Gigantic Army
I remember someone made a thread in gg about this game, and it catched my interest. Since there was a promo on steam, it was time to try it.
You are a pilot of a robot, and before the whole campaign you choose from 3 different main weapons and supportive heavy ones. You can power them up by grabbing the boosters that you will find among other necessary items. One thing that is really crucial to remember, and I learn it the hard way, that you will need to move fast through levels. Time is more lethal on easy and normal difficulties than most foes that you need to defeat. Fortunatelly you will find it scattered too, with some tiny optional paths when you find more of it. Just add to this the health replenishers and we are set to go. You will also have a destructible shield, which will help to avoid some nasty projectiles. Plus the jetpack, when you need to move vertically or to avoid guided missiles.
The title "Gigantic Army" has a nice touch to it once you start fighting with the bosses. They aren't so hard compared to the japanese hell shooters, but still you need be focused on their attack paterns and avoid damage. Because most of the time the boss wasn't really a boss but "only" the apperitif before the main dish. Graphics are really good, feels similar to those seen in arcade games from the first half of 90's. I was dissapointed by music though. If you played all the hot MAME titles 7 times already and want to try something new, but old at the same time I can recommend Gigantic Army.
One Must Fall 2097
I remember the shareware version that was included in one of many CD bundles when the drives where coming on the domestic potato market. I had to try the full version after so many years to confront that memories. Well, it started great as always with the main theme.
This brings great memories as always.
The story mode where you choose premade pilots and robots its a good starter if you want to get accustomed with the controls and flow of the fights. It's nice, the fights can be really tough, because AI is really unforgiving when it comes to higher difficulty levels. But something is missing. After defeating Nova who is the first and only boss in the game I felt dissapointment. The game just ends so quickly, and the plot with the evil corporation W.A.R (lulz) it's not worth mentioning. But, there is a tournament play. I've started with a robust Jaguar and a guy with average stats. You get some money on start and you have to pull higher in the different tournaments. North America is the most easy and a good booster for your morale. Because when you will try to move onward, you will challenge many guys who didn't appeared in story mode.
The beauty of this mode lies in the fact, that even if you loose you are still in the game. Of course if you have money for repairs. The grumpy old mechanic will always have some tough words for you when you see how much the robot has been damaged. That's right, your robot isn't indestructible and it is always maintained after the fight. And the more vitality is left, the more credits you will earn at the end. Oh, and there is only one round.
You customize your robot, change his colours of armor, give give more armor/legs/arms/etc. levels and boost your pilot. Once you hit the jackpot and start winning you will feel the huge difference from where you started. After 90 fights on my account, the piloted Jaguar was a killing machine, making 5 combos without any problems and could chain even more due to the secret moves. And the AI can still surprise even after so many fights. The hazardous stages when you have too look out for the airplanes or you can toss them at the electrified net makes them even more interesting. Tournament mode is really addictive and great. That is the OMF 2097 was meant to be played.
Great music and graphics are still present, I like those early titles published by Epic Megagames. They really knew how to find a good game among many others.
Armored Warriors
One of the arcade titles made by Capcom that is now a little less known compared to Cadillacs & Dinosaurs or Punisher and Captain Commando. I think it was made by the same team as Alien Versus Predator because of some graphics similarities. Nevertheless it's a great game where you operate a giant robot and beat everything when you move onward. The most excellent future is that your machine is fully moddable. You don't want those pesky legs but a cool motorizes and deadly while in-air tank like system ? No problem, just kill a robot that has got it and take it. Same goes for weapons (melee and shooting ones). My favourite is laser saber that can cut enemies in half and the grabbing arm which takes a poor fellow and bashes him to the grounds while bringing some damage to anyone who is near him. There is more, but I won't spoil it for you.