Nintendo DS

MechAssault: Phantom War

MechAssault: Phantom War is a great game that you can’t go wrong with. But unless you’re prepared to play the multi-player modes for months on end with your buddies, (remember there is no online play), then you’d be advised to rent this.

For all of the areas where it stumbles, MechAssault: Phantom War still does justice to the series name. The gameplay is very close to its console roots, with a good variety of operable vehicles (not just mechs), with a wide range of weaponry and abilities. The single-player campaign is solid and even features a healthy amount of voice acting. And while it may not perfectly mirror the accomplishments of its console predecessors, the mere fact that the gameplay has transitioned to the handheld intact is a noteworthy accomplishment in its own right.

As a single-player game, MechAssault: Phantom War is a solid third-person shooter that will keep mech combat fans hooked from start to finish, for as brief as that time frame happens to be. However, the game really comes into its own as a multiplayer affair, and if you can convince a couple of friends to buy it along with you, you'll all have more fun and get more out of the game. It's just too bad everybody has to be in the same room to take advantage of the game's multiplayer features.

As long as you're willing to bring expectations down some for this Xbox-to-Nintendo DS conversion, you're going to have a blast with MechAssault: Phantom War. Still, the quirks are hard to ignore, like its somewhat glitchy visuals, sloppy menu systems, and analog control that could have been so much better had the touch screen been utilized a bit more tightly. Even if the game had a good development schedule, MechAssault does feel just a little rushed in places. But ultimately, the end product is a cool and kickass battle, both in single and multiplayer.

If you're a fan of mech titles, you likely already know your place – MechAssault: Phantom War is the only game of its type on the Nintendo DS, and it's not so glaringly bad to make it worth avoiding. If you aren't a fan, however, the limitations of the portable format make this a less than ideal title, so you may be better off passing it up.

A good, fun title. Kudos to the developer for squeezing this much game into a DS cart.

These quibbles aside, Backbone has done a commendable job. The level of presentation is high with full-motion video cutscenes and spoken radio dialogue, and even if the game is a little short, the single-player campaign is sturdy and fun enough to keep you engaged to the end, and even encourage replayability. Quite a big footprint for a little-hyped action game...

In fact, you shouldn’t approach Mechassault: Phantom War with too high off expectations. This game was built to cater to the demands of the DS, and it shows. Though the campaign will pit you against clusters of foes at every turn, the games’ less than stellar combat mechanics will greatly dull the experience. The mixed bag of graphics and audio isn’t exactly top notch for DS standards, either. But hey, look on the bright side! You’ve got tons of upgradeable weapons to choose from, plenty of (albeit aggravating and headache-inducing) challenge, and several missions to complete. There’s an entire battalion of gigantic robots to hack into, allowing you to unleash a wide array of lasers, missiles, grenades, and Flaming Balls of Doom upon your hapless foes. Even if the rest of the game is mediocre, there’s nothing better than that.

Despite its flaws, MechAssault is a decent diversion for the casual fan, though hardcore players are likely to find it a bit on the short side. If you can lower your expectations and drag a few friends long for the ride, Phantom War provides a convenient quick-fix for the MechAssault junkie.

Mechassault: Phantom War could have been a hell of a lot better. But, on the flip side, it also could have been completely worse. The graphics and multiplayer options should've been weighed out more, but are made up for with excellent gameplay and decent Wi-Fi against a friend. If robot bashing is beating heavily anywhere in your body, it's time to settle in with a few rounds of this game. You won't be sorry.

Inattendu, cet épisode DS de MechAssault est évidemment loin d'égaler ses homologues sur Xbox, mais il échoue surtout à proposer un gameplay digne de ce nom. Les sensations ne sont pas grisantes et ne restituent pas la puissance attendue de la part de ces énormes méchas, mais l'ajout de modes multijoueurs relance un peu l'intérêt du titre au final.

Maybe I'm just missing the point, I don't know. I ended up playing the game for a total of 5 hours which is about 4 hours and 55 minutes longer than I would have if I didn't have to review it. I don't know if that says more about me or the game, but I just can't find any reason to recommend this game to anyone. I tried to find something to like, I really did, but at the end of the day I just plain didn't like it. Go buy the Xbox game... it's far more worthy of your time and money.

Although MechAssault: Phantom War isn't necessarily the worst game to ever pop up on the DS, it's pretty close to the bottom of the pile. The poor controls and bland graphics are a far cry from everything that made the original MechAssault game on the Xbox such a success. In the end, this is one mech game that deserves to be in the scrap heap instead of the battlefield.