PlayStation 2

Steambot Chronicles

In the end, Steambot Chronicles proves to be a decent and unique gaming experience that takes sand box gaming to new heights. With all the combat, customization and multiple paths you can take Vanilla on, there's really nothing to complain about. Once you get past the learning curve with the controls, you'll see that Steambot Chronicles truly is one of the best role-playing games to come out of Japan since Dragon Quest VIII.

Even if it's not completely nonlinear, and even if the gameplay and performance could use a good tweaking, Steambot Chronicles beats bigger and more ambitious titles in terms of sincerity and player involvement. The game lays out so much for you to happen across and take an active part in that it's possible to suspend your disbelief and feel like your actions actually mean something. If you give the game a chance, that might mean something to you.

The challenge I faced with reviewing a game such as SC, is that there is so much to do, so much to see, so many people to chat with aside from the main storyline, hitting all of the bases thoroughly is a bit difficult. I hope that I’ve done this unique treasure of a game justice, and I hope that my review will encourage you to buy this, and to give support to Atlus for giving those who can’t speak Japanese the opportunity to play a fun, original games from developers such as Irem . Certain games carry the “I Love Games” DNA fingerprint of the developer…Steambot Chronicles is certainly one of these.

Don't go into Steambot Chronicles looking for a deep, emotional roller-coaster of an RPG, because you'll be incredibly disappointed if you do. 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! Capricious and fanciful to the very end, Steambot Chronicles is one of the few games that attempts to break the role-playing game mold and does so with flair. The Trotmobile may be difficult to operate and the plotline may not be as deep as people wish it to be, but the overall package is exceptional and you'll want to play through it more than once, just to get the full experience.

While Steambot has its share of amnesia and tragic pasts, it never becomes mired in seriousness. 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.

There's so much to Steambot Chronicles that it's hard to fit it all into a single review. From robots to women, from clothes to food, from mining to sheep ranching, there's a lot of activity in this one little quirky, humorous game. If you're at all into the sandbox game-style, then Steambot Chronicles is the sandbox for you. Just be careful not to get sand in your Trot's joints.

It’s choice. Really, truly, honestly, it’s all about choice. If you press, Steambot Chronicles can be a tough, challenging game; fighting your way to the top in the arenas, going up against the toughest challengers, striving for completion. Or things can be simple and clean; you can do the bare minimum and still get by. It’s an acquired taste, for those wanting a more relaxed tone out of their games, and I’d wager that a lot of people wouldn’t like the game at all. But I do.

Overall, Steambot Chronicles is a tremendously ambitious effort that sometimes falls under the weight of its own innovation. You’ve got many choices available to you throughout the game, and most of them are done well. The rhythm game sections are done far better than expected, while simply running around towns to meet people has its own charm, too. Negative elements in the battle, camera, graphics, and audio hurt it - but they don’t cripple it. This is still a touching story with in-depth characters that you have a hand in crafting as you progress. The emphasis on player involvement in most facets of the game is what I find the most enjoyable. Not everything is done perfectly, but it’s impossible not to applaud the effort behind Steambot Chronicles. You can tell people poured their hearts into this game, and it’s usually a pleasure to enjoy the fruits of their labor. If you’re tired of the usual RPG fare, buy Steambot Chronicles.

Honestly, I'm the kind of person who finds the most value in a lengthy linear RPG. I wouldn't want to pay retail price for an "open-ended" game, because I generally feel dissatisfied with them, even if I do absolutely everything the game offers. This is just personal taste, however. Objectively, Irem's Steambot Chronicles is one of the better open-ended RPGs on the market, certainly rivaling titles like Shenmue in terms of fun and replay value. My favorite thing about the game, when push comes to shove, was the shocking ending after a generally light-hearted tale. I don't want to spoil it, so try the game out for yourself to see what I mean.

Steamboat Chronicles is far from the perfect adventure, but it does manage to deliver on its promise of entertainment value although I'm quite sure $50 is far too steep for the priviledge of living Vanilla's life for awhile. 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. As I mentioned at the outset, you either have to be in the right headspace for this one or really be craving a "relaxing non-linear adventure". Much of the game felt like Harvest Moon to me and I found the pace sometimes a little too laid back for my taste. Unlike other "sandbox" titles which focus on the violence you can create, Irem really just wants you to explore the world they created and have some fun. In that sense Steamboat Chronicles might just be what the gaming doctor ordered.

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

Steambot is one of those games with a lot of creativity and depth added in. It may seem rather odd to play a game with characters named after food, but the number of additional story paths, mini-games and jobs makes the hybrid title quite appealing. Unfortunately, the ton of slowdown and the touch and go controls for Trotmobiles leaves Steambot a decent, albeit flawed title for RPG fans.

There is just so much going on in Steambot Chronicles that it would be impossible for the entire game to be perfect. The team at Irem did a pretty good job of blending all of the various elements of different genres into the game. 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. If you’re only a fan of one part of the game, you’re probably not going to be able to get past the lack of polish you’re used to in other games that have a stricter focus. Even with all the spots in the game that are a bit bumpy, Trot piloting really is relaxing fun.

While Steambot Chronicles may not be the best of the non-linear games out there, and while there are some definite problems with the game controls when fighting in the cumbersome trotmobiles, and other distinct flaws here and there, I sincerely enjoyed this game. It’s undeniably charming, fun despite its problems, and laugh out loud funny at times. There certainly are better games out there, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have a good time with Steambot Chronicles. Give it a rental first, but I have a feeling that once you do you’ll see what I mean.

Steambot Chronicles is a game with a lot of charm that sometimes gets hidden with control and performance issues. But if you get sucked into the world's crazy population and the variety of things to do, you can find yourself easily whittling away the hours. A voice at the game's title screen pegs it as "a relaxing nonlinear adventure," and there's definitely something to be said for being able to take on the job of a bus driver as you try to help a bandit king eventually land on the moon. If you're looking to spend upward of 25 hours on a wacky experience and you don't mind a few blemishes, consider giving Steambot Chronicles a try.

Steambot Chronicles is a game with a lot of charm that sometimes gets hidden with control and performance issues. But if you get sucked into the world's crazy population and the variety of things to do, you can find yourself easily whittling away the hours. A voice at the game's title screen pegs it as "a relaxing nonlinear adventure," and there's definitely something to be said for being able to take on the job of a bus driver as you try to help a bandit king eventually land on the moon. If you're looking to spend upward of 25 hours on a wacky experience and you don't mind a few blemishes, consider giving Steambot Chronicles a try.

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 I weren't pulling out my hair while playing this game, it would've been a bit more enjoyable.

So it's undeniably the variety and colour of characters and jobs you interact with throughout Steambot Chronicles that gives the game its real sweetness and charm; something desperately missing from so many modern JRPGs. Much of the enjoyment comes from enjoying the mix of genres squeezed into its framework - even if the game excels at none of them in particular. 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.

Hats off to Atlus for bringing over titles like Steambot Chronicles, because so far, it seems to be the closest it gets to a non-linear experience without stealing cars or fending off Daedra in Tamriel. Regretfully I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to, mainly due the technical problems. All the fun ideas and uniqueness of the game are marred by the actual execution. It’s not crippling, but I’m sure it will irk gamers. As long as you’re aware of the negative points, it’s not that bad of a game. There’s plenty of variety so try it out some time if you’re looking for something to fool around with. That’s what sandboxes are for, no?

25 to Life, Narc, the True Crime series-the gaming industry is littered with the remains of hyper-violent, misguided and unoriginal free roamers. It's nice to see a different take on a genre that has become largely populated with GTA wannabes. While Steambot Chronicles may not be for everyone, fans of Sci-Fi and Anime will be satisfied and anyone in the mood for something slow-paced and original might be pleasantly surprised.

I don’t doubt there are probably 50+ hours of gameplay, simply because of the game’s setup. Non-linear makes for a very unique gaming experience, if that’s what you want. If you like Animal Crossing, you may want to check this one out. I’m wavering on this game myself. It’s a nice diversion, but doesn’t drag me in like most RPGs. That’s probably because it isn’t like most.

Aside from the junky collision detection and the bizarre area naming conventions, Steambot Chronicles is a pretty vast RPG title. While the objective is to complete Vanilla's personal journey, the game offers so many side quests and attractions you'll be continually entertained exploring the towns and countryside for weeks, and gameplay value is additionally prolonged if you replay the game with different actions and moral decisions --definitely a keeper.

To its credit, several of the dialogue options and events are pretty funny (like an outdoor musical performance being interrupted by a salvo of missiles), but I'd much rather play a game that's actually good instead of one where moderate comedic appeal is the only reason to keep going.

Nonetheless, I can't recommend Steambot Chronicles: not with its $50 price tag, anyway. Humor and unusual storytelling can't save it from stiff controls and an awkward camera. Too bad a game about giant robots has been crushed under its own weight.