Shogo: Mobile Armor Division

I recently bought the retail version of this game and I thought the game was very fun. Its very fast paced, so fast paced in fact that it cannot be compared to any other fast paced FPS like unreal, or quake. the game is innovative on its own. If you know about this game you know that you play in a mech robot and on foot. The seperation of these two types of gameplay keeps the game very varied having this type of gameplay keeps the game from being repetitive. TIP save very often, you can die in one shot especially when playing out of the mech

This game had not much of a chance, as most action first person shooters released around 1998. Half-Life dominated the market and if I have not received this game free with a purchase of a local magazine around 1999, I would have never have played it. And what a shame would it have been. Because Shogo: MAD, is one of the funnest and interesting shooters I have ever played. It's Anime inspired visuals and story are still as rare sight as when it came out. And for whatever twisted reason I still remember the tune of the J-pop song accompanying the intro. Too bad a planned expansion to this game was scrapped before release. Sometimes It's all about timing. A few more months or a few less, might have allowed this gem to shine. Alas, it fell under Half-Life's shadow...

I distinctly remember this game being a BLAST to play. Tons of action, an intriguing plot, and Japanese anime influences abound. Even if anime isn't your thing, there's still PLENTY of run-and-gun action to whet your appetite for some FPS action. The 'giant robot' mode is really just a modified FPS mode: there's still human player characters, but they (and the level around you, when you pilot the giant robot) are scaled down such that they appear tiny. So the people are still detailed, but the game otherwise plays the same. This is a GOOD thing; that means it's actually NOT very difficult to control your mech, but you still get that 'mecha piloting' feel because of good level design! Plus you get some really badass weapons. My one really big gripe is that the AI seems to be a bit lacking, especially in the on-foot missions (as noted in other reviews here). While not a deal breaker for me, it can occasionally become a tad frustrating. But don't let this deter you: this game is TRULY one of the great "classics" of PC gaming and must not be missed! Did I mention how much fun multiplayer is, too? Such a blast...

This was the game I got for my very first PC (as in MY pc; in my room not for family use!). Boy did I have fun with this one. It had the violence, the blood, the kewl tunes. It was a time when anime was booming big time and shooters were exploding into a new era of freedom and detail. I have a very fond attachment to this game. It was a fast paced shooter with some amazing weaponry and fun and clever little details such as watching wee-sized baddies toss around like bloody badminton birdies after being hosed by mecha guns. It did have its down sides though. Mainly I always found the driving mode wonky. It was like being on a sled with wheels on ice. Also I found the game to be rather short overall. Other than these things, I thought this game was truly awesome and it was a great lead in to Unreal Tournament and Half Life (the shooters I got after finding out how wicked sick the genre was with this game!). It is a shame that it did not ever get the glory (and sequels) it deserved!

Not many games approach the mech genre from the perspective of a japanese anime. While the plot isn't exactly going to leave a deep impression on you, it's combat and mech segments that are the most fun. Inspired by Robotech, Macross, Appleseed and more, it's a competent FPS that's good to kill some time (or mechs) with.