Robotech: Battlecry

by Sony Computer Entertainment

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00006DY3H
• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 23, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,468 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

A mission-driven action title, Robotech: Battlecry embodies the classic mech-filled mayhem of the animated series. Featuring all-encompassing destruction on a giant scale, the game is a high-octane arcade shooter that captures the TV show’s spectacular visuals and epic storyline. As an intrepid fighter pilot, the player must protect cities of Earth from roving bands of a giant alien race, the Zentraedi. The player pilots the versatile Veritech fighter, a giant transformable mechanized robot that can convert into a high-flying jet fighter, a 40-foot-tall humanoid robot, and a combination of both. Each transformation mode offers new movement options, special abilities, or weapons. To succeed in battle, players must use more than one mode to complete their assigned objectives. In keeping with the Robotech identity, the environments, mecha, characters, and overall appearance are modeled directly from the stylized look of the highly regarded animated series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 17-year wait is over, September 24, 2002

By	Oliver M. Severino (Yuma, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a long-time Macross/Robotech/anime-in-general fan I've been waiting for a game like this for a long time and it's finally here. After the disappointing cancellations of the US releases of Macross VFX 1 and 2 I thought I'd never get my chance to fly a Veritech. So after seeing the limited edition release of this
game I decided to give it a try and it has not dissapointed.

Fans of the series will relish the fact that TDK has created a storyline that is original but at the same time allows you to experience some of the events seen in the TV episodes. Another welcome feature is the return of the voice actors for Roy, Rick, Lisa, and Mynmei to reprise their roles (as well as Max's actor, although he's playing the lead role Jack Archer). Hearing Lisa's voice telling me to go rip it up with the Zentraedi made me feel like a kid again.

But it's not just fanboy appeal that makes this a great game. The cel-shaded graphics look awesome and really enhance the anime atmosphere. Dogfights and ground combat are amazing, with dozens of friendlies and Zentraedi (and scads of missiles) making for a lot of furious and jaw-dropping furballs. The controls are also great and make the transformations into the three modes easy and seamless.

The game is not without faults however. The missions are very creative in design, variety, and execution but can sometimes be frustratingly confusing when it comes to knowing where to go or what to do to complete them successfully. The escort/defense and occasional rescue missions can be maddening as well. And as I said the controls are great but the Guardian and especially the Battloid mode don't really give you the sense of moving in 3-D especially with the camera angle generally staying behind your Veritech and therefore not allowing you to see targets almost directly below or above you (even though you have the gun aimed and firing at them).

Both of these problems - and a few more niggling ones which I'll omit for brevity - are more than outweighed by the overall quality of this game. Admittedly it will most likely appeal to fans, but license aside it's still a great action game that will appeal even to gamers with no knowledge of the anime.

On a side note: True fanboys might be interested in the limited edition version which is exactly the same game but has a bunch of nice swag (such as a soundtrack CD and t-shirt) packaged with it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Game.. But Not the Ultimate Game For Robotech Fans, September 28, 2002

By	R. Cole - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Robotech: Battlecry is an action game inspired by the Robotech: Macross Saga cartoon series. In it, you play Jack Archer: ace pilot and mercenary. Jack is selected by old friend Roy Fokker to be a member of a new elite squadron of Veritech pilots - pilots that control jets that can transform into robots. That's where the game begins...

It is important to remember that R:BC is an action game and NOT an RPG or a simulator. Missions usually only have two possible outcomes - victory and defeat - and the only "role-playing" involved is how well you can pretend to be a great pilot. The game is also not a simulator; play typically happens in the third-person view from behind the veritech ala Armored Core 2's standard play mode (though who knows what "easter egg" codes will unlock..). Walking and flying are unrealistically smooth (NOT like the old PC game Mechwarrior 2), and most targetting is done automatically. Yes, there IS a story line and combat does take skill - but those buying Battlecry looking for an RPG or Simulator will be very, very disappointed.

During play, various game modes and options are unlocked after completing specific missions and objectives. Some of these bonuses are very minor, like being able to use a new paintjob for your Veritech; others, however, are huge.. and include activing a two-player "versus" mode and new mecha such as the armored veritech.

As to the actual missions, they tend to be either too easy or too hard. Only a few meet the "just right" level of not being win-able on the first try, but also not being so hard that it takes a miracle to win. Still, there are enough of these missions that I've enjoyed myself so far, and believe the money spent on the game to be worth it.

While I would have MUCH preferred this game to have been a simulator, it is still a very nice PS2 game. The cartoon-style graphics (which are still 3D) look very nice, and will suck old-school Robotech fans right in. Still, non-Robotech fans aren't going to enjoy the game as much - to them, the rating would probably only be "three stars" rather than four. I'd still recommend buying it, though. :)

Note: The game's storyline brings players into some of the "major" events from the cartoon series; much of the game's story, however, is different. Don't expect the character of Jack Archer to be following Roy Fokker and Rick Hunter around all the time, because he doesn't. ;)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's about time!, October 24, 2002

By	Justin Ratcliff "egovirus" (S.Pasadena, Ca.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Once I saw this game, I could not resist buying it. I grew up watching the cartoons, and I even own 4 of the box sets; so to say I am a geek would be entirely superfluous. The game it's self is a lot of fun, and there looks to be a good deal of replayability. The controls are pretty straight forward, although the superimposed physics can be annoying, they too seem pretty realistic. The game follows the first chapter of the Robotech saga faithfully, and all the units look like the cartoon. The Veritech fighter can be easily changed to the 3 different modes simply by pushing the directional pad up, left, or right. There seem to be approx. 25-30 missions, all of which can be replayed, and several of which you have to replay to get the Medal, and thus unlock goodies. There is a multiplayer feature as well, but I've not yet checked it out. Overall this game is pretty good, and I would definitely suggest it to all Robotech fans. Those who don't know the Robotech saga may not enjoy it as much, especially if you weren't like 9 or so back in 1985. Good game.