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.