Customer Reviews

Steel Battalion

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Steel Battalion is not a game.
It is an experience.

No simple review could possibly explain the intangible thrill there is in simply starting up the massive VTs that you will spend the next great many hours of your life driving. It's the sort of sheer adrenaline-laced high you got the first time you drove a car on a freeway at just a -little- over the speed limit. It is, put simply, incredible.

So, enough of that, let's get to the review.

Gameplay:
Steel Battalion is, in every manner of the word, a simulator. Do not expect mechassault, armored core or even mechwarrior. This is MS Combat Flight Simulator on legs, with much bigger guns. This is really what it would probably feel like to pilot one of the first mechs. VT's (Vertical Tanks, as the game calls mechs) are not nimble, agile or even speedy. They are tanks with legs. They are slow, heavy and plodding. And you'll love every step they take. Of course, the most obvious gameplay factor is the controller. Basically, the controller is three panels and footpedals. The left panel houses a gear shift (similiar to a car, but it only goes straight up and down), a few toggle switches (used during, and only during, startup), and a horizontal joystick (that is, a joystick with only an X axis). This joystick controls the direction your VT moves in, and also is topped by an analog stick (which is almost identical to the XBox controller's) which controls the independently moving camera. The center panel of the controller houses mostly buttons (all of which light up green or red, by the way), along with a radio dial that's used to communicate with your wingmen and call supply choppers. The right panel houses the second joystick, which moves along both axis, a few buttons and the eject switch (complete with plastic flip-up safety cover). The joystick controls you weapon aiming and firing. Lastly, the foot pedals connect by a wire to the controller base. There are three pedals: accelerator, brakes and strafe. Strafe basically allows you to dash forward, backward, left or right. This is used to evade weapons fire as well as rebalance your VT if you start tipping.

So, what does this all mean? Basically, it means some major mech a$$ whupping action. VTs control like tanks, with manual gear-shifting and independent weapons aiming. In terms of missions, most are either "clear the area", "destroy a target" or "infiltrate a city". The small number of defensive missions is legitimized by the fact that this game takes place during an offensive invasion of a rebellious island, a situation with little need for defensive maneuvers. The whole game has a WWII-like atmosphere, with most battles involving almost exclusively heavy-armor battles.

Graphics:
Steel Battalion's graphics are bizarrely beautiful. Basically, the game gives up extreme levels of polygons for overall atmosphere. However, this is hardly a problem. The entire game takes place either in briefings or in gritty, dark combat. Briefings are handled very militarily, using topographical tactical maps, satellite photos, symbols and arrows to lay out mission objectives. Dry, sure, but very realistic and moody. During battles, however, things get even more dramatic. Basically, the whole game has a sort of Saving Private Ryan-esque grain to it. Colors are washed out, explosions spray dirt and smoke encompasses the vast battlefields. However, under all this grit and grime there's a sort of grim beauty to the world of Steel Battalion. All VTs self-shadow, and animation is dead-on. Weapons fire gives off flares, explosions are dramatic and glorious, and models, both animate and inanimate, are detailed and extremely well textured. This is truly and XBox-worthy game. By far the most impressive moments take place in cities. It is in these townscapes that you truly realize the sheer size of your VTs. Most buildings, which are extremely detailed, only go up to your waist. Light glares off windows and rooftops just as in real life. In a port, huge gas tanks explode when shot, spewing flames and debris and hurling nearby tanks an trucks. Basically, this is a gorgeous game. The only real graphical problem is some popup during a few missions, most noticably the second one, when a cityscape snaps into view in the background. However, this never really hurts gameplay, and the aesthetic loss is by far balanced away by the rock steady frame rate.

Audio:
There's no music in this game unless you buy a boombox (in game), which gives off [bad] tinny music. Other than that, the sound is unbelievable. Hearing this game in 5.1 is nothing short of amazing. Booming, bass-filled thunderclaps erupt from every step of the huge metal monsters that are VTs. Weapons fire starts with the sound of mortar shells and ends somewhere near the hounds of hell themselves. Your VT gives off engine noises like three tanks strapped together and rolling at full speed. Every hit you take gives off creaking and groaning effects from the bending of metal and shattering of armor. You will hear every single noise, from the ejecting of huge shells from your machine gun the the crumbling of tremendous skyskrapers, and it all sounds real. Very, very real.

Finale:
Basically, but this game. ...People will tell you that you're a fool for spending enough for a console on a single game. Ignore them. This is worth it. Even if no other game ever uses this controller (which is unlikely, as a XBox Live-enabled sequel is confirmed in the works), it's still worth it. Trust me. The only thing preventing you from buying this game right now should be figuring out where to put it.

...

Steel Battalion is truly an innovation in gaming. Not since the days of the BattleTech Centers (originally Virtual World) has a game like this existed. The controller is the bulk of the cost, and with more games "in development" using it, you will definately get more than your money's worth.

Steel Battalion itself takes time to get the hang of. It has been compared to "driving a manual transmission car...while juggling." However, the difficulty only adds to the realism. Your mech moves very realistically, with varying acceleration and even the ability to fall over if you move too quickly. The controller has an eject button, and if you don't use it, there are consequences for dying. You'll have to discover those for yourself. Once you get the hang of the game, it is very enjoyably and truly challenging.

Very rarely, these days, does a new game from a major publisher challenge and excite the player on the same level, or with the same intensity of Steel Battalion. In this day in age, when videogames have become a mass-produced commodity of a billion-dollar industry, the target consumer is not the same person he was ten or twenty years ago. With videogames having thoroughly been established as a mainstream entertainment medium long before now, the marketing focus as with prime time television and pop radio, is on the mainstream consumer - Mr. Average.

And so it is greatly surprising to the hardcore gamer when he is sniped so forcefully by a publishing giant like Capcom.

One cannot even begin to describe Steel Battalion without first mentioning the hulking controller. With 33 buttons, five toggle switches, three pedals, two joysticks, one thumbstick, one throttle and a rotary dial, it is one of, if not the most complex controllers ever produced for a videogame on any platform, ever. Even more amazing than this impressive array of toys is that they all have a function in Steel Battalion. And boy will you need them. The vehicles one pilots in Steel Battalion are known in the game-world lingo as VTs, or Vertical Tanks, and they behave exactly as their name suggests; they are ponderous, immense, and very complex. If you are too aggressive, you will run out of fuel, if you get distracted, you might fall over, and if you're too slow, you'll get killed.

The graphics and audio are highly stylized and atmospheric; this game really shines on a large-screen HDTV with surround-sound. Enemy AI is challenging, especially when equipped with newer VTs, and the missions are never dull. The campaign is disappointingly short, however, so if you're a Live subscriber, consider picking up Line of Contact as well.

The complexity of the controller coupled with the depth of the gameplay add up to one thing: Intense, jaw-clenching battles of epic ferocity which tax the player's mind and his senses to the limit. Those who excell at Steel Battalion are truly the elite.

Note: If you are the lowest common denominator, this game is not for you. But if you're tired of having successive editions of Medal of Honor and Tony Hawk jammed down your throat repeatedly, this just might be the ticket, and with one (Live only) sequel already out the door and the possibility for more to come, this will only get better.

Steel Battalion is a kick in the head, and that's just what we need.

I recently purchased the Steel Battalion controller/game bundle and since then my brain has been fried. This is the most immmersive and realistic game I've ever played. Getting the behemoth of a controller setup takes a bit of mental effort as it's much easier to simply pop in Halo 2 and go than lug out the controller and foot pedals, but once it is set up, say goodbye to Halo 2!!! The game can be slightly slow paced at times, but only if your strategy is to make it that way, so play the game fast or slow, your choice! Sit back and snipe with the 315mm Smooth Bore rifle or run in at top speed (initial VT tops out at 115KM or so) with your plasma torch unsheathed and deliver a crushing blow! Be careful not to push the limits of your mech too much or you'll tip it over!! (Not a good thing when you have 3-4 converging lines of fire right where you land!) And with 24 missions the game has the longevity to keep you going! WARNING! - This game is not for casual gamers in search of a MechAssault experience! Make sure you are a fan of simulator games and can handle severe challenges!

p.s. don't get killed!!! (Bad things happen)

Ease of Use - 0/10
Graphics - 7/10
Controls - 10/10
Simple, Plain Fun - 10/10

This game is not for those looking for something to sit next to the latest madden or Tekken iteration. It is certainly not a "flawless" game in the mold of Halo or Metal Gear Solid.

The title is uniquely demanding in resources and skill, and therefore it is uniquely rewarding. I would characterize it as a cross between an arcade game and a sim-- however odd that may seem.

Don't think of it as an expensive XBOX game; think of it as an inexpensive arcade game, with a very unique control system. I love it. Steel Battalion has been providing me with the kind of gaming bliss I have not experienced since Halo. Bring on Line of Contact.

I play this game all the time. Everyone says its over priced, let me see you go buy 2 joysticks, shifter, and 3 pedals for less then $200. This game is most exciteing game i have ever played. And if you buy the online version it is great. There is a small comunity of people that play there all really nice and will give you money for free if you ask. People will give you lessons on how to play everyone very nice. There is a huge learning curve tho it takes a couple weeks to get to know the BIG controller. But once you do its so much fun.

BEST GAME EVER MADE

This game ROCKS! (.) <-- period. I played this game over at Microsoft on a big Capcom setup and it blew my mind away. I couldn't believe the details in the explosions and the incredible depth of field this game has. Come Christmastime it will be hard to find this game, as most hardcore mech players will have bought them up. So if you like mech games at all I suggest you invest in this one and if it turns out you dont like it, just sell it on Ebay for more then you paid for it. Someone will buy it for Christmas.

Steel Battalion is expensive but fun.

It comes with controllers to play the game. The footpeddles are sturdy.

In Steel Battalion, you pilot a VT(vertical tank) though missions. The mech controls well even though the controls are hard to get used to. You generally have allies in these mission that help you comple your objectives. For the most part, these missions are hard.

A flaw in Steel Battalion is the fact that there are not enough missions. There are only a few missions and I would like more. Also, it can be hard to bring out the controller to play the game.

If you have the money, I suggest that you get it just for the experience.

I know what you are thinking...200 bucks for ONE GAME?!
Believe me, with the addition of Line of Contact (the XBOX LIVE disc) this is a game that you will be playing for a very long time. I am convinced that these huge walking metal tanks must truly exist somewhere for this level of detail to be realized. Pass on the next Tomb Raider you were going to buy and treat yourself to some dirty warfare instead!

The game controller is cool, and not as complicated to use as one might think...most of the buttons are used only at certain times or even to just start the machine and most of them light up when you need to use them. The start up sequence, while cool starts to get a little tedious at times. The levels at least the early ones don't last nearly long enough and you have to do the start up again and again. You can't just take a look around and fiddle with the controller always time limits. I don't really think that the foot pedals would have been necessary, but to each his own. There is too much clutter on the screen for me, it isn't as enjoyable as it could be, just because there are too many gauges showing that you really don't need. Graphics?...who has time to notice them? Maybe that's the point they keep you busy with time limits, little maps, and things shooting at you to notice the graphics. I don't like the way the game saves...nuff said. I would dearly love to lose the time limits and just go around and do it right and blow up everything. One last thing, if the technology exsists to make VTs (vertical tanks), I think that they could devise a way to keep them from falling over. Overall, a fun game with a cool controller, but maybe several other games could be even better for the same money. Customer service by the distributers in Illinois was EXCELLANT... I bought a used game that had the connector plates missing, called them and had new ones the Next Day! at NO cost! Hats off to them for that.