now that is what I call an in-depth review, I can leave it to you z to provide such a thing. I was only able to play some of Macross Frontier, it reminded me somewhat of gundam games, but I did like what I played. I have to admit you do like, possibly love, your mecha games, that you've clearly pointed out in the past reviews and in the group. well done, it's always a joy to read one of your reviews, it's either I can agree with it, or it leaves me open to explore more in the hopes I'll like it as well.
Macross Frontier game Review
Story & Playability
Story Introduction?
Well , honestly put , Macross Triangle Frontier is a game which - pretty much - displays a series of battles across the
Macross universe.
HOWEVER , there is an Academy Mode which I would elaborate on later in the review which pretty much allows the player to
play through a series of events in a Visual Novel / Graphic Novel format as a Custom-Made character.
They would experience the events of Macross Frontier first-hand as their own character in this Mode.
Generally , this game have a major focus on the Frontier series.
Academy Mode - Story Structure
When your playing through Academy Mode , you'd be experiencing the events of Macross Frontier through the sidelines
as a fellow classmate and pilot of Arata.
Depending on your actions , you can develop romantic relationships with characters in the game and this isn't
solely devoted to the males but you can also create a female character to enter such relationships with a male
character.
If the character is of a same gender , one can developed a strong friendship ( BROMANCE! ) with the character of
choice.
As the title "Triangle" suggests , the player can enter Triangle Relationships , which is one of the main
highlights of the game.
Though stepping on two boats isn't really entirely safe in Academy Mode... something which I would explain
later.
The entire flow of the Academy Mode is actually fixed but the Ending changes depending on whom your closest with. If you
, for example , cleared all of Klan Klang's relationship events , you would end up being with her in the ending
CG.
Other than the Academy Mode there really isn't any strength nor originality to the plot of Macross Triangle
Frontier - it is more or less a commemoration of the Macross series.
What is disappointing is that despite this being a Crossover game , the existence of a crossover plot is pretty much
non-existent.
Each and every single Macross character ( Other than the Original Game Characters ) pretty much stays on their Era and
is unaware of the others in their respective eras.
However , it is interesting to see how the developers tried to bring out the finer points of the Anime into the game and
how loyally they tried to recreate the story of the Macross universe in a game.
From the starting point of every Macross series to their infamous alien battles at the end - everything was finely
recreated.
Rating:
Graphics
Artwork Review ( Sprites and CGs
)
Macross Triangle Frontier features a set of sprites and CGs - particularly for the Academy Mode since it takes on a
Visual Novel aspect to the gameplay in that particular mode.
The developers had clearly tried to stay loyal to the original artwork scheme of each and every single one of the
Macross series - so each and every character were drawn as they were in the series of which they had came from.
It may prove to be somewhat disorienting and may cause inconsistency in the artwork but it may also prove to impress as older works have quality artwork which , most definitely , does not lose out to the more recent works like Macross Zero and Macross Frontier.
However , this concept proves to be a double-edged sword. The original characters have an artwork scheme similar to the artwork of older Macross series - which comes in with a sharp contrast with the Macross Frontier characters of which they appear with in the Academy Mode of the game. The inconsistency in the CGs and character sprites was sharply brought out and it may prove uncomfortable as a whole.
Graphics Review
The graphics of the game is truly one of the best.
In sharp contrast with Gundam Assault Survive - of which this particular game uses a modified engine of - Macross
Triangle Frontier have smooth physics and generally smooth graphics to boot.
There is little awkward frame lags when the Macross changes between it's humanoid form and it's plane form and
every single joint movement was smoothly animated.
The game is , generally speaking , graphically impressive for a Mecha game which is known for it's clunky nature on the PSP.
Rating:
Sound
Music Review
Music. One of the strongest aspects of Macross and what would you do without it?
This game had truly brought out the finer elements of the Anime counterparts - Music is something of which the
developers had clearly noted of and is keen on bringing out - even within the moments of battle itself.
Whilst most combat scenarios are filled with instrumental music and remixes , nostalgic story missions does indeed play
songs like "Dynamite" and "Iteza Gogo Don't be Late".
Furthermore , there is a Support System which allows the player to bring a Support Character with them to the
battlefield. if the character in question is - for example - Sheryl - she would start singing one of her songs from the
Macross Frontier series.
I would , however , explain the Support System later in the review.
Back on to the music...
As you can see in the game , not all Macross series have a strong focus on music. Macross Zero , for one , does not have
a strong focus on music and this element was reflected in the game.
However , series like - most particularly - Macross Frontier have a major focus on it's songs and that was clearly
brought out in the game itself.
Rating:
Fun
This is a Review of Macross Triangle
Frontier
Macross Triangle Frontier is a crossover game of the Macross universe - bearing heavy elements from - as you can see -
the Macross Frontier series.
It's unique elements and exceptional graphics had earned it's place as one of the best Mecha games on the PSP.
Even if your not fond of the Macross series , the smooth animations may just make the cut - for it is a rarity amongst
PSP Mecha games.
However , interestingly enough , Macross Triangle Frontier does not seem to have a great focus on it's machines but
it's characters.
Still , this game features pretty much everything from the Macross series. You can even play as a Macross fleet or even
a Vajura to boot - and most of the prominent characters from the series were included into the game itself.
It's like a dream come true for every Macross fan.
Overall ( Others )
Age Rating : Teen
Console : PSP
Academy Mode - Gameplay
Academy Mode requires the player to choose up to three actions to do in a day - or use it up to rest or to go out on a
date with an non player character.
This is essentially a mode which replaces "Create a Custom Pilot" - for you create your pilots not through
manual skill allocation or through a series of quiz - but you create your custom pilot through a series of events.
So strategy is required if you seek to create the "ultimate pilot" - but if you just want to hit on the other
characters for the CGs just to get a 100% for the game , your free to do so.
Owing to the lengthy nature of this mode , it doesn't prove to be very appealing for the players but the rewards
include a large sum of cash , CGs of the cleared heroines / hero and a Custom Pilot of which you managed to create.
Essentially , the game would have the player stockpile a series of points through daily events and they can allocate it
for their base stats like Shooting or spend it on skills.
Whilst it may sound simple , creating a powerful pilot worthy of use isn't as easy as it may seem.
Triangle Relationships
I'm not really certain what developing relationships with pilots / operators / support units could do but the way
they behave changes depending on your relationship status with them.
Same gender pilots would get really friendly and behave like the best of friends whilst characters of opposite genders
would blush , claim that they were worrying about you , panics when your injured and similar quotes are done within the
mission itself.
You can develop relationships with pretty much any character within the game. Operators , singers , married women ( Oh
boy... ) , aliens , main characters , side-characters... you name it , they have it.
Initial relations are set up through the Academy Mode since this system only works for Custom Pilots and after Academy Mode , relations can still be built by clearing missions with these allies in question - but only if you cleared it safely. Some characters don't like it if you don't take care of yourself so their Relationship Points doesn't add on after the mission and whilst it may be my imagination , some characters do seem to like reckless behavior as there were more points gained should the player clear the mission with lower health points.
Partner System / Support
System
Partners are essentially pilots whom goes out on battles along by your side.
You can give them orders to change their general behavior but generally , they really need to be able to take care of
themselves.
The AI for partner characters aren't exactly top-class and they tend to go down pretty quick when exposed to heavy
firepower or cannon blasts.
As for Support Characters , their essentially... well , support units whom either give passive or manual support
capabilities.
Singers like Sheryl may give you a Regen effect when her support abilities are activated and it does seem to improve
your combat capabilities as a whole.
Some singers can also dramatically reduce the HP of your opponents when you get close to them - though it doesn't
actually lead to destruction as the enemy pilot would say things like "This feeling... I understand."
So it's pretty interesting to see songs playing an effect even in the battles itself.
Mechas and Characters
This game allows you to select a variety of units.
Ranging from a prototype unit to the Battle Macross - take your pick.
Naturally , there is a limitation for special units - for one only Klan Klang can use... well , the Armored Klan
Klang.
Macross fleets can only be used by high-ranking characters and Vajuras can only be used by Vajuras.
The things you can use in this game is pretty crazy , nearly everything you see can be used.
Even those large alien... monstrous thingies can be used.
Though , of course , the larger you are , the more exposed you are.
Not to mention , nearly all of the characters in the Macross universe are included in the game as well so every Mecha in this game have their own respective pilot.
Shop System
There is , indeed , a Shop which allows you to purchase Mechas , Pilots , Misc content and similar items.
There are hundreds of items to buy so it'll probably take a while for the player to clear the game - not to mention
you need to purchase items which allows you to unlock the pilot in question before you can actually PURCHASE the pilot
in question.
So... yeah , it'll take a while before you can get what you want.
Not to mention , the player needs to spend a whole lot to purchase "Tune Points" - upgrade points for their
Mechas.
So this game pretty much forces the player to go into Academy Mode or some of the Survival Missions to earn their
cash.
Game Modes
This game is composed of several modes.
Versus Mode , Academy Mode and the Mission Mode.
Missions are composed of several sectors. Historical Missions , Extra Missions , Survival Missions and stuff like
that.
Playing through missions allows you to unlock more content.
Gameplay
Right , on to the actual gameplay.
The general gameplay of this game isn't exactly perfect since they need to have a better balance of the infantry
and battleship's damage resistance capabilities.
It's really easy to take out an enemy fleet whilst it may prove to be ridiculously hard to take out even a single
infantry since they dodge half the time.
I mean , how realistic is it to take out a tank within a few minutes and being unable to take out an infantry just as
quickly?
Friendly AI also needs to be able to take care of themselves. It isn't unusual for friendlies to be felled quickly in battles against larger foes whom have great firepower for they seem to lack the capability to dodge properly.
However , this game isn't exactly entirely flawed.
The Mechas can be shifted between forms as seen in the Anime , allowing the player to change between humanoid forms and
plane forms to suit the combat situation.
There are also an array of weapons to be used. Rifles , beam guns and most importantly - missiles - their easily the
most regularly used weapons in the game.
The general idea of the game is that you shoot , you hit , you kill and you dodge - but unlike other Mecha games , the player would find themselves actively changing between forms to dodge missiles , deal damage , retreat from time to time and go back for more.
As the player themselves are quite fragile ( A few good blows can knock you out of the game ) , they'd need to
dodge plenty of attacks and use whatever they have to win a battle.
So the idea is , rather than just monotonously spamming the "shoot" button , the player finds themselves
dodging missiles ( Or use flares or even shoot them down ) , dodging bombs , dodging bullets , dodging beams and other
forms of attacks which you would find yourself here and there.
Funnily enough , as much as I am horrid in flight stimulations , I find myself relying on the Plane form a lot more than any of the other forms.
This game also features an SP Bar - which - once filled , allows the player to use their Support Units or execute a single powerful strike upon their foe - provided that they have enough SP for the attack in question.
As a footnote , the player can't really just randomly spray missiles into their foes either. Aiming , distance coordination and remembering how a missile flies is key for a perfect missile strike on his or her foes. So yeah , you'd need to use a little of your brains in this game.
Rating:
Final Verdict
7.5000 (good)
Reviewed by z827, Nov 15, 2011
Comments
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angelxxuan Banned Member Nov 18, 2011
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SnickerdoodleNinja Retired Moderator Nov 22, 2011
Wooh, thouroughness FTW! Really though, I'm always impressed at how thorough your reviews are in each section, really giving a good feel for what the game is like while still seeming ground in unbiased-ness(is that even a word? xD). I've had bad luck with PSP games in the past, but the mixture of mecha fighting and inter-personal relationships sounds rather interesting. Great job, Z, and can't wait to read your next one! :)
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