Why is it all mecha-related games don't come with a forty-button controller? 
Gun Griffon arrived yesterday and I had a chance to play some last night. Worked my way through the first five or so missions. Firstly, the game is NOT region-free so you'll need to switch the region or whatever it is you do to play imports. Secondly, I've no bearing on any of the other GG titles, apart from the first Saturn title.
So, checking the back of the box, it does 480p. Various live features, online multiplayer (12 players) and scoreboards. I loaded it up (which took ages... probably clearing the cache?) and popped into the options to check the controls. Usual stuff really. The main configuration has forward/reverse+strafe on the left stick, with look on the right. Main fire is your right trigger, with left being change weapon. The face buttons reload, roll-dash (i.e. wheels, like in the Saturn game) and jump/fly. Black and white give your team-mate orders. Fairly simple, either cover me or wander off in the direction I'm facing. I noticed the game is set to 'easy' by default... I changed this to normal (only two available, I guess harder modes are unlocked).
So far, the presentation isn't too hot and neither is the music. Into the campaign proper, the games runs an intro... which is a badly encoded FMV of game footage. No idea of the story, other than what is in the manual (i.e. renegade pilot, given a "High Mac", blow **** up, yada yada...)
The games structure, into the first mission, takes on a multiple-page briefing of your up-and-coming objective. The first is to mash some bunkers up, and destroy the bad guys. Next is into High Mac and weapon selection. Three mechs are available from the start, no noticeable difference between them. A couple of weapons for each type are also available. Each type being a rifle, rocket, machine gun and some other explosive type/grenade thing. There didn't seem to be a maximum weight, unless I overlooked it... so I stuck the most powerful of each on the mech. Some have a slower reload, less ammo, etc... during the briefing, details of supply drops are present, if needed.
Also configurable here is your wingman. A selection of support mechs are available, including a four-legged tank-style thing. No weapon selection is available, just the type of support you're after, ranging from long-range to assault.
Into the game proper, the default view is in-cockpit... looks alright, if a bit basic (OK, everything looks basic compared to the Tekki-games). Nice, large area to explore but we're under attack already. Everything has a drab look to it and while it is all running in progressive scan, it still looks muddy, washed out and overall? A little basic... not very detailed at all. Not good.
Communications, in game (i.e. updating mission objectives, wingman, supply), vary between text and speech... which seems weird, considering the text is easily overlooked in the heat of a battle. Right at the beginning of the first mission, some text is already on screen giving you directions as to what you should be doing >_<
Straight into battle and everything has a nice feel to it. There is nice feedback when firing and manual aiming is a piece of piss. Some weapons lock on, like the rockets, while others have a sniper mode. The pace is about the same as Tekki, overall, but it lacks the general feeling of size to it. Actual movement seemed to be lacking a way to quickly side-step. I could have overlooked something here though (I don't think the same was possible in the Saturn game). The overall response was much quicker in the Saturn GG though. As such, attacking enemy units head on isn't such a good idea
One can jump/fly and dash forwards for a limited time only
Sound effects are good, as you'd expect for large pieces of metal banging the crap out of each other. The in-game music is instantly forgettable, so I turned it off to hear the surround. It is important to hear the little noises and effects. Various warning alarms go off when you're being locked onto or if something needs your attention.
The difficulty seems about right, a little on the hard side maybe but this could just be the learning curve. Missions "complete" as soon as you meet the objective, something you can take advantage of during a tight spot The following missions see you going after some supply trucks, defending some stuff, etc... fairly standard stuff really.
Overall then, it is a fairly bog standard, mission-based mech shooter. It doesn't look that good, plays all right but it isn't anything new or overly exciting. There is some enjoyment to be had, if you like this sort of thing but, at the end of the day, Gun Griffon: Allied Strike is an average game.
Any questions, gimme a shout.
Gun Griffon arrived yesterday and I had a chance to play some last night. Worked my way through the first five or so missions. Firstly, the game is NOT region-free so you'll need to switch the region or whatever it is you do to play imports. Secondly, I've no bearing on any of the other GG titles, apart from the first Saturn title.
So, checking the back of the box, it does 480p. Various live features, online multiplayer (12 players) and scoreboards. I loaded it up (which took ages... probably clearing the cache?) and popped into the options to check the controls. Usual stuff really. The main configuration has forward/reverse+strafe on the left stick, with look on the right. Main fire is your right trigger, with left being change weapon. The face buttons reload, roll-dash (i.e. wheels, like in the Saturn game) and jump/fly. Black and white give your team-mate orders. Fairly simple, either cover me or wander off in the direction I'm facing. I noticed the game is set to 'easy' by default... I changed this to normal (only two available, I guess harder modes are unlocked).
So far, the presentation isn't too hot and neither is the music. Into the campaign proper, the games runs an intro... which is a badly encoded FMV of game footage. No idea of the story, other than what is in the manual (i.e. renegade pilot, given a "High Mac", blow **** up, yada yada...)
The games structure, into the first mission, takes on a multiple-page briefing of your up-and-coming objective. The first is to mash some bunkers up, and destroy the bad guys. Next is into High Mac and weapon selection. Three mechs are available from the start, no noticeable difference between them. A couple of weapons for each type are also available. Each type being a rifle, rocket, machine gun and some other explosive type/grenade thing. There didn't seem to be a maximum weight, unless I overlooked it... so I stuck the most powerful of each on the mech. Some have a slower reload, less ammo, etc... during the briefing, details of supply drops are present, if needed.
Also configurable here is your wingman. A selection of support mechs are available, including a four-legged tank-style thing. No weapon selection is available, just the type of support you're after, ranging from long-range to assault.
Into the game proper, the default view is in-cockpit... looks alright, if a bit basic (OK, everything looks basic compared to the Tekki-games). Nice, large area to explore but we're under attack already. Everything has a drab look to it and while it is all running in progressive scan, it still looks muddy, washed out and overall? A little basic... not very detailed at all. Not good.
Communications, in game (i.e. updating mission objectives, wingman, supply), vary between text and speech... which seems weird, considering the text is easily overlooked in the heat of a battle. Right at the beginning of the first mission, some text is already on screen giving you directions as to what you should be doing >_<
Straight into battle and everything has a nice feel to it. There is nice feedback when firing and manual aiming is a piece of piss. Some weapons lock on, like the rockets, while others have a sniper mode. The pace is about the same as Tekki, overall, but it lacks the general feeling of size to it. Actual movement seemed to be lacking a way to quickly side-step. I could have overlooked something here though (I don't think the same was possible in the Saturn game). The overall response was much quicker in the Saturn GG though. As such, attacking enemy units head on isn't such a good idea
One can jump/fly and dash forwards for a limited time onlySound effects are good, as you'd expect for large pieces of metal banging the crap out of each other. The in-game music is instantly forgettable, so I turned it off to hear the surround. It is important to hear the little noises and effects. Various warning alarms go off when you're being locked onto or if something needs your attention.
The difficulty seems about right, a little on the hard side maybe but this could just be the learning curve. Missions "complete" as soon as you meet the objective, something you can take advantage of during a tight spot
The following missions see you going after some supply trucks, defending some stuff, etc... fairly standard stuff really.Overall then, it is a fairly bog standard, mission-based mech shooter. It doesn't look that good, plays all right but it isn't anything new or overly exciting. There is some enjoyment to be had, if you like this sort of thing but, at the end of the day, Gun Griffon: Allied Strike is an average game.
Any questions, gimme a shout.