"Fun, under-appreciated shooter"

Shogo: Mobile Armor Division was released in 1998 and was received very well by many game reviewers. However, poor marketing and other big name shooter releases at the time, such as Half-Life, Unreal Tournament, etc., let this game go relatively unnoticed. If you've played all the other shooters out there, or like the old-school shooter mayhem, you should give this game a chance.

Story: 7/10

Shogo is set in the future, when humans have colonized other planets. The majority of the game takes place on or near a planet called Cronus, a dying planet in a dying sector that will ironically determine the future of the human race.

Some portions of the story don't seem quite thought out all the way There are little gaps, where you just have to take what the storyline says as truth, though it doesn't quite make sense. If you can get past those little nitpicking areas, then the story moves along quite nicely as you progress through the game. Characters evolve in a nice fashion, such as the main character Sanjuro, whom we find out isn't all muscles and mouth as he is initially portrayed in the game.

Gameplay: 8/10

There are two modes of play in Shogo: on foot, and in 30-foot tall mechs, called MCAs (mobile combat armor). Most of the levels are played on foot, but a significant number are in MCA. In each mode, there are nine different weapons. The weapons used on foot are fairly derivative, but exciting in their execution. The weapons for the MCA are more creative, with huge bazookas, missile launchers, a sniper rifle/machine gun combo and more. There is a little lack of variety when it comes to enemies, and the AI is slightly stupid, but the game is actually very fun to play.

In the multiplayer, things are limited to strictly death match, but still quite fun. There is an addition to multiplayer of being able to use a tractor beam, a bright green beam that shoots out in front of you, useful for getting into strategic locations or just gettin' the hell outta there before you get shot.

Graphics: 6/10

When the game was first released, Shogo was hailed for its superb visuals. Graphics for the game aren't all that bad, even by today's standards. There are a few graphic glitches here and there even through the latest patch for the game, but they're bearable. The animations for character models fall short of greatness. At times, you look like Gumby skiing across the landscapes. In mid-air, the running animations are still used, looking very odd.

Sound/Music: 9/10

Sounds used in the game are great. The shotgun on foot has one of the best firing and reload sound sequences for any shotgun in any game, in my opinion. There are not that many separate music tracks for the game, but they set the mood and overall tone of the game nicely.

The voice acting in the game is actually done really well. It is rare to find an older game with believable voice acting, but Shogo has it. They really make you forget that these aren't real characters speaking.

Play Time/Replayability: 7/10

The game is over pretty quickly on the lower difficulty settings, but on the hardest setting, MADNESS, you're in for a challenge. Sheer numbers and high hit points make up for lower than average AI. Even the seasoned shooter veteran should have a little trouble on the hardest difficulty setting.

Replayability for the game is somewhere in the middle of the road. It's not so great that you'll find yourself playing it every chance you get, but every now and then you might give it a shot.

Final Score: 8/10

Shogo is an enjoyable, fast-paced first person shooter that many will enjoy. And as a bonus, it will run on basically any computer. The next time you're wanting to play a straightforward shoot ‘em up, or don't have access to a higher end computer, give Shogo a try.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/09/04