Robotech: Battlecry impressions

We had the chance to drop by TDK Mediactive's booth to check out Robotech: Battlecry, a new Robotech game based on the Macross Saga, which is currently being developed for the GameCube, the PlayStation 2, and the Xbox. Instead of using storylines from the TV series, Battlecry will use an entirely new story arc that follows the adventures of Jack Archer, a pilot in the Robotech Defense Force. The game will feature 35 missions, but the structure will be nonlinear, so at various points in the game, players can select the next mission. Battlecry also features a two-player split-screen multiplayer mode, which wasn't originally planned. However, the development team experimented with the idea, saw that it worked, and decided to keep it in the final game. In addition, players will be able to unlock veritechs (and female zentraedi battle armor) for use in the multiplayer mod by playing through the single-player game.

At its core, Robotech: Battlecry is a third-person shooter, but each level in the game has been designed to take advantage of the Veritech fighter's ability to transform into three different modes. For example, the space- and open-air missions are suitably designed for the fighter jet, while the ground missions are designed for the battloid. This was especially apparent in a few of the demo missions that we had the chance to play. The first was an open-air mission in which a massive zentraedi cruiser was hovering over the city of Macross with the massive SDF-1 off in the distance with its shields up, absorbing massive damage from the zentraedi onslaught. We tried out the battloid mode in an attempt to show off some Max Sterling-like skills, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the battloid really wasn't the best option. So we switched back to fighter jet mode and took out small zentraedi craft, as well as cannons on the zentraedi cruiser, without any problems.

The second mission was ground-based, so we immediately transformed into battloid mode. The massive battloid was able to strafe in between buildings and use his rifle with precision. When a zentraedi battle pod came up from behind, we immediately switched into guardian mode and hovered across the city--and with a much quicker pace--than the battloid. Though we didn't get to see it, there will be missions in which players will have to use the guardian mode, which is a hybrid of the fighter jet and the battloid, to pick up objects and bring them to different locations--much like in an early episode of Macross, in which Rick Hunter had to carry Minmei across the city.

The controls in Robotech can take some time to learn simply because players will have to move their thumbs down from the left analog stick to the D pad to transform. It sounds simple, and after a few minutes, it is, but in the heat of a firefight, it is difficult for players to know what form they are changing into. In addition, while the controls in battloid mode felt solid, it moves a little slow, so players will probably find themselves changing into guardian mode quite often during the ground missions.

As far as graphics are concerned, the game has a very crisp and clean look, with plenty of vibrant colors. None of the models in the game, with the exception of the veritech fighters and the SDF-1, appear to be very complex, but the cel shading does an excellent job of masking any lack of detail. If anything, this has let the development team fill the screen with more enemies and create the hectic battles for which the Robotech series is known. The environments have a surprising number of details--players will see ground traffic, as well as dust and glass come off buildings, when the battloid makes contact with them. Robotech fans will also be happy to know that just about every craft from Macross has been modeled into the game, including the less-mobile destroids.

When we spoke with the producer, the script for the game had just been submitted for approval. Plus, the team has been trying to get the original voice actors to provide their talents for the game. The music in this particular build of the game was taken directly from the television show, but the final version will use remixes of those same tracks. We'll have more on Robotech soon.