Steel Battalion

"I built a custom table just to house the controller!"

Let me start off by saying, I've played this game extensively. I've beaten it multiple times. I'm also a regular on Line of Contact which is the online game that uses the same controller as Steel Battalion. Having said this, I'll continue on with the review!

Game play: 10/10

Steel Battalion is like no other game currently available. You pilot a towering VT in a 1st person cockpit-sim style game. This is accomplished with a 40-button, 3 block, 3 foot pedal controller. You will become immersed in many battles ranging from amphibious operations, to battleship duels, and even assaulting cities!

The controller consists of 3 blocks. Left, Center, and Right.

The left block has your gear shifter (5 speed), the rotation lever (rotates the VT torso left or right), and it has toggle switches used to boot your VT up. The rotation lever also has a sight change stick, which is identical to the right analog stick on your PS2 or XBOX controller. It looks around for you.

The center block has your tuner and communication buttons, 9 special buttons (For using various features of your VT), and there are 6 buttons to control main and sub weapons, fire extinguishers, chaff, and reloading your guns. You can even wash off your cockpit if it's become dirty!

The right block houses the aiming lever (moves your targeting reticle around), and it has map buttons, zoom buttons, and the buttons used to boot your VT up. It also contains the Eject button, complete with a cover on it. (The cover has also been referred to as a "jelly bean caddy" by a fellow online player.) The aiming lever has buttons to lock on, fire a main weapon, and a sub weapon.

Your foot pedal setup has a dodge pedal (slidestep), brake and accelerator.

Now that that crash course in controller setup has been explained....let me get into the details of the game play. You control a huge VT. There are tons of types to choose from, that unlock as you progress in the game. Each specializes in certain weaponry ranging from Smooth bore rifles, to Howitzers. It's up to you to pick what you like to fire at the enemy. Each mission starts you off with a debriefing complete with an animated map showing squad placement. Then you are thrown into the battle, and you boot up, grab your sticks, and get ready to fight the good fight! You can slidestep, lock onto enemies, and even communicate with your squad members while battling to complete mission objectives. You have range indication for your weapons, multiple monitors to view the action, and alot of other readouts! There are just too many to get into. I'll finish this section by saying, it's an EXTREMELY realistic mech simulator. You'll love it.

Sound:10/10

I don't even have surround sound and I love the sound. All of the weapons sound real. Bullets make frighteningly realistic fly by noises. Your squad, and you yourself have comical, very militaristic voices, and you can even load a boom box with a few songs to pick from. The sound is great. Very very very detailed

Graphics:10/10

The explosions and bullet effects are wonderful. Really nicely done. The sad part is that the design of the VTs involves cameras, so to achieve the realistic sim feel of things, Capcom put a static monitor-like overlay on the graphics once you close your VT Cockpit. It still looks amazing. Especially when you run in close on some of the VTs. If you watch a few replays of your missions, you'll really see the beauty of the graphics. The cut-scenes are great too. You'll have to play through the missions and see for yourself. Some of them are quite surprising, and jaw dropping.

Story: 10/10

Its a war story. You're a rookie VT pilot for the Pacific Rim Forces, and you're at war with the Hai Shi Dao. You go through two campaigns against them, each full of various missions, ranging from indoor assaults, to battleship destruction. Interesting plot twists, and surprises await you as you battle to over throw the Hai Shi Dao!

Replay Value: 10/10

Of course you'll want to play it over and over. The free mission mode lets you play anything you've beaten. It's great to run through a level in a high end VT, with a Rail Gun, and you can just tear it up! The controller also works for Line of Contact, the online version. This is probably one of the best investments you can buy.

Buy/Rent?: You can't rent it, at least not to my knowledge. I suggest buying it if you see it, and holding onto it. They're pretty rare.

I hope after reading this you're a little more informed, and hopefully interested in buying the game! Maybe I'll even see you online!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/30/05