Steam punk is a very interesting genre. It allows for different time periods and ideas to mix and merge to create an intriguing world. Usually, the Victorian time period is a favorite. Why? I am not really certain. I think it has to do with the juxtaposition of freedom and repression to create a fascinating world. Entering into this steam punk tradition is a PSP game that most people should check out: Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament.
Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament follows your avatar, Apollo or Vanilla (you can change their names if you like), as the character rises through the ranks of the Orion City’s famous trotmobile coliseum. (A trot mobile, occasionally called a “trot,” is a customizable battle robot.) Not much is known about your avatar, but you do get to influence his (or her) personality with the various bits of dialogue choices. Anyway, you are quickly joined by Venus, a trot mechanic. Trust me, you will need her help as she’ll cheaply and quickly repair and restock your trot whenever you enter her garage. Plus, she has her own story to tell as you go through the game. Along the way, you will complete various jobs, meet the locals and confront a “colorful” band of bandits. It’s a pretty basic plot. But unlike other games in the hack-’n’-slash genre, it will not fall apart if you prod it too much. People wander around town absorbed in their own lives. Buses and trots are seen driving through the city streets. Each person is absorbed in their own thoughts. It feels like its own world.
The graphics go hand-in-hand with this. The cel-shaded universe is downright beautiful. On the one hand, it looks realistic. While the main characters get their own portraits, it sort of clashes as the portraits look cartoonish. The various trots and characters look and move wonderfully. The various areas as well have their own unique feel. Orion City feels like a modern city, while the forests are rich in trees. Aquaris Valley, while not rich in water, feels like a forgotten part of the southwest as it is rich in mesas. Day becomes night as night turns into day. It is important to note that load times are on par with the PlayStation 2. One problem with the engine is that some of the characters look alike and have the same portraits. But, this is also an issue with the role-playing genre and hack-’n’-slash games in general. So it is not as major a problem as it sounds.
Sound suits the game. Various weapons have their own sounds, such as blades sounding like swords and the heat of the flamethrower. I swear dirt is heard as your trot dashes across the wilderness. Music is also solid. It just provides the perfect backdrop for adventure. And general butt-kicking. Mellow guitars and flutes are heard as you travel through Orion City. Those same instruments change melodies to create a sparse desert atmosphere. Then there is the wonderful victory music fueled by big brass horns. There is some voice acting, but it is mostly saved for important parts of the story. It is a shame we do not hear more of it, because it is well done.
However, gameplay is where it’s at. Your avatar’s trot mobile is completely customizable. Your trot naturally equips two different weapons, so how you want to play is up to you. Shots (guns), various melee weapons such as weapons made of wood, maces and swords can all be mixed and matched to your heart’s content. Match a flame-thrower attachment with a mace? Go for it! Two swords? A gun and a boomerang? Just go for it! It’s all about how you want to play. It is important to note that some parts of Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament seem like they need certain weaponry, but you can get away with your favorite setup if you’re skilled enough. Furthermore, you can pick up certain parts of the background, such as rocks. You can even pickup enemies and bash opponents Hulk style.
Furthermore, you can increase the stats of your trot’s equipment however you like. Your sword’s durability a bit too low for your tastes? Go to Venus’ garage and, for a fee, she’ll raise its stats so it’s a more potent weapon. The same goes for the rest of the parts. If you face an opponent who is heavy in fire attacks, increase your trot’s body with fire resistance. Feel a need for more fuel, greater jumping abilities or better defense? Just keep pumping them until it feels right to you. Be warned though! Your equipment can only be modified so many times. You must think carefully on how you wish to develop your trot. But, nothing is stopping you from purchasing duplicates and modifying them to meet your needs.
Thank goodness for the various jobs! While they are often repetitive, such as running the same few paper routes, wood runs and interviews for the paper, the game does make certain you have enough of a cash flow to purchase what you need. Furthermore, enemies also drop money, as well as fuel to keep you alive.
Controls are top notch. The thumb pad moves your character around the screen while the L and R buttons rotate the camera. While in combat, holding those two buttons down has your trot defend. Making your weapons do combos is rather easy, and the left (or right) directional button locks onto your opponent. The X button jumps your trot while the O button dashes you forward. The downside to that is that it can drain your fuel quickly if you’re not careful. I digress. The up button has the camera either zoom in or out, and the down button allows you to pick up things. There are two problems. First, you cannot create as many different combos as you may like. For example, you cannot shoot two bullets and whack the opponent with your mace. Or you cannot alternate attacks between your blade and the mace. The second complaint I have is that it feels odd to use one of my left hand fingers to touch the D-pad. Ultimately, the controls all work. And there is a second control scheme if that works better for you.
Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament is probably one of the best 3-D portable games. Where most portable games faultier with the lack of a second analogue stick, Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament corrects this by placing the camera in your control with the shoulder buttons. Furthermore, the awesome customization for your equipment is wonderful. And, unlike certain games, its universe will not collapse on itself. In some ways, I think this could be considered a hidden gem among portable games. When you have time to kill, Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament will happily accept whatever time you want to put into it and properly reward you for it. That’s something to fight for.
