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Platform: PlayStation
2
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Steambot
Chronicles
Click to see screenshot gallery (Opens in new window)
More
often than not, games have a highly linear progression to them, as
players work their way from A to Z.
For some members of the gaming public, this setup is
getting to be old hat, and players are itching for a chance to do what
they want, where they want, when they want.
Taking linearity out of the picture so that players have
greater control of their destiny is an enticing proposition that Atlus
hopes to fulfill with Steambot Chronicles (formerly known as Bumpy Trot
in Japan) when they release it for the North American market on the
PlayStation 2.
Taking place in a world that threads the needle between the Old West and Victorian England, large, steam-powered mechs known as Trotmobiles have become all the rage, making everything from mining, to farming, to construction, and just about any other difficult, time consuming task a breeze. Everybody loves these machines. Enter a young man named Vanilla Beans who one day finds himself lying on a beach, waking up to see a mysterious girl |
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named
Connie looking down at him. Luckily,
the lass takes Vanilla home so that he can regain his strength, and it
is here that he meets the rest of Connie’s band of musicians. Later that day, the band puts on a show in town, but suddenly
bandits overrun the place, and from there players must decide what they
want to do.
With all of the choices available to players, the main goal of the game is to put people in a sort of sandbox and just let them have at it. Players can have Vanilla join Connie’s band, or run off and join the bandits. He can make a living as a farmer, or a musician, or |
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even
build himself brutally destructive trotmobiles to take into gladiatorial
combat. There are a ton of
choices available to players, and none of them are right or wrong.
It will be up to the player how they play Steambot Chronicles.
There
will also be a fair amount of questing to do in the game, as players can
fight all manner of enemies, as well as bosses.
What will likely be particularly enticing is how players will be
able to customize their trotmobile as they see fit, buying new parts and
tweaking to their heart’s content.
Looking
at Atlus’ track record over the last twelve months, it really blows
one’s mind as to just how many niche games they have brought to North
America. Most companies
wouldn’t touch a game like this with a ten-foot pole.
If this game is localized just as well as the other titles Atlus
has brought this way recently, PS2 owners could be in for quite a
treat with Steambot Chronicles.
Mr. Nash November 10, 2005
Related Articles: Interview: Atlus - Unlocking the Niche Market
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