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| Game: |
Phantom Crash |
| Genre: |
Shooters |
| Developer: |
Genki |
| Publisher: |
Phantagram Interactive |
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| Related Links: |
Coming Soon. |
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Phantom Crash Preview: |
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Giant robots are such a brilliant combination, the freedom of unrealistic yet fun movement that is always on offer and the insanely brilliant weapons that cause mass destruction all at your fingertips. It’s a winning combination in practically anyone’s books, but not every game just because it involves weapons and big robots means it’s a winner, read on and see what we have to say…
Phantom crash is set in 2031, but a little history first – 6 years ago in 2025 Tokyo had become filled with pollution to the extent that no-one could possibly live there anymore. So the whole city was moved brick by brick to an area close to Tokyo harbour, a dome was formed over the city and was re-named Neo Tokyo. Where do the robots come in, well Tokyo was left in a state of desertion. A sport called “Rumbling” was created here where contenders ride large mechanical machines called “Scoobees” and contenders receive fame and fortune through the destruction of others – this is where you come in, to join the circle of rumblers, which is now the most popular sport the entertainment business ever had.
So you’re in the cockpit of a scoobee, what next? Well the game isn’t set to take you on a simple storyline of rumbling, battle from battle until you reach the end of the game. That has already been done and very arcade like, if anyone remembers Virtual:On from the Sega Saturn. The game allows you to play the way you want to, there is a tune then go and fight another day approach as you are given a map of Tokyo and you choose what event’s you will take part in - smaller leagues or the big leagues competing with the big boys. Your mechanical beasts that you are in possession of can be fully customised with armour, weapons and even AI chips being used to customise you mech. The game is set to take on a very “Gran Turismo” style frame of play where you earn money from fights then upgrade your robot to take on bigger, harder and more rewarding challengers. That’s not the only way of upgrading your robot, you can sell old used parts or if you’re good enough get a contract of one of the mech companies to sponsor you to make money. The possibilities of different robots you can have are endless with your own garage, scoobee maker shop, tune-up shop and a second-hand shop on offer to create your perfect machine.
So a decaying Tokyo, will it be much fun to play in? Well the answer is yes as the city looks graphically lush, many areas of Tokyo including Shinjuku containing shattering windows and bullet hole-filled walls effects. Of course because there’s a great range of weapons there are many effects such as blur effects and heat motion effects too all used adequately without disturbing the gameplay. Optical camouflage allowing you to become invisible and sonar wave technology to find your hiding opponents are standard elements used in game. But despite having all the great technology and abilities to upgrade your robot at the end of the day it will be you who has to have the fighting style and skill to become the victor.
Controlling the game seems to be fairly easy but seems that it could be a little difficult as we are talking about an entire giant killing machine here. The game is set to include two main styles of control – a “halo” style of control aimed at those who would usually play action games or new players to the whole concept of mech-battles. The other method of control is harder to get used to but once learned the technique some serious moves can be pulled off. The music in game has been thought out well and you are given a set of music tracks available to listen to from the start, but like your mech additional music can be purchased from your earnings in battles. The playlist that is similar to that of an in car CD player can be fully created and edited, there is a song to suit everyone’s taste from pop to rock all of which have been globally approved by actual artists.
After all this there’s a multiplayer mode available too, allowing you to take your fully customised mechs into battle via a 4-player split screen battle. Phantom Crash looks set to be the biggest and best mech fighting game there is out there, with everything in the game fully customisable a great storyline, full of adrenaline pumping action and a great multiplayer mode also to be included, the game has pretty much every element you need for a brilliant Xbox title. Go out, buy it and customise yourself for some serious adrenaline pumping mech action!
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| Preview By: Graham Seward |
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