Robotech: Battlecry
- October 07, 2002 00:00 AM PST
TDK takes one of the most beloved anime series of all time and brings you an Xbox game that's best described as a noble effort.
Ask anyone who grew up in the '80s what their favorite cartoon series was, and there's a good chance they'll say Robotech. Now TDK and Vicious Cycle have brought the old faithful cartoon series to Xbox, and while it�fs not great, it's certainly good.When the SDF-1 landed on Macross Island some ten years ago, Earth's nations used the fallen starship to create Robotechnology, which helped humanity make huge jumps in the pursuit of progress. Of course, global war broke out, and the Robotech Defense Force was created to help ensure peace and prosperity. Now, with the invasion of the humanoid-but-gigantic alien Zentraedi, that peace is threatened.
In Robotech: Battlecry, you take control of a Veritech fighter, a robotic battle machine capable of transforming into three modes: Battloid, a gigantic humanoid robot; Fighter, a tricked-out super jet; and Guardian, a mix of the two. You must learn to pilot a Veritech and defend humanity from the warlike Zentraedi renegades. Battlecry is faithful to the series even down to the cel-animated look and the cheesy voice acting, and once you get the hang of it, flying a Veritech becomes almost effortless. Once you've gotten used to the graphics, the voice samples, and the transforming gameplay, Battlecry's problems arise because the game simply becomes repetitive. There only seems to be a very limited number of sound bites and about three or four different level types that change little over the course of the game. Gamers who aren't familiar with Robotech and are looking for an entertaining shooter will be disappointed with the repetitive nature of the game.
Still, all things considered, Battlecry is a good game for fans of the cartoon. If Robotech authenticity is more important to you than gameplay diversity, then here's your chance to finally join the RDF.
