Shogo: Mobile Armor Division

 PC
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    100
    I'm not saying things can't get better, but for now this is as good as it gets. So where does Shogo rank amongst all the games I've played, through all the years, the genres, the classics, the memories? Let's just say it's on the short list, the very short list.
  2. Game Over Online
    94
    The gameplay is plain wicked - with no environments ever repeating (except for some cities), it's always fun to see what's around the corner.
  3. Computer and Video Games
    92
    If there is any justice in the world Shogo will be looked back on as one of the best 3D games of its time. Personally speaking, apart from "Half-Life", Shogo is the best game I've played this year.
  5. Game Revolution
    91
    One cool feature in this game which really sets it apart from the pack is the Critical Hit system. If you hit someone in the head or just particularly hard, they flash purple and you gain health, giving you not only an incentive to kill your enemies, but kill them with style.
  6. GamePro
    90
    And for some bizarre reason, scoring a "critical hit" on enemies instantly increases your capacity to take damage. Dramatic as hell, but ludicrous. Shogo should bring a smile to any anime fan's face, but even the Japanimationally challenged will find a solid, slick shooter with tons of replayability.
  7. All Game Guide
    90
    A great game with a fantastic storyline, complex missions, and lots of mindless destruction, carnage and explosions. If you're looking for a mind-blowing single player experience, Shogo will not disappoint.
  8. IGN
    90
    One of the best games I've played this year. Its compelling story, in-game cinematics, nearly continuous action, and unique armaments add new life to the FPS genre.
  9. PC Gamer
    90
    If you like you action games fast and furious, Shogo is your one-way ticket to nirvana. [Dec 1998]
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Gamezilla!
    84
    Shogo not only provides the action, it does it with a plot and an artistic flair not often seen in today's games.
  11. netjak
    83
    For some reason, they just don't make games like this anymore, nor do these truly fantastic games get sequels. Maybe now that Monolith is back in the hands of some of the original owners, a "Shogo 2" that builds upon this game's brilliance and gives an FPS to this generation of gamers that actually has some wit and humor to it.
    All this publication's reviews
  12. TotalGames.net
    81
    Where Shogo departs from its gaming relatives is in the mix of huge MCVs that can leap gracefully up the outsides of tall buildings and daintily tread on dinky people and the on hoof levels where your frail body is fully exposed to the bullets, laser bolts and high explosives.
  13. GameSpot
    81
    While Shogo's makers aren't Japanese, it's clear that the people who made it have a fine grasp of the subtleties of Japanese animation, as the game combines the conventions of furious action and vivid characterization within a conventionally first-rate first-person shooter.
  14. Computer Games Magazine
    80
    Beyond multiplayer flaws, there are a few other things that keep Shogo from being the be-all and end-all of 3D shooters. Chief among these is the absolutely pathetic enemy AI. Enemies in Shogo don't move much, and very rarely pursue you.

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best PC Game of 1998
11
#11 Most Discussed PC Game of 1998
8
#8 Most Shared PC Game of 1998

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 89 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 89
  3. Negative: 3 out of 89
  1. wchar_t
    Apr 21, 2015
    10
    Probably one of the best games of its time. I loved it for its pace, gameplay, and sheer fun factor. If you like mechs, first person shooters,Probably one of the best games of its time. I loved it for its pace, gameplay, and sheer fun factor. If you like mechs, first person shooters, and fast paced fun, pick this up and try it.… Full Review »
  2. tarekmallo
    Apr 19, 2012
    10
    Shogo is an efficient, brutal and compelling action shooter that balances storytelling with ultimate carnage. A classic back then and aShogo is an efficient, brutal and compelling action shooter that balances storytelling with ultimate carnage. A classic back then and a classic now. I recommend it for every nostalgia fan.… Full Review »
  3. Heisenberg93
    Oct 4, 2015
    10
    This was the first shooter game I've ever played. And I'll never forget it. Surely it was one of the best games of its time. I remember withThis was the first shooter game I've ever played. And I'll never forget it. Surely it was one of the best games of its time. I remember with some offers, in those years, many PC were sold with Shogo bundled.

    The plot of Shogo was beautiful, articulate and with great sci-fi implementation. Considering that the game was released back in 1998, probably along with Half-Life was one of the first shooter to have a rooted and complex plot, and this isn't little. Among other things, the plot had more than one available ending, and this did nothing but made it a game quite advanced for its era.

    The gameplay Shogo was certainly not a joke. In fact, in addition to using the human protagonist, you can also use a battle-mecha, similar to those seen in the Patlabor anime. The shooter structure is made impeccably and feedback of weapons is excellent. There is an high cure and you really feel the difference between using pistols, or an assault rifle or a shotgun. Weapons are a dozen, several and beautiful, especially those used with mecha. You can also play Shogo as a third person shooter, but is rather awkward and cumbersome as method. Obviously, like any classic shooter, you have to keep life and armor in constant consideration; and the difficulty of the game is rather good also thanks to the good enemy AI, moving often and hit hard. The amount of violence is simply incredible and splatter, with arts splashing from all sides, based of type of damage received or inflicted. The maps and environment of the game ranging from labyrinthine stations or cities to wide open spaces in which to operate with maximum freedom. The frequency in using the human protagonist and the mecha is very well balanced and difficult to get bored of playing more with one than with another.

    The graphics of the game is simply stunning, one of the best of the time. I believe that, at its time, Shogo couldn't work on console because of its abundance and this why it is a game designed for PC hardware, and it is good. You can feel in the game an artistic achievement similar to japanese anime, both while playing and in cut-scenes; an aim surely reached by developers. The soundtrack is really beautiful, and intro's song is simply unforgettable.

    Shogo: Mobile Armor Division is a real piece of history for shooter games and especially for PC games. A must-have classic that, in my opinion, is still worth playing today.    … Full Review »
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