Video game review by ERIK LEIJON

As much as I wanted to use my “steaming pile” pun for this review, I couldn’t help but be impressed with Steambot Chronicles (PS2/Atlus, Irem), a game that truly is more than the sum of its parts. Chronicles combines anything a gamer could possibly want: it’s a Japanese RPG with customizable mechs, subtle satirical comedy, stock market trading, timing-based musical numbers à la PaRappa, billiards, Battle Bot-style arena fighting, and even a love story. The game tackles a lot and doesn’t necessarily do a sterling job with everything, but the deceptively addictive story and an unrelenting positive spirit make Chronicles an undeniable pleasure.

Amid the huge shopping list of things to do, the focus of the game is on the main character, Vanilla, and his trotmobile. The trotmobile is an evolving car, and looks like an early mech vehicle. Instead of gaining levels as you would in most adventure or RPG games, the purpose of the game is to customize your trot into a lean, supreme fighting machine. The arms can be replaced with weapons, and the legs can be changed to ride various terrain (everything from wheels to spider legs are available). The back of the trot can be altered as well for different oddjobs, from transporting goods to becoming a bus to pick up passengers. The trotmobile itself is like a character, and two players could go through the game with vastly different looking trots. The mech fighting in Steambot resembles a poor man’s Virtual On (Sega), and the bosses are big and colourful.

Since money is needed to “pimp out” your trot (their words, not mine), acquiring cash (called ur) provides for interesting sidequests. As was pioneered in Zelda, the standard movement of items from one person to another is an easy way, but players can also become pool sharks, play music on the streets for change, and receive stocks from businesses. Becoming a trader is also profitable and the system is quite ingenious: load up on resources from one land and sell them to another where it’s more valuable. Money is also needed for daily activities, since Vanilla needs to eat and sleep like any normal person. Although it is impossible to die of starvation, not eating will result in Vanilla holding his stomach and not being able to run.

Secondary to the trotmobile, although surprisingly important to the story, are the musical numbers. Forget that the lead singer, Coriander, sounds like a bad Canadian Idol contestant and you may find it quite fun. Since Vanilla becomes a de facto member of her group, the Garland Globetrotters, he has to learn their repertoire of flaccid, albeit slightly uplifting ballads on multiple instruments. It was a nice touch that all of the instruments play differently, and you have to routinely practise to improve your musical rating.

Typical to most Japanese RPG’s, the visuals are vibrant and cartoony, reminiscent of most children’s animé. The graphics are average and there are framerate issues, but there are scenes such as the march through the desert that stylistically fit the game perfectly. Steambot Chronicles has a lot of ideas and accomplishes them to varying degrees of success, but it’s a long game and anyone who plays will be impressed with the final result.

Cyber qualifying

The World Cyber Games Canadian Championships will be held at la Ronde from Sept. 1 to 3. Anyone who thinks they can take on the nation in Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Dead or Alive 4, Counter-Strike 1.6, Project Gotham Racing 3 and FIFA 06 should check out how to qualify at www.worldcybergames.ca. Winners get to play in the grand final in Monza, Italy in October.