Deathstroke
02-19-2004, 05:07 PM
This is a topic to discuss those games that just don't seem to get enough attention except from people that actually follow release dates and keep up with previews. Anyways, to kick this off, here's a gem of a series, that has been kept in Japan for entirely too long. There were two iterations of this game on N64 but they never made it to America. The newest game in this series is coming to GC sometime in March in Japan and in May in America. I present, Custom Robo: Battle Revolutions:
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/custrobo_021704_x14.jpg
Info about the game from IGN's latest hands on:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/492/492756p1.html
Custom Robo, a sequel to the Nintendo 64 title of the same name, enables players to jump into fully customizable mech-robots and then battle against one another on a variety of quasi-destructible arenas called Holosseums. As players advance, they can acquire new parts and therein abilities for their mechs, which gives the game something of an RPG element. The title of course features a single-player option, but it is best enjoyed with up to four-players (on the same screen).
Custom Robo features the standard arcade and versus modes, but it also boasts a story option -- which includes some of the crispest full-motion video sequences produced for GameCube yet. In addition, the game extends players a parts glossary where it is possible to look over equipment gained throughout one's progress. Finally, an options menu is also available. For the purposes of this write-up, we'll stick to the arcade mode, which is the quickest to pick up and play. Here players can choose from single battles, two-on two, tag battle, and three and four-player battle royals.
Before players get started, they'll want to choose and customize their mech. There are a wide variety of different robots to choose from. Metal Kong, a hulking mass of a machine that looks like King Kong, is powerful, but slow compared to other mechs, while Peking Duck, small and less powerful, is quicker and more agile. Players can pick a robot best suited to their fighting style and then deck the machine out as they gain more parts and weapons.
The mechs can fire two different weapons, both of which can be fully customized. Two more upgrade slots can be applied to their mid-section (for wings and lifts, among other additions) and to their legs (different applications for their feet may help them run faster or jump higher).
Fights begin after the customizations are completed. The mechs are first assembled inside neon colored dice and then jettisoned onto the arena floor. They have five seconds to break free from the barrier and attack their opponent. Once they are out of their casing, players can easily maneuver them about the Holosseums, which are often filled with obstacles such as walls and crates, and battle against their foe. Each robot begins a battle with a certain number of hit points and when these are diminished the match is over. With that, the point of the game is to take away the other player's hit points as quickly and effectively as possible.
Controls are straightforward and simple. The L button is used to launch the pods into the arenas. From there, players can use the control stick to run around the environment. A button is used for jumping and double-jumping, which is helpful to clear some barriers. The B button fires the primary weapon. These can be everything from missiles to ghost-like dragonheads, bubbles, lasers, and more. The R button throws bombs. Finally, the X button is used to charge at an opponent and hit them. None of the other buttons are used.
In our experience so far, the play mechanics feel a wee bit shallow, but fun nonetheless. There aren't a lot of options, but chasing one's enemy around a small Holosseum and firing an arsenal of deadly weapons at them all the while can still be entertaining and satisfying. We're looking forward to exploring both the story and multiplayer modes -- neither of which was unlocked in the demo version we played.
Custom Robo is much prettier than its N64 predecessor, which is to be expected since the game arrives years later and on a more powerful system. And yet, with that noted the two still resemble one another because the overall design has not changed at all. Mechs are more detailed and move with more fluid animation. The particle effects system that brings everything from lightning to gun blasts to life is phenomenal. The destructible objects are occasionally impressive. Plus the texture work is clean. The game runs at an undisturbed 60 frames per second and supports a progressive scan mode.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/custrobo_021704_x11.jpg
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/nintendoconf_051403_031.jpg
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/custrobo_021704_x14.jpg
Info about the game from IGN's latest hands on:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/492/492756p1.html
Custom Robo, a sequel to the Nintendo 64 title of the same name, enables players to jump into fully customizable mech-robots and then battle against one another on a variety of quasi-destructible arenas called Holosseums. As players advance, they can acquire new parts and therein abilities for their mechs, which gives the game something of an RPG element. The title of course features a single-player option, but it is best enjoyed with up to four-players (on the same screen).
Custom Robo features the standard arcade and versus modes, but it also boasts a story option -- which includes some of the crispest full-motion video sequences produced for GameCube yet. In addition, the game extends players a parts glossary where it is possible to look over equipment gained throughout one's progress. Finally, an options menu is also available. For the purposes of this write-up, we'll stick to the arcade mode, which is the quickest to pick up and play. Here players can choose from single battles, two-on two, tag battle, and three and four-player battle royals.
Before players get started, they'll want to choose and customize their mech. There are a wide variety of different robots to choose from. Metal Kong, a hulking mass of a machine that looks like King Kong, is powerful, but slow compared to other mechs, while Peking Duck, small and less powerful, is quicker and more agile. Players can pick a robot best suited to their fighting style and then deck the machine out as they gain more parts and weapons.
The mechs can fire two different weapons, both of which can be fully customized. Two more upgrade slots can be applied to their mid-section (for wings and lifts, among other additions) and to their legs (different applications for their feet may help them run faster or jump higher).
Fights begin after the customizations are completed. The mechs are first assembled inside neon colored dice and then jettisoned onto the arena floor. They have five seconds to break free from the barrier and attack their opponent. Once they are out of their casing, players can easily maneuver them about the Holosseums, which are often filled with obstacles such as walls and crates, and battle against their foe. Each robot begins a battle with a certain number of hit points and when these are diminished the match is over. With that, the point of the game is to take away the other player's hit points as quickly and effectively as possible.
Controls are straightforward and simple. The L button is used to launch the pods into the arenas. From there, players can use the control stick to run around the environment. A button is used for jumping and double-jumping, which is helpful to clear some barriers. The B button fires the primary weapon. These can be everything from missiles to ghost-like dragonheads, bubbles, lasers, and more. The R button throws bombs. Finally, the X button is used to charge at an opponent and hit them. None of the other buttons are used.
In our experience so far, the play mechanics feel a wee bit shallow, but fun nonetheless. There aren't a lot of options, but chasing one's enemy around a small Holosseum and firing an arsenal of deadly weapons at them all the while can still be entertaining and satisfying. We're looking forward to exploring both the story and multiplayer modes -- neither of which was unlocked in the demo version we played.
Custom Robo is much prettier than its N64 predecessor, which is to be expected since the game arrives years later and on a more powerful system. And yet, with that noted the two still resemble one another because the overall design has not changed at all. Mechs are more detailed and move with more fluid animation. The particle effects system that brings everything from lightning to gun blasts to life is phenomenal. The destructible objects are occasionally impressive. Plus the texture work is clean. The game runs at an undisturbed 60 frames per second and supports a progressive scan mode.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/custrobo_021704_x11.jpg
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/nintendoconf_051403_031.jpg