Robotech: The Macross Saga

Published by TDK Mediactive
Developed by Lucky Chicken Games
Platform: GBA
Released - Out Now
Price : £24.99

Side scrolling shooters have always been popular since the days of games like Scramble when doing the rounds at the arcades. Within minutes of playing Robotech: The Macross Saga it is not difficult to see why they have retained their popularity. They are very easy to get into and very difficult to put down. The Macross Saga is a great effort and will please GBA owners who are looking for a great side scrolling shooter.

A nice twist has been given to the gameplay by the option to choose one of five different pilots. You have a choice of Roy Fokker, Rick Hunter, Max Sterling, Miriya and Ben Dixon. All of these have different attributes and will affect how you play the game. Besides these five characters there are a further six characters to unlock, which of course adds to the replay value somewhat.

Another nice addition is the ability to transform your Veritech (spacecraft) from a Fighter to a Guardian to a Battloid. The Fighter is the default option and is primarily used when quick manoeuvrability is required. When you are bogged down and need to launch missiles then the Guardian is required as it can withstand more damage. When the Guardian and Fighter are an unwise choice it's time to opt for the two legged choice that is the Battloid. The Battloid uses only the gunpod weapon but can deal effectively with land based enemies and can also hover to attack some airborne enemies. To do well in the game you're going to have to take advantage of this ability to transform from one craft to another.

There are 10 levels in all and they all look very nice indeed. Not all the levels are side scrolling though and missions 3 and 6 require you to pilot a Destroid. These levels are kind of a mix between a top down view and an isometric view. Again these levels are good and offer a break from the side scrolling action. There are also some multiplayer modes, a co-op and a Vs game. I couldn't get to look at these because they require a gamepak per GBA. This is a shame because it puts the price of multiplayer gaming at £50 and as such is a wasted option unless you have a friend who has the game and is willing to play.

There are no problems for deaf gamers with The Macross Saga. There is a thin veil of a plot behind the game and this is conveyed to you solely through text. The only sounds the game has are weapon noises and music. There is nothing here that would disadvantage the deaf gamer.

Overall Game Rating: 8.0/10
Robotech: The Macross Saga is a very good side scrolling shooter. A total of 11 different pilots and 10 different levels will keep you busy for a while. It's a shame that the multiplayer games need a gamepak for each GBA though.

Deaf Gamers comment:
No problems at all.