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	Robotech: Battlecry
	Developer: Vicious Cycle Publisher: TDK Mediactive Genre: Action Players: 1-2 Similar To: Enclave Rating: Teen Published: 11 :13 : 02 Reviewed By: Ryan Newman Overall: 8 = Excellent

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Rebels aren't the only ones who will make trouble, as professional soldiers will also continue to attack human settlements, leaving it up to the gamer, a former soldier, see to it that they are repelled. As part of the newly formed Robotech core, players will control a craft that can transform into four different modes: guardian, hover, space, and combat. Each has its own distinct advantages; while one is faster, another allows for better accuracy, while yet another is used for laying down heavy amounts of fire. Ammo is unlimited for all modes, but the guns can suffer from overheating and missiles need to be restocked, so firing constantly isn't an option. While any of the modes can be used at any time, there are specific situations for each and using the modes in imaginative ways - like transforming from space to guardian during a loop in a confined area to surprise the pursuing enemy with a barrage of gunfire - isn't fully utilized, unfortunately.

Limiting the potential in this manner did have some small benefits, as it allowed for better understanding of how to tackle certain situations; if a downed pilot has to be rescued in a limited timeframe, the quickest mode needs to be chosen, and the space allocated to change and pilot that mode is given. That is, of course, a rare example of a decision being practically made for the gamer.

One surprising factor is the game's difficulty. Some of the missions can be pretty unforgiving; extended objectives give the impression of levels lasting much longer than they actually do, and most will be completely with just a hair of life left. By putting the player in the midst of a raging war, which is done exceptionally well, they also put them in the line of enemy fire - a lot of enemy fire. Several missions will have explosions coming from all directions, along with continuous laser blasts from pursuing ships, all of which barely miss the gamer. As cool and immersive as all that is, it generally makes for abrupt deaths as turning into unseen fire happens often and it's in such a quantity that it'll sap life away until there's nothing more than a smidge left.

The feeling of being in a full-scale war definitely outweighs the random bouts of severe difficulty. This is a white-knuckle action title that has not only great mech design, but a solid mission structure and a great story. While it's light on strategy, it's heavy on combat, and that's exactly what Robotech does best. This is a real treat for the action junkie.

Graphics: 8.5/10
Despite being abused for a year or so now, cel-shading still finds itself practical in certain titles, and Battlecry is one such title. It should stand to reason that since it's based on an animated series, the developers would use the visual style that's closest in appearance to the original, and they have done so with great results. All the settings look terrific, whether it's an isolated outpost in the desert or among thousands of ships in space; there is no shortage of eye-candy. Some levels go the extra mile and have such goodies as destructible cities and huge armadas of ships battling it out, complete with random explosions and nary a hint of slowdown.

Sound: 8/10
Robotech: Battlecry features a great all-around soundtrack, with songs that would fit well alongside any of the animated series. The voice-overs are done well for all characters, but some phrases are repeated too often during combat; most of the parroted lines are ones scolding the player for not doing good enough, which quickly becomes aggravating as the game is difficult enough without someone constantly harping on you about not doing your job. As seen in Capcom's TechRomancer, there are also brief audio clips to lead into the next scene. While TR offered a still shot of a character, Battlecry is set up so that long of a pause isn't needed, though the added bit of audio is exactly what is heard during cartoons of that era and it was an excellent touch.

Control: 7/10
Surprisingly enough, switching between vehicle modes isn't that difficult, whether you're in a slow situation or in the middle of a firefight. With unlimited ammo and a limited arsenal, no complex menu or upgrade system is needed, so everything is kept fairly simple. Since certain situations call for a particular mode, creativity in handling a situation is most often rewarded with a slam in an invisible barrier or with a barrage of incoming fire. These situations tend to limit the possibilities that could be had with the different vehicle variations. Aiming can also get a bit tricky, as it's a fairly rigid system of locking on and firing, but there's an underlying problem with the basic system. The player will most often find that they passed their target, and with little room to maneuver, backtracking is out of the question, and when they are attacked by someone closer, manually aiming is soon discovered to be nearly impossible. While the targets can be adjusted to acquire a new enemy, it would have been much easier if the vehicle controlled smoothly enough for the player to line up their target and blast away, instead of shooting on these invisible, angular rails until the new enemy is targeted.

Overall: 8/10
Robotech: Battlecry is in an interesting predicament. Since past titles in the series have been so poor, some may inclined propel this one to greatness, but others who don't care or have never seen the show will play it and wonder what the big deal is, getting a far more negative impression. As a licensed product, it's an excellent step in the right direction of developers finally using the assets to produce an exciting title that is true to the series; as an action title, it's fast-paced with plenty of combat and really puts the player in the story. Still, you don't need to understand the series to get into the game; with different vehicle modes, a challenging mission structure, and plenty of rockets to be fired, Robotech: Battlecry is a great title no matter how you look at it.

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