Phantom Crash Preview

What with Steel Battalion, the Xbox Live! enabled Mech Assault and the excellent Battle Engine Aquila, the mech game is fast becoming one of the most popular genres on the Xbox.<br><br>Another title to add to the impressive list is Genki’s Phantom Crash, one of the first titles to be developed in Japan for the Xbox and already garnishing good reviews and a certain degree of hype. <br><br>Set in a futuristic neo-Tokyo, in a time when the nation’s favourite past time is the dubiously named sport of Rumbling, or more descriptively the illegal sport of arena mech combat. Like a slew of classic Manga titles before it, gangs of kids – Wire Heads- are the contestants behind the sport, piloting and building their ScooBee’s from nothing, alluring to become the greatest.<br><br>The greatest feature that Genki and the European publisher Phantagram are pushing about Phantom Crash is the level of customisation that each ScooBee can undertake. In total there are over 65 different weapons, 150 armour and body parts, 200 decals and a number of different paint schemes to use. This allows the player to totally customise their ScooBee to their own personal taste and gives the game a ‘Gran Turismo’ feel, whereby you’re constantly purchasing new parts and upgrading your machine. This alone gives the single player mode a great level of depth and should ensure that you’ll be playing it longer then most other arcade based mech titles.<br><br>The ScooBee’s were originally designed as military hardware, but have now become a part of modern life, much like the car in our time. Available in three different types, each ScooBee comes equipped with an Optic Camouflage generator and neural-net AI chips – each based on an animal persona with its own strengths and weaknesses. You’ve probably seen the Optic Camouflage in full effect on the range of different movies that we’ve got on TVG, if not make sure to check them out; not only do they look stunning they give the game a different edge to most other mech titles, almost playing like hide ‘n’ seek at times.<br><br>Most mech games can be divided into two distinct categories; the hard-core simulations that need a degree in physics to even begin to understand and the arcade based titles that place the emphasis on action and simplified controls. Certain games have found a balance between both, and Phantom Crash looks like doing just that. Controlling the ScooBee is a relatively straightforward affair, allowing you to jump straight into the action and be able to do exactly what you want without looking like a novice. Using the Right analogue stick to move the ScooBee back and forwards, pressing the stick down activates your hover-jets allowing you to skim along the surface. The left stick is then used to move your aiming reticule and to rotate the ScooBee left and right. Face buttons control the two shoulder mounted weapons and the ability to jump and activate your camouflage; whilst the shoulder buttons fire your respective arm mounted weapons. The logical set-up gives the player a great level of manoeuvrability, which in turn gives a great level of freedom and intense action to the proceedings.<br><br>When you’ve had enough of the single player mode, four players can indulge in split-screen action, each taking their own ScooBee’s to the arena to find out who is the ultimate Wire Head. Unfortunately Phantom Crash does not support Xbox Live!, however we’ve heard that the sequel will incorporate this, whilst a planned add-on disc (set for release soon) will include a variety of extra bonuses, new levels and extra features.<br><br><b>Features</b><br><ul><br><li>Incredible realism : Exciting mech battles that take place in the future Tokyo!<br><li>Fast, faster and the fastest game of hide-and-seek : A completely new style of battle made possible by Optic Camouflage! Don't let them find you.<br><li>Diverse mechanic designs that can be fully customized by the player!<br></ul><br>