This is another of my favorite beat em ups of all time, this also is another entry in the Capcom beat em up series as Capcom is practically one of the kingdoms for this genre. This one is a rather unique entry because here they go into the sci-fi genre and the mecha subgenre which is cool as that's something I honestly don't see much in the beat em up genre.
In a way you could say this game is if they ever made a licensed arcade game based on the TV show "Exo Squad" or any of the "Gundam" entries it would probably look like this game; makes me wonder why the heck Capcom never did it. Though the game was obviously heavily inspired by the "Gundam" franchise there are a few familiar sounds in the game you probably might have heard from any of the "Gundam" entries, including one of the signature weapons the light saber.
Plotline is nothing really special as it's some alien cybernetic race that is invading and abducting humans to turn into cyborgs and your part of a elite group of mecha pilots to save your home planet. Yeah, your typical alien/enemy invasion plotline you might have seen in a lot of mecha anime, but it's not important as we're all in it for the action.
You have four characters to choose from, each of them have unique mecha and each with strengths and weaknesses. I like playing as the one with the red mech call sign Rash as that one is more balanced and is cool looking. Along with the gold mech call sign Siren, even like the design of the female pilot whom looks lie Meryl from the "Metal Gear Solid" series, which makes her slightly ironic as this game was years before that game. One other thing is if you play as one of the characters to the very end you actually get to see an ending to them which is cool as that not all that common in the beat em up genre.
The graphical design is superb as it's the kind you would expect from most to any capcom arcade games but that's fine by me as I wouldn't want it any other way. Other than well done background and how lively they are, it's really the mechas that are the main star of the game, and they don't disappoint as their all well designed and detail. The enemy mechas there is a solid variety as each of them have their strengths and weaknesses.
There are even some solid music tracks there are a few that I like to listen to, that make my honorable mention list. Really like the sound from the explosions, metal crunching and pounding, and all other sounds that are just music to any mecha anime fan or non-fan.
The gameplay is also superb you have a decent combo system, the typical button mashing. But there are some things that makes this game feel different from the beat em up fare your use to. For one thing your mecha is armed with a shoulder gun, which is cool as it's a change of pace from being completely unarmed. This gun is useful in hitting long range targets but it's mainly by it's nature a tool just to help equalize things if they get harry, like if too many enemies bunch up on you or simply finishing an enemy off but you don't feel like punching them just simply shoot them. However like all guns it carries a limited amount of ammo, so make your shots count and use it only when you really have to.
Another is in the weapons which as usual are your best friend but here this time they are essential in your journey. Each of the weapons that you pick up to combine with your mecha have strengths and weaknesses but each of them helps double the power and even the mobility of your mech.
Three weapons I like are the giant drill bit that not just has a nice thrust but when you push attack the right amount of times, it actually opens up and shoots out short range heat seekers.
Second weapon is the shield which looks a lot like the one from the "Gundam" series but what I like about it is it shoots out short range missiles in rapid fire succession.
And of course, the third and my favorite which will be no surprise is the light saber, it's just cool as you deliver combo you have a strong finisher and it's really cool seeing that saber just slice the enemy mechas in half like butter.
One piece of mobility hardware I love is the spider legs that remind me of the kind you see from the Tachcoma's from "Ghost in the Shell", one awesome thing about it other than smoother mobility is you have a jump attack where you spin those legs and make yourself a buzzsaw.
Even the boss battles are cool and each are always different which means a different kind of challenge so don't underestimate them. One favorite of mine is the giant scorpion mecha which looks and reminds me of Scorpinox from the "Transformers" franchse.
This vintage beat em up like any well designed and engineered mecha is worth a drive.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
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