I've been waiting for this for quite some time...I've backed this Kickstarter the moment I saw it, and after some delays it's finally here. Previously the developer, Rocket Punch, delivered two multiplayer-only alpha builds to backers, but asked not to divulge anything about it.
Right now Hardcore Mecha is available worldwide on Steam and Japanese/Asian PSN; other PSN regions will be available later.
Hardcore Mecha is a sidescrolling run'n'gun game with giant robots. Thread done, go buy it, GOTY.
OK, stupid jokes aside, Hardcore Mecha plays as a mix between Contra and the Assault Suit series. You aim the gun by simply pointing the left stick where you want (rather than rotating it as in Assault Suit), but your robot has a limited jump which can be augmented by holdign the button down and consuming the boost gauge; you have multiple weapons, a close-range attack, and a shield. The starting mecha, the Thunderbolt, isn't as heavy as in Assault Suit but you can totally feel it's not as agile as a human being. Controls feel good, and after some adjustment (including having to remember that face buttons on the X Box controller are inverted), everything flows smoothly. The only thing is that my thumb automatically goes to the d-pad for movement, were that is used for secondary actions (browse through weapons, items, and use them) here. You can choose between two controller layouts, but can't create your own...I would totally swap around what some dorsal buttons do, but that's a personal preference.
The game is divided into missions, each with its own set of primary and secondary objectives. Stages are linear, although there are a few hidden places here and there. Enemies range from puny infantry soldiers, to vehicles, aircrafts, other mechas, and mechas bigger than your mecha. Those usually serve as bosses, like in the second chapter. The game is at its best during stages and when facing named characters in mechas of the same size, the aforementioned second chapter boss takes up half of the screen but the fight itself is rather boring; funny thing, because the mid-boss was far more engaging and difficult, and that was the size of your own robot.
You can also dismout from your robot, useful if you need to interact with human-sized terminals, and...oh, the third mission. You're on foot and it's a stealth mission.
Dear Rocket Punch, I don't want human stealth sections in a game called "Hardcore Mecha". But at least it's not obnoxious, guards are pretty dumb and only react if you end in their cone of vision.
In between missions you can spend hard-earned credits to upgrade your mecha, and if you have blueprints, develop new weapons. Missions are graded, and finally, a game that doesn't shy away of giving you a "C" for clearing the mission after a few deaths, rather than using "C" when you fail and instead go double or triple S. I'm not joking, I actually like this. Grading is also rather strict, even simply taking damage, not severe enough to warrant using a repair item, will result in your rating falling down rather quickly.
The story is brought forward by the usual portraits talking to each other and some nicely drawn cutscenes. I'm playing at 1920x1080, and nothing shows the typical artifacts of images being scaled up or down, so I guess the art was drawn at that resolution. To be honest I haven't tried other resolutions, nor I know if the game even runs at different settings other than full HD.
Anyway, the game looks lovely, sound effects have a good feel to them, and music...uhm, I can't really remember any of the BGMs. But there's a theme song on the title screen and if you like giant robots you should totally listen to it. Maybe a more "Gundamy" theme would have been more appropriate for Hardcore Mecha, but...just listen to it.
From what little I've played Hardcore Mecha looks like a quality title.
And before you ask, no, I don't have videos. I tried to record yesterday but my PC decided to give up after half and hour and threw away everything recorded up to that point.
Right now Hardcore Mecha is available worldwide on Steam and Japanese/Asian PSN; other PSN regions will be available later.
Hardcore Mecha is a sidescrolling run'n'gun game with giant robots. Thread done, go buy it, GOTY.
OK, stupid jokes aside, Hardcore Mecha plays as a mix between Contra and the Assault Suit series. You aim the gun by simply pointing the left stick where you want (rather than rotating it as in Assault Suit), but your robot has a limited jump which can be augmented by holdign the button down and consuming the boost gauge; you have multiple weapons, a close-range attack, and a shield. The starting mecha, the Thunderbolt, isn't as heavy as in Assault Suit but you can totally feel it's not as agile as a human being. Controls feel good, and after some adjustment (including having to remember that face buttons on the X Box controller are inverted), everything flows smoothly. The only thing is that my thumb automatically goes to the d-pad for movement, were that is used for secondary actions (browse through weapons, items, and use them) here. You can choose between two controller layouts, but can't create your own...I would totally swap around what some dorsal buttons do, but that's a personal preference.
The game is divided into missions, each with its own set of primary and secondary objectives. Stages are linear, although there are a few hidden places here and there. Enemies range from puny infantry soldiers, to vehicles, aircrafts, other mechas, and mechas bigger than your mecha. Those usually serve as bosses, like in the second chapter. The game is at its best during stages and when facing named characters in mechas of the same size, the aforementioned second chapter boss takes up half of the screen but the fight itself is rather boring; funny thing, because the mid-boss was far more engaging and difficult, and that was the size of your own robot.
You can also dismout from your robot, useful if you need to interact with human-sized terminals, and...oh, the third mission. You're on foot and it's a stealth mission.
Dear Rocket Punch, I don't want human stealth sections in a game called "Hardcore Mecha". But at least it's not obnoxious, guards are pretty dumb and only react if you end in their cone of vision.
In between missions you can spend hard-earned credits to upgrade your mecha, and if you have blueprints, develop new weapons. Missions are graded, and finally, a game that doesn't shy away of giving you a "C" for clearing the mission after a few deaths, rather than using "C" when you fail and instead go double or triple S. I'm not joking, I actually like this. Grading is also rather strict, even simply taking damage, not severe enough to warrant using a repair item, will result in your rating falling down rather quickly.
The story is brought forward by the usual portraits talking to each other and some nicely drawn cutscenes. I'm playing at 1920x1080, and nothing shows the typical artifacts of images being scaled up or down, so I guess the art was drawn at that resolution. To be honest I haven't tried other resolutions, nor I know if the game even runs at different settings other than full HD.
Anyway, the game looks lovely, sound effects have a good feel to them, and music...uhm, I can't really remember any of the BGMs. But there's a theme song on the title screen and if you like giant robots you should totally listen to it. Maybe a more "Gundamy" theme would have been more appropriate for Hardcore Mecha, but...just listen to it.
From what little I've played Hardcore Mecha looks like a quality title.
And before you ask, no, I don't have videos. I tried to record yesterday but my PC decided to give up after half and hour and threw away everything recorded up to that point.
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