Robotech: Battlecry will automatically appeal to the built in fanbase of the Macross series. I am not the most die hard fan of the series. I haven't picked up the newly released DVD anime sets, nor have I really seen an episode since I was a kid, but I do remember I at least enjoyed the series. Robotech: Battlecry, however, should not just be played by those who know the full exploits of the original anime. It is a solid mission based shooter that should appeal to fans of big honkin robots everywhere as well as those who just like to blow shit up.

Like I said, I can't consider myself a Macross historian, I'm not going to pretend I know the series well enough to give you a false history lesson or tell you how in or out of cannon that this game is. What I can tell you is that this game provides you with the ability to fully control a mighty Veritech Fighter in every way that you probably always wanted to. I know there have been tons of Macross games out there before Battlecry, but I think it's safe to say that this game is what people have really been waiting for, especially since they canned the N64 Macross title. Harmony Gold has put together a great game which uses the elements from the source material for a fun gaming experience.

Harmony Gold went for the cell shaded approach for the graphics in Battlecry. I think this is also the first game where gamers have not bitched incessantly over the choice of cell shading, but that is a different rant all together. The choice of visual style works insanely well for this game. The anime look is prevailant throughout the game, with a healthy amount of detail for good measure. The models for the different Veritech modes look and animate smoothly and place you right in the action. Some of the battles are simply awe inspiring, placing you in the middle of dogfights with enemy fighters while you are fending off hail storms of rocket salvos. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for being able to let loose a bunch of heat seeking rockets in a spiraling trail of smoke in the style that Macross seemed to make a staple in anime. I love the look... I love the effects... I love the resulting explosions, etc etc.

The cell shaded graphics just work, simple as that. It seems like this game was made for the style. From the rocket trails to the overwhelming smoke screen that results what you fire them all off to the straight from the anime explosions, Harmony Gold really tried to make the gamer feel like they were a part of the Macross universe. Other tidbits that help you along are the familiar characters from the series who show up in the peripheria of the storyline. You play as a made up character for this game, but you do see a familiar face or two along the way.

The music in the game is pretty decent. Unfortunately, since it has been so long, I can't say if the music is ripped straight from the anime. It certainly sounds like it could feel right at home there, but I just do not know, please don't hold it against me. The sounds in the game are also decent, some things seem to get a little muffled in the heat of battle but overall you will hear a lot of the standard stuff you expect to hear in a game like this. Your rife and guns sound nice and foreboding as you take on the alien hordes, plus you hear some radio chatter which can either help you find your objective or chastise you for leveling a city block as you miss a wave of baddies.

The control takes a bit of play to get used to which is a little easier thanks to the handy practice modes which were included by the nice people of Harmony Gold. You can transform your Veritech at will during missions, which actually is necessary and adds considerably to the strategy aspect of the title. Transformation is effortless handled via the D pad, whereas the left analog stick controls the movement. Each mode handles differently and offers you different abilities. For instance, the fighter mode (jet) gives you speed and maneuverability whereas the Battloid mode (robot) gives you precision shooting and sniping abilities, but is a lot slower and more geared for ground combat. The Guardian mode is a middle ground mode which incorporates additional speed and maneuverability with more precision than the fighter mode. It is a nice mix of gameplay and the fact that you can call on any mode at any time adds to the fun of Battlecry.

The practice modes are broken into three parts, one for each transformation mode of your Veritech which include all of the basic controls that you will need to master to progress through the game. You can also just jump right into the story mode of the game, which is broken up into chapters and side stories which follow a semi-linear style. I would say semi-linear simply because you can unlock additional missions during a chapter and play them in really any order that you like. It comes in handy because not all missions are created equal. Some gamers may find a mission which simple has their number, or is just too boring to bother with as I've seen a lot of comments against the escort missions, which really haven't bothered me too much in the game.

The controls allow for exciting aerial dogfights and grueling ground combat. One of the more fun aspects of the title is the sheer amount of damage that you can do to the environments. You can even leave bullet holes in mountains. The cities are where the real fun is though. On the first mission where I fought in a city, I almost completely levelled every building around me with errant missiles and gunfire. How can you not appreciate demolishing a building with a big honkin robot? Battlecry features a lot of fun for fans of 3D arcade-like shooters. The action is fast and frantic and the missions are diverse enough to not get completely boring, however, if you don't like a mission type, you might be in for some annoying times.

I have had a few issues with Battlecry, most of them just had to do with mission objectives that just did not seem crystal clear. For instance, there was a mission where you had to collect and bring back some items to a base camp. That part was easy enough, and then it said you needed to find a pilot who was lost in the hills. Sure... but then it seemed like the mission just ended too soon after they just told you the objective. Sometimes you just need to be quick, VERY quick. It isn't too much of a big deal, you will just find yourself replaying some missions until you get the hang of what your supposed to do, especially since you have to experiment with what mode works the best for any given situation. Some gamers might balk at those aspects of the game, but I didn't find it to be as annoying as some.

Robotech: Battlecry is not the most ground breaking title of the year, nor would I really even consider it an innovative or even an overly impressive game. It does mix a lot of successful ideas into a very well done package. The graphical style works incredibly well and is backed by solid sounds and reasonably controls once you practice a bit. Overall, it is fun, and that is something I have missed from some overly hyped titles recently. I would definitely recommend this title to fans of the anime series but also to people who are just fans of blowing things up with giant robots. It is a solid action title that is, at the very least, worth a rental from most gamers out there.