" All right developers, this is a trend that needs to stop... "

      Title: Robotech: Battlecry by TDK Mediactive

      Format: Crazy Robot action for the PS2

      Reviewing Monkey: Chimpan-A

      The Hype: Exactly how long have most people been waiting for a game based on Robotech? Since three days after the series ended is my guess. Well, here you go. All the shape changin', robot blastin', alien ass kickin' fun you could want… Well maybe not all you could want. Read on monkeys.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Graphics: The graphics are nice, cel shaded and cartoony. It gives the game a good feeling from the old cartoon show. The characters are quite accurate to the show, as are the models. The environments could use a little work, being relatively boring. The levels are simple, if not overly large. Although the area limits on a lot of them are annoying as hell. I don't really have much problem with the graphics though it is good looking. 4 out of 5

      Sound: The sounds of battle are fine. Guns blaze, missiles fly, it all sounds fine. The soundtrack is nothing to write home about. I'm a little on the fence about it- some people say it's not true enough to the old soundtrack. Some say the old sound track was crappy 80s music. I don't feel either way, the music was serviceable. The voice acting on the other hand is far less than serviceable, down to being almost painful to listen to. 3.5 out of 5

      Playability: This game is freakin' hard. The box proudly proclaims "Change or Die". I think that should be adjusted to "Change and Die", mostly because you will die, a lot. There is a lot of emphasis on being in exactly the right form to do any particular job. Certain bosses require certain forms to deal with, as do certain challenges. Getting through them will require you to simply memorize every variable and perform to exact specifications. Changing into a form becomes a matter of necessity rather than a matter of playing with the game. This detracts from the playability greatly. The controls are not overly complicated, but will still take some getting used to. The real challenge will come in figuring out exactly how to go about beating the missions- which you will learn by playing the levels over and over again. 2.5 out of 5

      Multiplayer and Replayability: All right developers, this is a trend that needs to stop. Whose bright idea was it to lock multiplayer, hmm? Who sat around thinking to themselves- "Let's make it so that anyone who wants to share this game with their friends has to play through the game first!" This is simply the most obnoxious trend in gaming today. The multiplayer isn't even that great. Replayability is almost nil, what with the fun factor removed from playing the levels so many damned times. 1 out of 5

      Story/Dramatics: If you watched Robotech, then you should be all right. You'll know the characters, you'll know the setting and you'll know what's going on. If you haven't seen Robotech then you're screwed. The story is a complicated mish-mash of bits and pieces from the show. Essentially it details your exploits as a pilot for the human race and your Veritech (the changing robots you fly). It's essentially ignorable which is quite a crime. 2.5 out of 5

      The Verdict:

: If you're completely into Robotech and simply have to have it, go ahead. Just don't expect to get much enjoyment out of it. It'll frustrate the hell out of you more often than not. Personally I say let it go. There are better mech games out there.

      The Good: A fairly good Robotech experience.

      The Bad: In a fairly bad game.

      The Overall Ugly: Pass it over unless you personally fly the Jolly Roger.

      What it's Worth: A buy on the discount rack if you're a fan.