An awesome action game that will have you hooked on the gameplay.
The first notable feature about this game is its story, it plays out much like a Saturday morning cartoon on Kids WB that we all used to watch when we were little. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on what you think of this idea. The story goes that your un-named main characters (I named mine Adam… LOL) father has been reported dead and you go on a quest to fulfill his will of you becoming a Robo Commander. Just like I said, a kids cartoon on a Saturday morning so don’t expect there to be that complicated of a story and I’m sure you’ll know how it ends up. I haven’t even beaten the game to its fullest yet and I’m certain that this might be the case.
Next notable feature is this game’s graphics, they are smooth and finely detailed for a Gamecube game even if there’s a bit too much gray. Just like I said about the story, this game has that cartoony feel that takes you back to the days when you watched cartoons like this. I could say less about the portraits though, since the character portraits are not that well drawn (Believe me, the ones in Lunar and previous games are better than these). What’s also strange is that the characters only convey their emotions on their portraits and their game sprites keep a straight face through the whole game. Sign of laziness much? This could have been funny to see on the sprites to.
Another one of the downsides to this game is its sound. I’m not complaining about the music though, this game has a lot of fitting tunes that are worth hearing and the combat effects sound good too. But what’s unfortunate is that there isn’t any voice acting, just the running dot sound. I know this game isn’t exactly Playstation 2 material, but it has been done before on many games that came out before this one. Personally I could have done all of the voice acting below minimum wage and I bet it would have turned out a bit better.
Okay, the noticeable features of this game have been covered, so now I shall talk about the gameplay. I am going to tell you this much: there is a reason that this game was rated T. Not because it was ultra violent or mature, but because little kids are going to have a VERY hard time trying to play this game. The gameplay is fast paced and requires a lot of quick thinking. Chances are that even experienced gamers will end up feeling their hearts pumping even after a single battle. What’s fortunate about the gameplay is that the controls are very easy to use and you won’t be struggling to get a win out of the battle unless you have trouble finding out where you are. This won’t likely happen though since the camera is in overhead view and will always focus on where you are so you don’t end up losing the battle because of this unfair disadvantage. If you’re looking for this kind of gameplay and you don’t have a Playstation 2 to play games that have this much action, this game is right up your alley.
Going further into the gameplay, there is indeed a point where the game lives up to its name of being “Custom”. You have to customize your Robo in hopes that you build a winning combination over your opponent. You win new parts after you claim victory over your opponent, which you have to claim at the parts machine.
What increases the playability of this game is the multiplayer. Find more parts and you find more possibilities for your friends to customize and thus have your own Robo battles in the Holoseum. It’s put in the game when you first get it and you can eventually practice against the computer after you beat the first story mode.
Now would I recommend this game for every to play? If you didn’t notice the score I gave this game, I would recommend this without question. If you’re into fast-paced action or want to relive the good old days of Saturday morning nostalgia, this game is guaranteed to please.