Macross VF-x 2

There hasn't been a stellar Macross game... ever. For as long as the anime series has been around (since the mid-'8os), there's only been a couple of decent ones, notably, the Super Famicom and Saturn shooters. Puzzling when you think about it, especially given Macross' incredibly rich universe of mechs, characters and story lines. When Macross VF-X hit the PlayStation back in 1996, early adopters got burned. Macross VF-X became the new standard of anime-licensing-gone-horribly-awry. It was a mediocre affair on all fronts, and even hardcore Macross fans threw up their arms in frustration. It's been three years, and developer Unit, who brought us the first VF-X is back with Macross VF-X 2. Given the legacy of how crappy VF-X was, it isn't a question of how much better VF-X 2 will be, but rather, is it the definitive Macross game to buy for the PlayStation?

Macross VF-X 2 picks up nicely where the first one left off; you're Aegis Focker (related to Roy Fokker?), elite VF pilot of the UN Spacy. Mission briefings are usually accompanied by static anime cutscenes and voice-over narration. To Unit's credit, this game has a better variety of Valkyries on its roster. Back from the past are VFs like the VF-iS Super Valkyrie and the cumbersome but payload-heavy Armored VF. In developing VF-X 2, Unit had marked gameplay as one area that needed improvement, and in that respect, the game moves and feels much better than its predecessor. The camera is always padlocked on your target, so you simply point the nose of your plane or gun reticle toward the enemy for some eyepopping dogfights. Unit has also placed heavier emphasis on each of the three battle modes of the Valkyries. For instance, fighter mode is most versatile and allows you to fire the most missiles, while Gerwalk allows you to strafe and hover; transforming into a Battroid allows you to get up close and personal with the enemy.

Even with all its improvements, Macross VF-X 2 will probably draw a more niche audience than Omega Boost, another mech game with similar gameplay. For those looking for a game with heavy anime presentation, check out Macross VF-X 2.