PlayStation 2 User Reviews

Steambot Chronicles is an unique experience. Very early in the game, you're introduced to a mecha whose legs are controlled separately by each analog button (similar to both treads of a tank), and it may be frustrating at the start, but you get used to it fast and start to like it. The story is non-linear, with choices given to you during most events of the game. Some do not make any difference, others allow you to join a bandit faction, turning the protagonist into a villain, for example. Customizing your trotmobile is very fun, as there are many different components to buy and collect. Playing instruments is not so soothing as it could be, since the English voice actors apparently had no experience with singing at all, and even in the Japanese version (which is hard to find on the Internet) songs are sung in the same unpleasant to hear English. No dual-audio option. There are some side-quests, but good luck trying to trigger and finishing them by your own, since it's too convoluted and time consuming of a task to know what to do next, without resorting to a guide. Moving inside cities with your trotmobile is always a sleep-inducing travel. Well, there are many good and bad things regarding this game, but it's a consensus among who played it that Steambot Chronicles was too ahead of its time when launched. I recommend playing the undub version of this game to make it a more enjoyable experience but, by all means, play Steambot Chronicles.

Steambot Chronicles is easily my favorite game of all time. The characters are interesting and compelling, the interactions between them feel genuine. The game's hand-drawn look is absolutely stunning, and the designs are amazing. The game's only major flaw is it's long and frequent load times, which may break immersion and frustrate players. The game's controls can be confusing to those who do not frequently play video games or those with poor manual dexterity. The controls are satisfying when the player grasps them, and are refreshing changes to more traditional control schemes. The game's music plays a central role, and nearly all of it is enjoyable (Players might want to avoid giving Fennel his new guitar, or risk listening to a banshee's screeching for a few minutes).