Have there been any humongous mecha pilot simulation games? Specifically co-op?

[LordBojangles]

Okay so honestly I didn't search too hard yet because this is mostly speculative: what if I wanted to play as a Power Ranger, but only during the sitting-in-my-robot-stabbing-space-monsters part?

What I mean is, something like a racing/driving/trucking/airplane pilot simulator (so, 1st person perspective) but what you're piloting is a giant robot. You have to engage in combat with the monster of the week or with other humongous mecha, but the controls aren't 'direct,' if that makes sense--and yeah I realize that might be crazily difficult, but . . .

. . . what if we took it one step further: cooperatively piloting with 2 to 6 players, all with their own tasks to keep the robot on its feet (or whatever--assuming you're not flying or in space, I suppose)?

Anyone played/seen/heard of anything like that? If not, would you like to see anything like that?

 

[ThriKreen]

There's a Voltron [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltron:_Defender_of_the_Universe_%28video_game%29] coop game (published by THQ) that I briefly played on the PS3, but I only played the demo so I can't say how it's like in multiplayer.

 

[LordBojangles]

There's a Voltron [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltron:_Defender_of_the_Universe_%28video_game%29] coop game (published by THQ) that I briefly played on the PS3, but I only played the demo so I can't say how it's like in multiplayer.

That is reasonably close to what I was looking for, thanks!

 

[Herzesser]

There was Steel Battalion: Line of Contact on the old XBox but that's a heeeeefty investment 'cause everyone would have to buy the massive (also sexy as hell) 40-button plus pedals plus massive joysticks controller... but it was totally playable on XBox Live.

Though I don't know if the old XBox is still supported so... might be worth researching if you're really desperate for a proper mech simulation.

 

[Genocidicles]

Though I don't know if the old XBox is still supported so... might be worth researching if you're really desperate for a proper mech simulation.

Nah, they pulled the plug on XBL for the original xbox back in 2010.

 

[octafish]

To be honest, I can't say I have. There was a Monolith game (ahh Monolith *sigh*) called Shogo - Mobile Armor Division available on GOG. There were sections where you piloted a giant robot. It was pretty damn awesome for 1998. That said, I do prefer Mechwarrior's stompy, stompy, pew pew, fwooosh *missile volley* gameplay.

 

[BeerTent]

Hawken is on the PC. It's a F2P MMO, although, last I checked, it had a piss-poor payment scheme. (Pay-to-Win.)

Mechwarrior 4 is also available, it's likely free. I know that's co-op, but I haven't touched that in years.

Sadly, that's all I got that meets your criteria. Lately, I've been playing NS2 and Awesomenauts with 2/4 and 3 player teams, respectively.

 

[LordBojangles]

There was Steel Battalion: Line of Contact on the old XBox

Daaaaamn that's like exactly what I was looking for...too bad I don't have an Xbox.

 

[LordBojangles]

Hawken is on the PC. It's a F2P MMO

Very nice, thanks!

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Oh. Multiple people IN the mecha? Here I was about to recommend Armored Core. Oh well.

There's also Hawken but that's an FPS.

 

[CellShaded]

Robot Alchemic Drive! It's an old PS2 game that I grew up with.
Thing is, you're not inside the robot, you're outside running around the city, trying to get to a good vantage point from which to control your mecha. Speaking of controls, you basically had two control sets for the game. You'd move to a vantage point with your human character that could hover up to a building's rooftop and then press select to switch to your character's first person view, staring in the direction of your giant mecha. R1 would move the mecha's foot forward and L1 would move the left foot forward. The left stick controls the left arm and the right controls..the right. And you'd fight giant mechas from space. Unless I'm remembering things wrong, which is possible as I last played the game when I was a little kid. It didn't have co-op, though. Atleast, I don't remember it. I do remember the versus mode, though.

Definitely one of the best mecha game experiences I've had so far and definitely something to look into.