find a game with addictive gameplay. The difficulty level combined with the craving to try it again and again puts me in mind of the classic days of the arcades with brutally tough games like Defender 2 (Stargate), Sinistar, Gravitar, and Robotron. There was no pity for the gamer back then. You were expected to try MANY times, until you got it down to a blend of art and science. Having said that, though, I do feel that GunGriffon's scenarios ask for a hell of alot from the player (maybe a bit too much). I haven't felt this outgunned since Armourgeddon on the Amiga.

So, if you like your mech games with the feeling of kinetic mass on the weapons, a variety of terrain, non-stop action, and a more than challenging skill level, give GunGriffon a shot. If you're looking to relax and plod your way though a more laid-back mech game, then you might want to pass on this one. This isn't for the battlefield spectator.

Over and out.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/02/09

Game Release: GunGriffon: Allied Strike (US, 12/14/04)