Velvet File (ヴェルベットファイル), launched 8/10/2000, “plus” model 3/29/2001, developed and revealed by DaZZ
I’ve ultimately arrived on the PS2 period. It is a main console for SRPGs, with 77 video games on my listing (though that features various remakes/ports and questionable video games). As I mentioned in my earlier put up, I’ve additionally reached the purpose the place my devoted Acer Spin 3 not has the ability essential to run the emulators — whereas it’s OK with Recreation Boy Advance, PSP, and another consoles that can come up later, the PS2 is an excessive amount of. I’m hoping to get a brand new laptop computer round Christmastime that will likely be higher, however for now I’ve to play the PS2 video games on my precise console (which runs fairly nicely provided that it’s 24 years previous). I acquired a couple of screenshots of this recreation earlier than I switched.
This recreation has been described as a ripoff of Entrance Mission and Armored Core, and I can see why. The Armored Core affect is generally the setting and visuals, however the “elements” system that I dislike a lot in Entrance Mission is right here as nicely. I performed the “plus” model which was launched a yr later — it has some rebalancing and bug fixes, in addition to a “print” function the place you may use an adjunct printer to make paper foldable fashions of the mechs. The sport was launched in English as “Robotic Warlords” however I don’t assume the Plus model got here out. (The Japanese title refers back to the code title of the mission the mercenaries are on)
The dialogue is totally voiced for the story, however the sound high quality is fairly dangerous. The sport was initially launched on CD (some early PS2 video games have been), which can account for the difficulty. The story entails a gaggle of mercenaries (your characters) employed by the federal government to place down a insurgent navy faction in Japan inside 7 days, earlier than they’ll efficiently pull off a coup. The 7 days is only for storyline functions and has no gameplay impact. The sport is a comparatively quick 11 phases.
You will have a set of characters. Every mech could be personalized similar to the Entrance Mission sequence. You select the elements that can function the armor/HP of every half, topic to an total weight restrict. You may also equip varied sorts of ammo and weapons, in addition to melee weapons. On the entire, FM did it higher.
When you’re in battle, you’ll be able to transfer round as much as your motion factors, after which assault. You may also use “particular assault” or “particular protection” for a TP price. You regenerate TP each flip. The map appears to be like darkish on that screenshot and it additionally appears to be like darkish on the precise console, which makes it robust.
Assaults have very low hit charges and it may be tough to get your guys into the right spots. You additionally should be turned the proper manner to have the ability to goal at individuals, which prices motion (the sport does present you when you’ve a unit in your goal vary although). You can also set a response kind, which applies not just for counterattacks however you’ll be able to even assault the enemies as they transfer by way of your vary.
As within the Entrance Mission sequence, harm to numerous elements appears to be mainly random. This introduces the aspect of luck I by no means preferred in FM — you may take out a unit in two hits, or waste time chipping away harm at varied elements. A unit’s major weapon could be rapidly taken out, or possibly not.
Within the first few missions you solely should defeat a few of the enemies, not all of them. Even so I discovered the sport pretty difficult, and by the point I reached stage 4, I used to be getting uninterested in “we’ve got Entrance Mission at dwelling.” The sport didn’t get nice critiques both, which I suppose is typical of an early recreation on a brand new console.
