preview Mecha Break: Even stronger than Armored Core 6 from the makers of Elden Ring? We played this 100% multiplayer action game with big robots and it’s great!
Unveiled at the Game Awards 2023 and then at the recent Xbox Showcase, Mecha Break couldn’t have had a more literal name… It’s about mechas beating each other up in 100% multiplayer battles on the sheet. It’s scheduled for next year on PC Xbox Series, we got to play it!
Take out the colorful “Piou Piou” and the 300-ton armor! We were able to preview Mecha Breaka 100% multiplayer game where large robots (of the Gundam type) frolic on the sheet … As we write these lines, the title is in the testing phase on PC and will soon be available, from August 10 to 13, 2024, in open beta. For our part, we already have some battles (and victories, of course) under our belt. The opportunity to share with you our impressions on the subject.
Towards infinity and beyond
I’m not going to lie to you, Mecha Break left me pretty indifferent at first… I don’t like this kind of universe anymore and after the excellent Armored Core 6 – which I tested for JV – I had a hard time imagining a better action gameplay for our giant robots. But even though the sensations of the Amazing Seasun baby are not as flawless as the FromSoftware bomb (at least in its current form), I had a great time. After a few hours in 6v6, the only configuration in this version, Mecha Break impresses in two important points: gameplay and production. It’s dynamic, it’s fun in every direction – you can dash, glide, all with a generous stamina bar and unlimited ammo. Actually, it’s quite beautiful and well animated. It must be admitted, however, that the number of players present here raises concerns about readability | precision, especially when it comes to rushing towards the enemy to hit them in close combat. Otherwise, Mecha Break is off to a very good start. Amazing Seasun plans to add a 3v3 as well as a 60-player Battle Royale mode in the future (which looks pretty interesting for the genre).
Unity makes us strong
I forgot to do the introductions! Mecha Break is certainly a third-person action game with big robots (100% multiplayer, as we remember), but It is also and above all a kind of hero shooter. Even if it’s difficult to distinguish the personality of each metal carcass, each of the 13 mechas offered so far has its own armament and size. For example, we have the Alyses, a versatile fighter equipped with a machine gun and a melee weapon, the Falcon, which can zoom through the air at full speed while launching heavy missiles, and the Tricera, a sort of tank that can move very slowly but can rain bullets (literally). We also came across a robot that can double up to attract enemies, or even a character dedicated almost exclusively to healing the team.
In short, while Mecha Break does not yet have a more precise date than 2025 (on PC and Xbox Series), Amazing Seasun already offers a solid, varied cast that doesn’t fall short in terms of character design either!
Vary to govern better
Familiarizing yourself with all the powers in the squad is definitely a must. As in most hero shooters, each Mecha Break team must not have a duplicate, but most importantly (and this is rare) You cannot change characters in the middle of the game. A fact that will perhaps put off some – and which will perhaps be changed in the future – but we on our side are unanimous. This forces us to think even more about the composition of our team, especially when we take into account another factor: currently, a map is synonymous with a game mode … In Misra Canyon, for example, you will have to collect launch keys and download them to the center of the map. At the Mercury Shipyard, you will have to escort a cargo ship from point A to point B (Overwatch style). And on the outskirts of the celestial city of Gracelyn, a team deathmatch will take place. All the more reason to prepare well: depending on the playing field and the objective sought, certain characters will be better expressed. In fact, each map we went through was wonderfully different – both in terms of level design and setting. The artistic direction is also making an impact! Finally, we mention some animations and cutscenes that are a real plus, such as the one that changes the Alyses from heavy to light armor or the one that celebrates an unlocked mecha.
Potholes on the launch pad?
And as for progression, how is it going? If each robot’s arsenal seems well locked (it’s a hero shooter, not Armored Core, where you can create the mecha of your dreams with different parts), there seems to be room for alternative versions of the cast, like a tab that will house new weapons. For our part, we haven’t achieved anything like that. The Battle Pass, which seems to be taking shape with a free path and another premium path, gave us paint kits – to personalize our iron giant – as well as loot boxes. These contain Matrix credits to buy new mecha models and “components” ordered by rarity levels that provide passive bonuses. We therefore have some reservations about the economic model of this Mecha-Break… We hope we are not heading towards a pay-to-win strategy!
No impressions
Months before its release (the title is currently scheduled for 2025), Mecha Break is already proving to be solid! Its mecha battles are neat, dynamic and they have nothing to be ashamed of in the face of FromSoftware’s master class in the latest Armored Core. Especially because the project of the Amazing Seasun studio stands out for its talent… It is a 100% multiplayer hero shooter, where each robot has different skills that we enjoyed understanding. Even the technology and the artistic direction have their little impact. So far there are two unknowns: the economic model and the other game modes (including Battle Royale). But nothing to dampen our enthusiasm. As of today, this Mecha Break is already promising.
Editorial opinion
Promising
Table of Contents