Wow, thanks Dave!!!!! You should = apply for a=20 position with one of the
big VG = sites!

lloyd

On=20 Tue, 24 Sep 2002, Mr. Completely wrote:

> Hmm. where to = start?
>=20
> Okay, the following impressions are from the XBOX version of = Robotech:=20 Battlecry, but since the reviews of Battlecry on the XBOX & PS2 from = IGN are=20 so close, I'm willing to bet that the Gamecube version will be much of = the same,=20 except that you'll be using a Gamecube controller, of course.
> =
>=20 Now on the XBOX version, the controls are set and you can't change them = to any=20 other configuration, but that's not really a bad thing since the control = setup=20 is done nicely. That is, if you are using the Controller S, since you = need quick=20 access to the Black or White buttons. Anyway, the control setup on the = XBOX is=20 as follows:
>
> Left Analog Stick: Move Veritech (button:=20 nothing)
> Right Analog Stick: Switch Targets (button: = nothing)
> A:=20 Boost
> X: Primary Weapon
> B: Secondary Weapon
> Y: = Special=20 Function
> Black: Change Target
> White: Change Target =
>=20 (which is nice about the Black & White buttons so there's no = fumbling about=20 for the correct button)
> R: Trigger: Bank Right
> L: = Trigger: Bank=20 Left
> Directional Pad: Transform; Pad Left: Battloid (robot), Pad = Right:=20 Veritech Jet Fighter, Pad Up: Guardian (a mix of the fighter and = Battloid), Pad=20 Down: Guardian in hover mode (comes in handy)
>
> Since = this is a=20 Nintendo list, I'm pretty sure that the control config will be the same = for=20 L&R, Z will Change Target, the D-Pad, and both Analog sticks will be = the=20 same functions as with the XBOX, and the face buttons will probably be = A: Boost,=20 B: Primary Weapon, X: Secondary Weapon, Y: Special.
>
> Now = with=20 Robotech: Battlecry, just knowing the standard control config isn't = enough since=20 you have three modes available. Like the ad campaign says, "Change or = Die", it=20 couldn't be more true. You wouldn't get past the third stage (which I'll = get to=20 in a moment) using just one mode, that would be suicide. And each mode = has its=20 own set of control setups that differ from what I just told you, ever so = slightly because of its form. Also, you can transform whenever you want = and=20 wherever you want, and it's rather quick too. So let's get down to it. = Remember,=20 I'll be talking about the XBOX version, so you'll have to do the = conversions in=20 your head if you plan to get the Gamecube version (or PS2).
> =
>=20 Veritech Jet Fighter Mode:
>
> A: Boost, it powers your = jet=20 engines on the rear of the craft. Like Star Fox 64, for example, you're = always=20 flying (in jet mode anyway) but the Boost lets you go faster, but unlike = Star=20 Fox 64 you can boost as much as you want, which is a good thing, because = you'll=20 be using it a lot.
>
> X: Primary Weapon, this is your = rifle, it=20 attaches to the bottom of the Veritech, between the legs but it clears = the=20 head/belly turret. (If you had the Transformer "Jet Fire" you'd know = what I'm=20 talking about) You have unlimited ammo, but you rifle heats up, and you = have to=20 wait for it to cool off to fire more. But it cools off quick, especially = in=20 outer space. (Gee, I wonder why?)
>
> B: Secondary Weapon, = as a=20 Veritech Fighter Jet this is your Long Range Cluster Missiles. You, = again, have=20 unlimited ammo, but after four sets are volleyed you have to wait a few = seconds=20 until more are ready to fire. Also, the missiles do have a long range = and are=20 quite powerful, the accuracy isn't the greatest, you can get good shots = in, but=20 you really have to line up a target.
>
> Y: Special = Function:=20 Decoy Mines. These little suckers put out the same heat signature your = Veritech=20 does, and can get enemy missiles off your tail (or nose as it more often = is).
>
> R Trigger & L Trigger: Used alone they tilt = your jet=20 to the right or left for quicker turns. Used with a trigger and A = (Boost) causes=20 you to do a barrel roll which helps you avoid enemy fire. Pulling back = on the=20 Left Analog Control Stick and pressing both L & R makes you do a = loop.=20 Pressing A + L&R makes you fly upside-down, which I'm not sure = what=20 that's really for.
>
> Left Analog Control Stick: Moves = your Jet=20 left and right, and up and down, with the reverse pitch; push up to go = down and=20 down to go up. That can be reversed in the Option Mode at the title=20 screen.
>
> Guardian Mode
>
> A: Still Boost, = and like=20 with the Jet mode, if pushes you forward.
>
> X: Primary = Weapon,=20 which is your Rifle, same rules apply with the overheating and = all.
>=20
> B: Secondary Weapon: Short Range Cluster Missiles. Not as = strong as the=20 Jet Fighter mode's missiles, and with shorter range, these missiles are=20 extremely accurate.
>
> Y: Special Function: Your Veritech = is a=20 righty, it holds the rifle in its right hand, so that leaves the left = hand open=20 to do other tasks, in this case, it's to pick up things off the ground. = I'm not=20 sure as to what all you can pick up, but when I saw the video preview on = OXM it=20 showed the Guardian snatching up the cockpit section of a downed = Veritech, much=20 like in episode 2 of The Macross Saga.
>
> R Trigger & = L=20 Trigger: used separately on their own they cause the Guardian to strafe = left and=20 right, and with Boost it's faster strafing, a lot like Gun Valkyrie but = with=20 much less wear on the controller.
>
> Left Analog Stick: = This=20 confused me at first, but now I see it is very useful. Pulling back on = the stick=20 makes the Guardian ascend and pushing forward makes the craft descend. = Then=20 Boost is used to make it move forward, and left & right makes it=20 turn.
>
> Battloid Mode:
>
> A: Again, it's = Boost.=20 This allows you to run faster by using the backpack to hover at ground = level and=20 pushing your feet back to use the afterburners in them. Also the = Battloid Mode=20 has limited flight capabilities, you can hover or over around in the air = when=20 using boost, but you make for a much open target since you can't fly = anywhere as=20 well as the Jet or Guardian.
>
> X: Primary Weapon. the = same rifle=20 you use in the other two modes, same rules apply.
>
> B: = Secondary=20 Weapon. This puts the rifle in a mode that will shoot down incoming = enemy=20 missiles. But the same rules apply as far as the gun heating up, and = since it=20 fires at a much faster rate you heat up quicker.
>
> Y: = Special=20 Function. Sniper Rifle mode. Good for taking out Zentradi at long range = or for=20 hitting objects too small for your targeting computer to recognize. R = Trigger=20 zooms in, L Trigger zooms out, and X or B fires.
>
> R = Trigger=20 & L Trigger: Used with no Boost assist they have your battloid = walk/strafe=20 right or left, with Boost you zoom/strafe right or left
>
> = Left=20 Analog Stick: Move around like most 3-D games where your a giant robot = with=20 simple controls.
>
>
> Now back to the game. The = graphics,=20 gorgeous, but cel-shaded, but I can't think of any reason why people who = don't=20 like cel-shading (people who like to say "Celda" a lot) really have any = room to=20 complain, it looks like a high res version of the TV show. The music, = perfect,=20 and it's not just the old songs from the TV show, it's the old songs = remixed and=20 modernized but without changing them too much. Sounds more like an epic = movie=20 score than the TV series. Control, really good. Once you get the hang of = it.=20
>
> Okay, now I was on the second stage of Chapter 2, and = it is a=20 "protect the convoy" mission, and if you know me, I hate those kinds of = mission=20 in either flight games or big robot games. Or used to, anyway. Because = Robotech=20 is both a flight game and a big robot game plus the Guardian mode. i = mean in=20 flight games if I saw an enemy (usually ground based) I'd have one = chance of=20 hitting it and if I missed I'd have to make a big turn around to get = back to=20 that enemy, and of course since I'm flying I can't stop and shoot and = then the=20 convoy is destroyed. In a big robot game I'm on the ground and can take = out the=20 land based enemy rather well, but if I get into a situation where I'm = pinned=20 down, I'll lose the convoy and it'll get destroyed later up the road. = Those=20 kinds of missions in those kind of games really ticked me off. But with = Robotech=20 I got both. Swoop in as the jet a fire my missiles, but wait, I missed = on Battle=20 Pod! No Problem! Just switch into Battloid mode and blow them up from = behind.=20 Oh! The convoy is farther up the road, were I just a Battloid I'd never = reach=20 them in time, even with boost, so back to Jet fighter mode to catch up = real=20 quick. What they're surrounded? Well I can't take out that many Battle = Pods in=20 Battloid mode, so switch to Guardian Mode and kill me some giants. =3D) =
>=20
> So far, it's really a good game, and Chapter One is basically a = training exercise, cos it was fairly easy, but the stages are totally = cool. The=20 first one is Boobytrap and Countdown. That's the first two episodes of = the=20 Macross Saga, the second part is Bursting Point, that's the episode = where the=20 SDF-1 accidentally vaporizes Toronto. Then the final part of Chapter 1 = is Force=20 of Arms. The big ass battle where the surface of the earth is 98% = destroyed. The=20 only problem is, there's no Minmei singing "We Will Win", which was = something I=20 had really hoped for.
>
> But it's still good. Now I'm = playing=20 through stages that take place after the SDF-1 comes back to earth, = hunting down=20 renegade Zentradi and such.
>
> --Dave--
> Treytable@earthlink.net
>=20 http://home.earthlink.net/~treytable/index.html
> =BFDe modo que? Usted no puede ver la = agon=EDa dentro de=20 m=ED.
>

sx

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