"Repetitive gameplay+4 times the cost of a normal game doesn't equal fun!"

In Steel Battalion you gotta pilot a giant Vertical Tank(VT) against infantry, tanks, and other VTs. The game includes a massive, 40+ button controller.

Storyline:5/10
First off, I don't really get the storyline much at all. I know that it seems odd that a trainee, who has never even piloted a VT in virtual reality, is able to use one to fight against a small force of VTs, and single handedly defeats them. Another story flaw is that He says he'll learn to pilot it from reading the manual, but in the rather stupid manuel, it says ''Never leave a manuel inside your cockpit of the VT''

Gameplay:5/10
The gameplay in this game is slow and boring. Because they were trying to reach a new level in gameplay realisticality, I guess they forgot that games were sopposed to be fun. I guess in real life, something as massive as a VT would be pretty slow, but this isn't real life. The slowness makes the game very boring and annoying. Although there is an way to go somewhat fast, half the time you do it, your mech falls down. ouch.

controls:10/10
Just when you were about to think that the game was a totle failure, it finnally gets a good score. the controls in this game are Amazing. well, I guess they'd have to be if you pay $150 for it. Anywho, the controls are a bit difficult to master, but once you do it, you'll wonder how you ever couldn't do it..i think. These range from the double joysticks, to the 3 foot pedals, to the eject button, to the winshield wiper, and to the ever so useless(literally)grabby claw.

Difficulty:3/10
OMG. This game gets so annoying with the difficulty. First off, the actual game is sorta difficult. If you get over outnumbered, you're done for. Second, you have a limited amount of fuel, and in later levels, it will become a fight hazard. Third, if you don't eject after being beaten, you lose. Gotta start the WHOLE game over, from the start. and last, but not least...ok it is the least, because it's the worst. if you run out of money, which can be very soon, you gotta start the whole game over...again. and incase you wondering, the game is 23 levels long. imagine if you fought through hell, and lost on the last level. you'd have to start all over.

Life span:5/10
Because of a mix between all of the above aspects, the life span is very short. The game only lasted me 5 hours before I put it in the closet. The reason it got a 5/10 instead of a 1/10 is because those were just about the funnest 5 hours in my life...but It's still not worth it.

Repetivity:2/10
This is the most repetitive game EVER. Literally, it's the saddest thing I've ever seen. In the first 10 levels, you face levels with pretty much the same structure. defeat a wave of enemys, the fight another. repeat until level is complete. the main reason it's repetitive is that the levels 10-20 are the EXACT same as the first 10 levels, only you get more mchs and more abilities.

Summary:

Pros
-Amazing controls.
-Great for showing off if your that kinda person.

Cons
-Terrible story with many story flaws
-Slow and repetitive gameplay
-Increasingly difficult game:you'll be playing several levels over and over again.
-short life span
-Very Repetitive.....literally.

I think this game was a terrible mistake. it might've been worth 50 or even 100 dollars, but not 200. if i were you, I wouldn't get it...not that you could, because pretty much the only place you can get it is at Ebay. speaking of which, that brings up another pro for me. I'm planning on keeping it for a few years and then selling it on E-bay for $500. like they say, You can do it E-bay!!

Reviewer's Score: 4/10 | Originally Posted: 11/16/03

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