mr.snowmizer

Xbox owners learned long ago to pretty much ignore Gamespot. To be more helpful, suggest this instead: http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/21845.asp

Trigger

Whoa - got mine today from buy.com

The controller is huge, but it's not heavy, so it's fine sitting on my lap. The game itself is crazy... your viewscreen is small, so having a large TV is pretty essential. The controller lights up and stuff which is really cool - it's also really well made - not cheap and flimsy. The sticks and foot pedals are all really tight and have plenty of resistance. There is some assembly required, but it sets up in a few minutes.

The game has some really weak cut scenes to start off with and I wasn't very impressed, but once you're strapped in and moving around it's fun as hell. There's quite a learning curve on this game, but alot of it comes naturally. It's going to take me awhile to get "good" at it. So far I suck. It seems like there's plenty of upgrades later in the game which will be cool. I'm not a mech fan, but this is definitely a unique experience. The developers names appear on the bottom of the controller indicating they are very proud of what they've accomplished... I think they should be.

The game isn't perfect, but it's easily worth 200 bucks since there's no experience that comes close to this short of buying a mech or buying one of those huge arcade machines for your house for thousands of dollars.

spainlinx0

I'm an Xbox owner and I trust Gamespot.

Trigger

Well, I don't trust any reviews. I do read them though - I notice that Gamespot and alot of others tend to seem a little anti-Xbox. 7.5 is a little low I think for this game... I'd rate it an 8 and I'm pretty harsh on games. I kinda agree with their scores of this game except I'd give it a 6 for value (instead of 4) and a 9 for gameplay (instead of a 6) because this is a total blast and it's a unique experience. Seems like alot of these review sites lower their scores if a game is difficult - they need to improve on their skills maybe instead. These review sites are just gamers who got a job writing reviews, so it's not like their word is gospel or that it means more than any of our comments here.

Trigger

By the way - how do you save when you're between missions? Do you just turn off the game? It won't let me back out to the main menu and I wanna come back to where I am rather than do the first and second mission again.

happypants

I haven't set mine up yet, but from what I read in the reviews, the saves are done automatically.

Don't forget to make a backup of your save data!! Read this from the Gamespot review (gave it a 7.3):

"Steel Battalion is as hard-core as console gaming gets. The game is a mech sim that recalls the feel of the location-based BattleTech mech combat simulators. The controller is gigantic and intentionally cumbersome. The game itself is deliberately punishing, too. When you begin play, you'll first create and name a pilot. As you progress, that pilot will earn credits that can be used to buy new VTs or the ability to resupply in the field. Should that pilot die because you failed to eject from an exploding mech before it went critical, or should you lose so many mechs that you don't have enough credits to purchase another one, the game ends--and erases your pilot's save data. Game over, big time.

DreamWeaver88

Gotta love the "Buy It Now" prices for this package on eBay. $475 and $500.

Ebay sellers are crazy.

DW

Trigger

I knew that if you didn't eject that you would die and lose your character, but I wasn't sure if I could just turn it off between campaigns and come back later at the same point. Thankfully I can. This game is really cool. So... I'm stuck on the level (5 I think) where I have to destroy this battleship that's docked... I can get to it just fine, but then it shoots at me like crazy so I die every time. Is there something I should be doing differently? Standing further back was my next try.

DreamWeaver88

Don't get shot like crazy.

DW

JoshUnt

I am thinking of buying this game today or tomorrow, but before I do I wanna make sure those of you who have had it a while still like/love it ???

And is there any more info on releasing an online or part 2 any time soon? I know it was mentioned, but no def. word. Also what about downloadable content via Xbox Live?

And can anyone explain more about the number of levels and what you can unlock, number of VTs?

I guess I just want you to talk me into buying it

Thanks in advance,
Josh

dek

I wish I had more time to play it actually. Having a almost 2 year old kills all my video game time. Unfortunately, this game takes time to learn i.e. controller and I don't have the time I may end up selling it sadly

Lastblade

dek, sell it to me! I can't seem to find this anywhere

dek

I'm willing to sell it for what I paid for it, 218 or so. Don't have the reciept in front of me. Plus shipping. Let me know if you want it still. I only have played it 3 times, still have everything, all mint.

JoshUnt

Lastblade: if you want to buy it Gamestop will order it for a $50 down payment and have it in 2 days for store pickup. no shipping for you. I spoke to a Gamestop manager the other day about it. I might trade in my PS2 and some games for it.

KingSmoth

Trading in a system and games just for one game.......ehhhhh?????????

Deadpool

Lastblade

Josh, thanks, I need to find a gamestop near me!

Roto

It's tempting, but I think I'll pass not being into Mech games at all. I'd be more interested if the controller could be used for other games besides Steel Battallion and Steel Battallion 2.

Does anyone who has it think it would work well with other types of games like flight simulators or anything else complex like that?

Lastblade

I don't have it (yet, prebought it waiting for shipment), but based on all the pics, I don't think the controller is really suitable for anything other than SB (or its planned sequel). It is really designed specifically for the game and people who have used it said it won't even work for Virtual On (Dual Joystick). Too bad, the possibility is there tho.

JoshUnt

I went tonight to put my $50 down payment on it. The guy at Gamestop said it "should" arrive on Tuesday. They had a returned one in the store. That is one big box