Steel Battalion further impressions

Today GameSpot received a copy of Tekki, the recently released Japanese version of the upcoming Steel Battalion. Though the game comes in a standard DVD case, that DVD case comes packaged in a much larger 22-pound square-shaped cardboard box (mocked up to look like a military supply chest) that's even bigger than the packaging for the actual Xbox console. Tekki doesn't just ship with a game disc--included in the package is a gigantic three-part controller, featuring two analog joysticks and numerous buttons, dials, and switches, as well as foot pedals. This sort of hardware comes at a cost--more than $200 for the import. We unpacked the game and controller, assembled everything, and got started playing this unusual and unusually expensive game.

Though the assembled controller is rectangular in shape, it fits snugly in three large pieces (and some smaller ones) in the game box. Unpacking and putting together the controller proved to be a pretty simple process, even without reading the assembly instructions. Basically, the left and right sections of the controller, as well as the foot pedal attachment, all latch onto the center piece, which in turn plugs into the Xbox in place of a standard controller. Though the various buttons on the controller light up when pressed, the controller does not support force feedback and does not require a separate power supply. Realistically, you'll need a large, flat tabletop close to your television to play Tekki, since the controller is much too bulky to be placed on your lap, and you'll also need room for the foot pedals underneath.

We found that the construction of the Tekki controller left something to be desired. Despite the overall weight of the controller, the plastic construction of the individual parts lends them a light, hollow feel instead of the sort of mass and girth you might expect from seeing the impressive-looking control system. In particular, the throttle on the left-hand side of the controller and the two joysticks (one for turning, one for aiming your weapons) seem clunky and even vulnerable to breakage on first impression. Nevertheless, the appeal of the game's proprietary control system is hard to resist, and the opening startup sequence of each mission--where you have to manually power up all of your mech's various systems--is a distinctive gaming experience.

Coming to grips with the game isn't exactly intuitive, yet the plot of the game has you--as a fledgling pilot recruit--suddenly thrust into the cockpit of a giant walking tank and forced to learn how to maneuver it on your own so that you can repel a surprise enemy attack. It took us a few tries to get accustomed to using the left stick's hat switch to control the perspective while using the throttle, the left stick, and the foot pedals to move, and using the right stick to aim and fire. Some of the controller's peripheral functions allow you to do things like wash off your view display as it gets dirty or even extinguish internal fires. Arguably, though, Tekki could have probably been made playable using the standard Xbox controller and a menu-driven option system. The proprietary controller is unusual to say the least, but it's hard to say at this point whether the game truly justifies it.

Check out our new media showing more of Tekki and its one-of-a-kind controller. And stay tuned for more information on the game.