Strike Suit Zero Review - Leave the Mech at Home

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Strike Suit Zero Review - Leave the Mech at Home

Decent space sim but the mechas don't really deliver.

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PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
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I felt much the same, I really wanted a good Macross/Robotech stand in game and didn't really get that. Though it is really pretty and fairly fun... it's just not great.
 

LordLundar

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Apr 6, 2004
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I can't really refute this review. It's a solid arcade style space combat game but it's by no means a deep space sim. Fortunately it's not terribly expensive so it's still a great buy especially once they get the checkpoint issue dealt with.
 

TheBlackKnight

ESEY on the Kross
Nov 3, 2008
204
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The lack of an escort list or targeting controls in a game where escort missions are the norm is a bit appalling. Music is ok, but then it is made by Paul Ruskay.
 

ResonanceSD

Guild Warrior
Legacy
Dec 14, 2009
4,538
5
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LordLundar said:
I can't really refute this review. It's a solid arcade style space combat game but it's by no means a deep space sim. Fortunately it's not terribly expensive so it's still a great buy especially once they get the checkpoint issue dealt with.

This makes it sound like it isn't finished yet. How important are checkpoints as a mechanic?
 

Draconalis

Elite Member
Sep 11, 2008
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I don't understand how a game with so much negative commentary can have 3 and a half stars...
 

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
45,698
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I don't think I was all that terribly hard on it. SSZ is a decent arcade space shooter that does some things right and stumbles in a few specific but significant areas. The mecha angle is a complete waste of time (although I'm not a fan of the genre to begin with, so your mileage may vary) but there are moments when you go screaming through the nooks and crannies of a massive orbital station while all hell is breaking loose around you, fighters and bombers and frigates and cruisers all mixing it up, that you realize that this is big. Really, really big. And it's impressive. It's probably not good enough to bring non-fans into the fold, but for gamers who are already there - especially at the $20 price tag - it's worth some attention.

And, I think, 3.5 stars. :)
 

LordLundar

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Apr 6, 2004
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ResonanceSD said:
LordLundar said:
I can't really refute this review. It's a solid arcade style space combat game but it's by no means a deep space sim. Fortunately it's not terribly expensive so it's still a great buy especially once they get the checkpoint issue dealt with.

This makes it sound like it isn't finished yet. How important are checkpoints as a mechanic?
It largely is finished with most bugs being uncovered fairly minor in nature. The checkpoints are a sticking point with reviewers though largely because most missions range from 12-30 minutes (some even longer) and you will have maybe 2-3 checkpoints through the entire mission. When you die (and you will, frequently. The game does not pull punches) it hurts realizing just how much progress you lost.

It is an underestimation on the devs part though as opposed to an incomplete game (aka "we figured it was a sweet spot but it turns out it was too few") so they are working on it.
 

J Tyran

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Dec 15, 2011
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I was bitterly disappointed after hearing about the details of this game, I was hoping you could transform into the mech ans board capitol ships and tear up the engineering sections or fight the bridge crew. Boarding space stations and stuff would be cool to, it has none of that though.
 

infinity_turtles

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Apr 17, 2010
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I got this, Dawnstar, and Evochron Mercenary all at the same time. More or less agree with this review, but part of me wants to be a bit more negative just because I've been enjoying Evochron so much more that it seems a bit worse then it is by comparison.
 

Skeleon

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Nov 2, 2007
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Eh, I enjoy it a lot, but if you're looking for a proper spacesim (like X2) or a good RPG-style game (like Freespace), Strike Suit Zero probably won't be for you. I haven't played through it completely yet, but it's already too "arcade-y" and has too little options for customization of your fighters. While it's enjoyable, I think my favorite game of that sort still is Freespace to this day. Not least of which because of the massive modding community, of course (Discovery for instance). And now I made myself want to play vanilla Freespace again.
 

Murmillos

Silly Deerthing
Feb 13, 2011
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Sad state of gaming were a game gets knocked points because it doesn't having an auto save every 30 seconds...

I would understand if the time lost was upwards of 30 minutes, but whining over 8-12 minutes...
 

Falseprophet

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Jan 13, 2009
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Andy Chalk said:
Leaving aside questions about the practicality of a humanoid robot floating around in the middle of space
I just found that line amusing, because I remember an interview with Yoshiyuki Tomino, primary writer and director of the Gundam series, where he said he originally set Gundam in space because humanoid robots didn't make sense under gravity.
 

LordLundar

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Apr 6, 2004
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Murmillos said:
Sad state of gaming were a game gets knocked points because it doesn't having an auto save every 30 seconds...

I would understand if the time lost was upwards of 30 minutes, but whining over 8-12 minutes...
When it's the third or fourth time it does start to get on the nerves.

As I said before, this game does not hold your hand. The missions are tough and unlocking the upgrades is plain brutal.

And as I said before, it's a great arcade style space shooter, it just isn't as complex as the likes of freespace.
 

MonkeyPunch

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Feb 20, 2008
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This game seems to get more or less praised universally but I really couldn't get in to it.
I tried playing with both mouse and keyboard and joypad but the controls always felt really loose.
I fiddled with the settings as much as I could but to no avail.

I mainly point this out because in all the reviews I've read on this game they seem to spot all the other flaws (and there are a fair few) but no one else seems to mind the control scheme.

I really couldn't enjoy this title.
 

Gatx

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Jul 7, 2011
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A lot of people commenting about the game, whether it's through Let's Plays or blogs or whatever seem to talk about how it's nostalgic to see a space combat sim again and I think that's partly why some of these reviewers come out disappointed. I mean yeah it's a space combat game but that's not quite where the focus is - it's the transformable mech. If you imagine you're in Macross or something and start zooming around in jet mode to cover distance and transforming for a second to shoot down missiles before zipping off again, it feels really good. Not quite perfect but good.