Many games are described as ‘ahead of their time’, but that’s exactly what quirky action-RPG Steambot Chronicles was. An open world with abundant side-quests and a protagonist you develop through dialogue choices? On console, in 2006? Somehow, yes. To this day, few games have successfully dabbled in as many elements simultaneously as this steam-powered JRPG.
Those elements may not always be the most polished, but they’re there and not one of them feels shoehorned in. There’s a hunger mechanic which means listeners will walk away from you mid-performance if your stomach growls. You can design your own licence plate for your Trotmobile (your customisable battle mech and vehicle), as well as chop and change between weapons, wheel types, and even windshields. There’s a stock market. The community will give you a nickname – probably unflattering – based on your most recent antics. You can rent a house and fill it with furniture, decide to take to the streets in only your swimming trunks, or delve into an optional dungeon in order to bring back precious stones for women after your affection. Maybe you want to put the entire plot on hold and dedicate time to becoming a billiards pro or winning the fighting tournament. The charmingly odd and surprisingly open industrial world is yours.
Denne historien er fra January 2022-utgaven av PLAY Magazine UK.
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Denne historien er fra January 2022-utgaven av PLAY Magazine UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Batman: Arkham Asylum
15 years!? Holy depressing passing of time, Batman!
The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road
Keeping us engaged with the carat-and-stick approach
Alan Wake 2: Night Springs
Keepin' it weird
GRAND THEFT AUTO VI
The ruler of the crime sandbox returns
WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2
Up to your pauldrons in science-fiction action
DELTA FORCE: HAWK OPS
Teaching an old hawk new tricks
Welcome to the Roughnecks
Blasting bugs and shooting the breeze with Starship Troopers game lead Peter Maurice and star Casper Van Dien
LEGO HORIZON ADVENTURES
Bricks and stones may break robo dino bones
ASSASSIN'S CREED SHADOWS
Presenting protagonist double trouble
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
A delightfully devilish refresh