Steel Battalion

"Strong game, great controller, but $200?"

For those of you that are unaware (a minority I am sure), Steel Battalion is a Mech Sim much like the Battletech universe. I use the word ''Sim'' here choicefully. It is not a fast paced arcade title like Virtual On. These machines are complex, hard to manage, and they move like you would expect a 200 ton 40 foot tall tank to move - slowly, but with awesome power.

THE GAME ITSELF

The basic game is quite nice. The graphics are solid. Indeed, there is a bit of draw-in a little more close to the camera than you would want. In spite of this, the environments look very good. Capcom has also done a nice job of creating a ''fog of war'' sort of look to the graphics. The polygons are not shiny and new looking (as is so often the case). Everything looks a little grey, as I suspect it would if 200 ton mechs really were blowing up everything to bits.

In the campaign mode, there are multiple missions to complete. You unlock more powerful mechs as you progress through the missions and earn points (either by moving quickly, not taking damage, etc). The number of mechs and weapons you can choose from is quite impressive. As you open up more and more in the game, you really have an opportunity to customize your vehicle to your fighting style, and to the mission at hand.

There also is an unlockable ''mission mode'' which basically lets you replay any of the campaign missions that you have opened.

Perhaps the only challenge with mission mode is that it is so darn hard. If you die, that's it. You don't replay your mission. You don't continue on. You're done - back to the beginning buddy. Now, given that the game is so darn difficult - that can be a problem. Sure, you usually do have a moment or two to hit the eject button (and thus continue on) before dying. But you better move fast when that moment comes because it lasts only a heart beat and its the only thing between you and a total loss of your 4 hour campaign mode & character. (Note: some have said that you can hit the power button off if you die and then continue with your old save - I haven't tried this, but I have no reason to believe it does not work).

Overall, I would have to say that the software here is quite solid. The missions are reasonably varied, quite difficult and fun (though technically challenging). Remember, this is a sim, so you are dealing with a lot of complexity. Troop deployments - ammo & fuel levels - armor - field placement, etc.

THE CONTROLLER & ITS IMPACT ON THE GAME

So overall, I would rate the software a nice solid 7 or 8. But you can't really do that with Steel Batallion. Why? Because the game costs $200 and comes with a 40 button controller the size of a Kia.

Does this controller contribute to the gameplay? Absolutely. It really feels like you are sitting behind the dash of a mech (or.... so I'm told anyway). The buttons all light up when necessary (when you take damage, or when it is trying to get your attention - ie ''reload''). In essence, pretty much every function on your mech can be controlled with a button. Movement is also smooth with a twin stick configuration - the left controlling turning and the camera - the right essentially being your weapon controls. Bottom line; the controller is well built, well designed and contributes greatly to the gameplay. I would have liked it to at least have a rumble feature (or even better) force feedback technology (especially at that price), but overall it is really nice.

So why the 7? Well, I guess there are two things. First, $200 is a lot of money so I have to assess the game on value as well as overall presentation. Its a really great game, but I don't know if its worth 4 regular games.

The second issue is; why is this controller so darn proprietary? I believe there would have been a market for a more broadly useful 2 stick controller - after all Mech Assault would probably have used one. But this controller is so tailored to this one game, its unlikely that you will every use it for anything else! And renting an extra room to store the controller for a single game is a bit much in my view.

Do I regret getting the game? Probably not. I do enjoy it and as a collector of more rare, unique games I guess I needed to have it. But as it sits collecting dust next to my Vectrex, I will have to wonder if it was worth it. Maybe, maybe not.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/04/04