| Graphics: |   3 |
| SFX: | 3 |
| Music: | 3 |
| Gameplay: | 2 |
| Challenge: | 3 |
| Replay: | 1 |
| Overall: | 2 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Reading ability: | Not required |
| Company: | Takara |
Background:
The anime Armored Trooper Votoms has been shown on the International Channel unscathed and subtitled the way anime should be shown (not like the hack-job dubs on Cartoon Network).
The Game:
In this game, you control your Votoms mecha in a 360 degree arena and fight your enemies. This is as close as the Super Famicom can get to 3D graphics, as seen in games like Mario Kart and F-Zero. It uses the DSP chip found in such games.
The gameplay is pretty terrible. Imagine a violent game of demolition derby with mecha. It's like a primitive version of Sega's Virtual On, yet boringly executed. The robots skate around in an arena with boundaries, and basically move like bumper cars with guns. Heaven forbid you get stuck in a corner with enemies shooting at you! You can't even turn around! The only way to turn is if you're moving forward or backward. I thought I was piloting a Scopedog, not a car! After a minute or two of trying to play this game, you will likely start to wonder, "Why am I playing this game?"
The Good:
Pictures of the cool mecha from the anime...
The Bad:
...Everything else about this game.
Overall:
This is just yet another example of a cool anime licensing going to waste on a bad game. It's a shame too, since a Votoms game certainly has potential. Takara could have made the game into something the Super Famicom excels at (2D platformer game), but instead chose the route to show off the Mode 7 pseudo-3D scaling and rotation and meshed it with lousy gameplay. I would have been extremely happy if this game would have been a derivative Assault Suits Valken-style clone (such as Front Mission: Gunhazard. Apparently somebody liked this game enough to develop a FAQ/walkthrough for the game. Only a big fan of the Votoms show would be forgiving of this mediocrity. I really like the anime series, but this game stinks.
The one good thing I can say about this game is that it at least has its own storyline. It could simply just put you through the plot of the TV show, but at least it tries to be original.
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