Thoughts on Steel Battalion

[Lothars]

I'm actually comtimplating on picking up a copy of steel battlion sealed which i found at my local eb

It's goes for 230 cdn and im not sure,

I am a big fan of mech games especially games from the pc such as mechwarrior 3 and 4

also enjoy games such as mech assault but just not sure because it seems like it's a totally different game

I did a search but didn't find a post talking about it to much

well any thoughts would be appreciated.

[zmweasel]

I reviewed SB for GameSpy back in the day: http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/steel-battalion/5513p1.html

-- Z.

[Mianrtcv]

The idea is sweet, but cost prohibitive obviously. I like the game, the controller is 40 buttons strong (need a road map to navigate it). I consider this a pick up only if the price is right. There are games out there that can be had for much less loot and still offer a comparable experience. If you can, try before you buy. Never has that been truer than this game.

[Zadoc]

I hated this game and I took it back.

[Cirrus]

I had this game for a few days, then the price got the best of me, and I had to return it. It just wasn't good enough to justify the price.

The controller is ALMOST good enough to justify the game not being all that great (bad AI of teammates!). But not quite enough.

[squidblatt]

The controller really makes it a unique experience, but I thought the single player kind of dropped the ball. It isn't bad, but when you pay that much money for a single game, you expect a mind blowing experience.

Multi-player is supposed to be great, and you can get Line of Contact to make it even better. If you plan on playing over Live, then I'd pick it up without reservation. For single player, it just depends on how much you want to play with the controller.

[SKVermin]

Before you pick it up at that price, check your local Toys R Us (if you've got one, that is). TRU was clearing them out for $99.99 back in February, and you might be able to find one still kicking around. They may even get one shipped in for you if inventory exists.

I got mine more as a collectible. The game's pretty neat, but rather unforgiving. The kids love how the controller looks, especially when you get hit and the lights all go haywire. Granted, I'm not a big fan of mech games, so my opinion is a little slanted. If you are big on Mechs, I definitely recommend it. But not at EB's price point.

[junglehunter]

Before you pick it up at that price, check your local Toys R Us (if you've got one, that is). TRU was clearing them out for $99.99 back in February, and you might be able to find one still kicking around. They may even get one shipped in for you if inventory exists.

I got mine more as a collectible. The game's pretty neat, but rather unforgiving. The kids love how the controller looks, especially when you get hit and the lights all go haywire. Granted, I'm not a big fan of mech games, so my opinion is a little slanted. If you are big on Mechs, I definitely recommend it. But not at EB's price point.
Agreed.

$230 is quite steep IMO. All of the EB's I've visited (in Calgary) had about 2 used controllers each (all complete) going for $149 so I'd wait for another price drop or even check out other EB locations. It's not THAT great of a game to even spend $100 on it, IMO, but it has a cool controller. ;)

[Lothars]

ok, I will do some checking and see if i can find a copy for around 100 bucks because that's the most i would be willing to pay

especially since I just mostly want it to play with the controller which looks awesome

[Videogamerdaryll]

I love it..I still play it often though I don't talk about it much..just quick romps through levels using different mechs..
(using cheat)


Added Cheat..
Unlock All VT's and Maps in Free Mission Mode
At the title screen, move the tuner to the following positions and keep it there for one second each position.

1-9-7-9-0-9-0-6

The numbers above are the positions, like a clock, except this clock starts on the right where the printed numbers start (i.e. 9 o'clock on a normal clock is 0 in the code. 12 o'clock on a normal clock is 4 in the code, etc.)

When you complete the code you will hear a sound effect then you will be able to use all VT's and play any mission on any difficulty in free mission mode.

[dj898]

when I saw used but mint Tekki box set while I was in Japan on business trip I couldn't help myself but picked it up at 7500 yen (around $72)...

you had to see the look on our Custom officier when I drop the thing on the table for inspection... :p
since then I got the copy of US SB:LoC as well as JP Tekki:LoC Beta Test disc... still looking for US SB disc though...

[Videogamerdaryll]

when I saw used but mint Tekki box set while I was in Japan on business trip I couldn't help myself but picked it up at 7500 yen (around $72)...

you had to see the look on our Custom officier when I drop the thing on the table for inspection... :p
since then I got the copy of US SB:LoC as well as JP Tekki:LoC Beta Test disc... still looking for US SB disc though...

LOL

[bargora]

Over the past weekend I picked up an excellent condition complete SB set (including Line of Contact) in a private party sale for $100 (U.S.). It's my second set. Also, I ran through the entire game in Normal difficulty (using my brother's set--I did it mostly so he could watch replays if he needed).

I still think the original is one hell of a game. Nevertheless, I like Line of Contact better, but that's because you're fighting with and against actual people.

Here--I posted this last week:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=64411&start=23

[dj898]

if you have two sets of controller plug in the 2nd one and see what happens...

[Cmosfm]

I found it slow and boring actually, I played it twice and then never picked it up again. If it was like Virtual On, I'd have been playing it to this day, but it's not. And the "virtual HUD Mech Display" that takes up 25% of the screen is really damn annoying as well.

The controller is nice, but that's about it, it's a slow, boring, hard to learn game that I didn't put any time into.

[bargora]

I found it slow and boring actually, I played it twice and then never picked it up again. If it was like Virtual On, I'd have been playing it to this day, but it's not. And the "virtual HUD Mech Display" that takes up 25% of the screen is really damn annoying as well.

The controller is nice, but that's about it, it's a slow, boring, hard to learn game that I didn't put any time into.
You complain about these things because you never put any time into the game. (1) It gets faster and (2) the cockpit elements get smaller (and eventually disappear, replaced by a true HUD). As I've said before, if it were any faster to start you'd be complaining about it being too hard.

If I may liken Steel Battalion to sex, you didn't even get the bra off, dude.

[pacmanfever]

Time to uncrate mine and give it another go

[Slimedog]

Had a great time with it, but I was never any good. I got to level four but keep dying. I really don't like how your save file gets effectivily deleted if you don't eject or how you can run out of money and have to start the game over from scratch. But I love everything else. I keep playing it every now and then, but usually I just get burned out getting back to level 4 time after time. I keep shooting that damn battleship until I run out of ammo, and it refuses to die. I must be doing something wrong. Anybody?

[Cmosfm]

I found it slow and boring actually, I played it twice and then never picked it up again. If it was like Virtual On, I'd have been playing it to this day, but it's not. And the "virtual HUD Mech Display" that takes up 25% of the screen is really damn annoying as well.

The controller is nice, but that's about it, it's a slow, boring, hard to learn game that I didn't put any time into.
You complain about these things because you never put any time into the game. (1) It gets faster and (2) the cockpit elements get smaller (and eventually disappear, replaced by a true HUD). As I've said before, if it were any faster to start you'd be complaining about it being too hard.

If I may liken Steel Battalion to sex, you didn't even get the bra off, dude.

If I don't like it when I put an hour or so into it, I don't want to play it anymore.

I'm sorry, but unless it magically turns into Virtual On, I don't think I'm gonna be picking it back up.

[bargora]

Had a great time with it, but I was never any good. I got to level four but keep dying. I really don't like how your save file gets effectivily deleted if you don't eject or how you can run out of money and have to start the game over from scratch. But I love everything else. I keep playing it every now and then, but usually I just get burned out getting back to level 4 time after time. I keep shooting that damn battleship until I run out of ammo, and it refuses to die. I must be doing something wrong. Anybody?
I'd say so. You're probably shooting the battleship with a weapon that isn't doing any damage because you're out of its effective range. So what are you using against the thing? Are you destroying its main turrets (the ones that shoot three shells at a time that really hurt)? If you're using a Decider, you should be shooting the ship with your 315-SB or 315-TR. If you're using a Scare Face you should be using the 320-SR.

The only way to know whether you're actually causing damage is to look at your HUD when the shot hits the ship. If the "HIT" indicator lights up, then you're doing damage. If it says "MISS", then the shot is doing no damage whatsoever, even if it makes a nice display of sparks and stuff. That means you need to move closer to do damage with the weapon. Keep in mind that you don't need to shoot the ship in its midsection. You can shoot the part that's closest to you and the damage will count against the ship's total HP.

Once you destroy the main turrets (easier said than done, I know, but if your teammates survive to the final platform then they'll draw the battleship's fire away from you), it gets much easier. The smaller guns lining the ship's sides are too small to damage your VT. It just makes a sound like you're in a garbage can and someone threw a rock at you.

Usually I'll run onto the last platform, duck behind the indestructible building (the big one to the left of the battleship), destroy the enemy VTs, shoot the turrets off the ship, and then sink the sucker. Once the enemy VTs on the final platform are destroyed there's nothing to seriously threaten you other than the battleship. Sometimes I'll take a resupply/repair while I'm hiding behind the building, too. I assume you know how to order a resupply. In the alternative, sometimes I'll withdraw to the previous platform to get a resupply. Note that those annoying little missile boats are capable of downing your supply chopper if you don't hose them down with your chaingun on the way in.

I like the Scare Face because you can blast the battleship from afar with the 320-SR, but I've also sank it using a Vitzh. So anything is possible.

Keep in mind that once you sink the battleship, you'll get to pilot the 2nd generation VTs. And that's where the game really starts, as far as I'm concerned.

[bargora]

I found it slow and boring actually, I played it twice and then never picked it up again. If it was like Virtual On, I'd have been playing it to this day, but it's not. And the "virtual HUD Mech Display" that takes up 25% of the screen is really damn annoying as well.

The controller is nice, but that's about it, it's a slow, boring, hard to learn game that I didn't put any time into.
You complain about these things because you never put any time into the game. (1) It gets faster and (2) the cockpit elements get smaller (and eventually disappear, replaced by a true HUD). As I've said before, if it were any faster to start you'd be complaining about it being too hard.

If I may liken Steel Battalion to sex, you didn't even get the bra off, dude.

If I don't like it when I put an hour or so into it, I don't want to play it anymore.

I'm sorry, but unless it magically turns into Virtual On, I don't think I'm gonna be picking it back up.
Well, I'm afraid that Steel Battalion is never going to turn into Virtual On. Have you tried Virtual On Marz? I might also suggest Zone of the Enders and ZOE: The 2nd Runner to fill your hyper-speed mecha needs.

The VTs of Steel Battalion are "Vertical Tanks", and they drive, well, like tanks for the most part. I had thought that that part was made pretty clear from the previews. If not, then I'm afraid that you simply spent a lot of money on the wrong game.

[ubersaurus]

I like how bargora always invites me to play steel battalion when I'm in the middle of games with my friends LOL

[Cmosfm]

I found it slow and boring actually, I played it twice and then never picked it up again. If it was like Virtual On, I'd have been playing it to this day, but it's not. And the "virtual HUD Mech Display" that takes up 25% of the screen is really damn annoying as well.

The controller is nice, but that's about it, it's a slow, boring, hard to learn game that I didn't put any time into.
You complain about these things because you never put any time into the game. (1) It gets faster and (2) the cockpit elements get smaller (and eventually disappear, replaced by a true HUD). As I've said before, if it were any faster to start you'd be complaining about it being too hard.

If I may liken Steel Battalion to sex, you didn't even get the bra off, dude.

If I don't like it when I put an hour or so into it, I don't want to play it anymore.

I'm sorry, but unless it magically turns into Virtual On, I don't think I'm gonna be picking it back up.
Well, I'm afraid that Steel Battalion is never going to turn into Virtual On. Have you tried Virtual On Marz? I might also suggest Zone of the Enders and ZOE: The 2nd Runner to fill your hyper-speed mecha needs.

The VTs of Steel Battalion are "Vertical Tanks", and they drive, well, like tanks for the most part. I had thought that that part was made pretty clear from the previews. If not, then I'm afraid that you simply spent a lot of money on the wrong game.

Well, I kinda traded for it, didn't pay much for the stuff I traded either, so it's all good. It looks good where I have it sitting at lease. 8-)

[bargora]

I like how bargora always invites me to play steel battalion when I'm in the middle of games with my friends LOL
Well, that's how the system's supposed to work, no? And unfortunately there's no way for me to know that you're playing Halo 2 with your bosom buddies. For all I know you're just killing time with jerks and kiddies, waiting for an invitation to the main event. 8-)

[atomicthumbs]

Two years later, and I still suck at it.



... In fact, I think I've gotten worse.

[TougherToast]

I love the game. With the controller and the pace of the game it makes you feel like you are really piloting a Mech. There are very few Mech games that immerse you like this one does. It is definitely a Mech simulator and not a Mech game: by this I mean that it is more about simulating what the experience would be like, rather than fast paced arcade action. If you like the Mechwarrior games than you will like this game as well. It can be a little hard at times, has a very steep learning curve. If you keep playing, it will eventually get easier. It’s also a lot of fun multi player and on Live, so I would highly recommend getting Line of Contact.

[captain nintendo]

I will clear a few people off my friends list and really want to start playing this a bit :)

Send a friend request to CaptainNintendo if you are playing on live ;)

[tynstar]

Like you will actually stop playing Halo 2.