Review: Wartech Senko No Ronde (360)

Mecha is the most Japanese of genres and to the western masses an eternal whirlpool of confusion, doubt and disbelief.   WarTech: Senko no Ronde is a bizarre oddity simply because it fails to confirm to the standard ideals of what constitutes a mecha game.   For sure it features giant robots as your vehicles of destruction (here they're referred to as rounders), armed to the teeth with a ferocious arsenal of firepower.      However in Gamestyle's experience that isn't enough to justify such a heading, otherwise enjoyable robot titles such as Metal Arms: Glitch in the System, would also classify.

No, what we have here is a marvelous Japanese exponent of fusion; the bizarre storyline; hyper voice acting; agile combat system; brutal bosses and day-glo graphics all combining to offer something else, or at the very least unlike most games you've enjoyed of late.   The end product for want of a better word or pigeonhole is simply a bastard.   In reflection such a statement is quite apt as it is extremely challenging in the higher difficulties or when facing the final stage bosses.  Somehow during development a title that could have grown easily into an exponent of staple mecha characters such as drab environments, customisation, garages and plots about technological warfare, has gone off kilter and shunned such luxuries.  And here at Gamestyle we really like it when that happens.

Whilst playing WarTech, Gamestyle had very little idea about the storyline behind the game.  This is partially due to the insane voice actors but also the distinct lack of cut sequences or text we're used to seeing in Western releases.   Combat is the main focus here, with the storyline mainly just serving to pitch characters against one another.   Yes, it could just be another beat 'em up with Namco or Tecmo stamped across the front.  With its original roots in the arcade the lack of a coherent story is not surprising, as you'll care very little about the mighty super weapon or the fight against terrorists.  Simply get stuck into the action and enjoy.

A decent selection of modes are on offer including a story option, the original arcade mode, an online option and top score based offering.  Neither is particularly long in terms of stages, but the real emphasis is on the quality of opponents and overcoming the final phase, which can be frustrating as you realise your shoot 'em skills are pretty rusty.  Gamestyle used to be good at arcade shooters, but it seems those days are long gone.  We can still identify the attack patterns, areas of weakness and less venerable positions, but in WarTech it’s all about surviving the onslaught for long enough to defeat your opponent.

Gamestyle is still trying to come to terms with that lethal spinning boss attack that sees you scrambling across the screen in a fruitless search for safety hammering your boost to little effect.   Such challenges are few and far between for gamers these days and WarTech also represents a decent Japanese Xbox 360 experience.  And this is something that this system has struggled to offer since its launch, albeit that this is a very Japanese traditional game in terms of presentation and content, which unfortunately won't have consumers scrambling to purchase it.

The battle system is the real strength of the game, as unlike most mecha combat it shuns multiple targets and instead pits you against one other opponent.  This theme remains constant as you progress, although the screen will fill up quickly with waves of attacks in compensation.   Comparisons with Sega's classic Virtual On series are apt, as you can bring a tactical and thoughtful approach to combat, and undoubtedly while this is an influence WarTech manages to combine elements of the mecha and arcade shooter genres to great effect.  Having a limited range of characters, each complete with their own attacks and super ability often means you will need to reevaluate previous encounters whilst controlling a new rounder.   Some characters are more suited to close range attacks, whilst others offer a useful long range alternative, complete with high accuracy.   Shields also play an important role and the onscreen icon circles are a thoughtful inclusion, as these cannot only help with your distance judgement but also when your weapon has managed to reload.

Where WarTech manages to slip up is that it will leave you wanting more.   Whether you want to beat that high score or take on new opponents, there is always a new barometer available.  Yes, there is a degree of slow down when the screen becomes cluttered or during close combat, but nothing that really hampers the bouts.  The developer has also included a guide and encyclopedia to enable you to follow the background story and conversations between characters. Complete with a strong sense of artistic design, you have a real gem of a title that will keep you challenged for months to come.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Jason Julier