Reviewed
08.21.2003
Publisher
Shoeisha
Developer
Shoeisha
Format
1x
GD
Origin
Import
Available
Feb.
26, 2001 (Japan)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Hard
Dimensions
3D
View
3rd
Person
Genre
Flight
/ Shooter
Player(s)
1
Options
Backup
Modem
Rumble
VGA
Box
VMS
/ VMU
Requires
n/a
Importable
95% |
| Intro |
|
> Macross is a long running anime series which is popular all over the
world. There have been plenty of videogames with a Macross license,
but few have been worthy. Since the Sega Dreamcast has provided many
great licensed games, like Berserk and Max
Steel, my expectations for Macross M3 were high. Shoeisha had
plenty of fuel in the license, since it's mainly about hot shot pilots
of transforming mech-aircraft.
> Macross M3 is highly importable, as most of the menu selections are in
English and the gameplay is fairly straight forward. Obviously, the
dialog and speech are in Japanese. It might help to know the exact
specifics of each mission though. |
| Graphics |
|
> Macross M3 has decent mech and aircraft designs, and the transforming
aspect is cool enough. However, the locales feature a pretty short
sight distance and inexplicable slowdown. An option to play in first
person would have been useful as well. At least the character designs
are interesting, and the missile trails are impressive. One could
only imagine the graphic results had this game been programmed by a team
with more prowess... |
| Control |
|
> Uhm... in a word, crap. Why does Macross M3's aircraft control
as if they're in space (sans the ability to directly control roll)??
The physics of flying within a planet's atmosphere are totally non-existent.
Where is the gravity, or the friction? Why can't the mechs have automatic
hovering, or pivot a little faster? The only saving grace is the
ability to lock-on to targets. |
| Sound |
|
> Everything from the music to the sound effects is totally average --
even forgettable The Macross license deserves better. This
should not be so. |
| Fun |
|
> Macross M3 would be fun if it had some gameplay. You can't dogfight
with this (lack of) physics engine. At least you can randomly access
the missions you've completed, should you wish to trudge through one again!
The ability to select different aircraft, pilots and plug-ins (abilities)
is nice though. |
| Bottom
Line |
|
> To be perfectly honest, I wanted Macross M3 to be fantastic, yet it falls
short in just about every respect. The graphics engine is weak; the
physics are unrealistic; and the sound is forgettable. Macross M3
is a missed opportunity. It's a collectors only purchase. |
| Ratings |
| Overall:
6.9 | Graphics: 7.5 | Control: 6.5 | Sound: 7.5 | Fun: 6.0 |
|
