Super Robot Wars: Scramble Commander
The Super Robot Wars franchise isn't exactly an obscure one. However, Super Robot Wars: Scramble Commander is such a departure for the series that I think it deserves a little more discussion. If you were to simply look at screenshots or even the back of the case of this Playstation 2 game, you'd think this is just more of the same old grid/hex turn-based strategy. The menus are set up in largely the same style and order of those games even, so it does really give the appearance of the same old Super Robot Wars, just in 3D. It isn't.
Scramble commander is actually a real-time strategy game surrounded by Super Robot Wars trappings. You still control a group of famous anime bots (you start with Mazinger-Z and Mazinger-G), move them around a map, and wipe out enemy forces. However, you give each of your mechanical monstrosities its marching orders in real time, so none of that down time in between moves. You give each a general trajectory toward a location, set default attack weapon in case of enemy encounter, and then move on to thr next, no grids here. As fast as you can command, you can get things going.
When a robot encounters an enemy, it will automatically begin the skirmish. You can intervene with instructions, though, such as changing weapons, using restoratives, or retreating. Multiple machines can gang up on one foe to make short work of them, so positioning is key. Given the individual unit control, it never quite feels like Command and Conquer, but rather more like General Chaos on the Genesis with a bigger map.
Control is limited in a game like this, but the right stick can help you move the camera with ease, and the left will let you swap robots in the direction tapped for a quick switch. It's a pretty intuitive system that makes commanding on the fly a breeze. You can also zoom out to a map, letting you effectively pause to make some rational command decisions.
Super Robot Wars: Scramble Commander is a fun, faster-paced take on a familiar theme that works. I like the quicker battles and easy controls, and who doesn't want to see Getter Robo teach a Gundam or Eva unit how it's done? If you like the concept but hated the lengthly missions of the old series, give this one a spin.
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