Steambot Chronicles

The addictive RPG Steambot Chronicles may seem like a perilous adventure involving man-operated battlebots, but at heart, it's really just another in a tradition of charming Japanese games about making friends.

Steambot is so much fun and so full of possibilities that, while playing, I mentally outlined not just my next playthrough, but the one after that. [May 2006, p.80]

The game lays out so much for the player to happen across and take an active part in that you're able to suspend your disbelief and feel like your actions actually mean something.

No matter what game genre you're most fond of, if you'd like to see a great game world that doesn't rely on the usual trappings found in RPGs, Steambot Chronicles is an absolute must - it cracks open the RPG mold by taking some familiar elements and running around outside the box, thumbing its nose at them all the way from beginning to end.

Steambot Chronicles is a little weird at times, but in the end it is both fun and unique, and not many recent games can claim to be both – sandbox fans should definitely take a look.

The most appealing factor in SC is that I can do nothing at all to progress the story..there are so many side quests, recipes, general stuff to collect, go on dates, and daily activities that you really need never finish the story line and SC would still be a lot of fun.

Go into it looking for the freedom to play as you want, indulge in it looking to participate in numerous quests and mini-games, get into it looking to solidify your claim to fame as a celebrity performer — the bottom line, just play it!

It's an esoteric game that creates some of its own off-center rules while sticking to pleasant tradition. [Apr 2006, p.53]

It is, in the end, what you make of it -- and if you can look beyond its humble visuals and the occasionally janky controls, that's a fine thing indeed.

What sets this game apart is of course, the mecha. While inside the trotmobile, the controls feel very much like operating a machine thanks to the use of both analog sticks needing to work in coordination to move around.

Even though the game has its fare share of flaws (such as the slow-down I repeatedly mentioned), it also has several strong points that can easily make it a fun experience.

Overall, Steambot Chronicles is a tremendously ambitious effort that sometimes falls under the weight of its own innovation.

Many aspects of the game become tedious after awhile, but once you get past the 6 hour or more mark, there is a lot more to do in terms of story and adventure.

It’s a quirky, refreshing mix of action, sandbox, and mini-games with enough style and charm to Trotmobile past its aggravating technical flaws.

The ton of slowdown and the touch and go controls for Trotmobiles leaves Steambot a decent, albeit flawed title for RPG fans.

If you’re a fan of all of the different types of gameplay, mecha combat and rhythm gaming in particular, then you should give Steambot Chronicles a try.

Steambot Chronicles comes with a few blemishes, but it offers a variety of minigames and a malleable story wrapped in a charming little world.

It’s undeniably charming, fun despite its problems, and laugh out loud funny at times.

The building your own mech aspect is good enough, but the rest of the game is let down by the shallowness of the twee characters, unwieldy combat and simple plot. [Issue 143, p.92]

Even with its lumps, Steambot Chronicles is still full of lovable personality.

Steambot Chronicles was a great idea that just wasn't realized to its full potential. You have everything customizable, from clothes to trotmobiles to jobs, but it is ultimately brought down by slow gameplay.

If you haven't done so already, do yourself a favor and get a copy of "Dark Cloud 2," which plays a bit like this and is a lot better. Steambot Chronicles isn't a bad game - it's just not very good.

Nevertheless, the sum of these parts makes this a fun place and all the raw materials provided to put together your own unique adventure are imaginative and enjoyable - all you can really ask for in a sandbox.

A charming little adventure that deserves to find an audience for its creativity and its endless list of adventures to complete.

Full of innocent charm and fun, the Steambot Chronicles are worth a bit of frustration. [Aug 2006, p.85]

Attempting to race beyond its own predetermined speed limits only results in frustration, but given the time to slow-burn and settle in at its own tempo the immensity of its offerings will rarely disappoint. [Aug 2006, p.87]

Stubbornly quirky, unashamedly inventive, strangely relaxed and only a little bit broken, Steambot Chronicles is a game quite unlike anything else out there at the moment. [Aug 2006, p.122]

All the fun ideas and uniqueness of the game are marred by the actual execution.

A light-hearted but patchy take on RPG free-roaming, with a personality that will suffocate or delight. [Oct 2006, p.84]

Steambot isn't as polished or as deep as "Dragon Quest" or "Final Fantasy", but it's still a charming curiosity laden with fresh ideas. [Oct 2006, p.88]

Whether it's the charming, funny dialogue (which, apart from the clumsy song lyrics, is translated well), the pretty landscapes, the fact that even if you lose most of the Trotmobile fights the game keeps going... there's always a reason to pick it back up and push on.

Aside from the junky control scheme and bizarre naming conventions, Steambot is a vast RPG title. [Jun 2006, p.86]

The characters are shallow(amnesia strikes again), and the combat utilizes a clunkier version of the "Katamari Damacy" dual-analog controls. [May 2006, p.101]