From the moment you first boot it up to be greeted by grimy neon visuals and Makeup And Vanity Set's pounding soundtrack, Brigador lets you know what you're in for. You'll prowl through run-down ghettos and palatial estates, in the cockpit of a mech walker, tank, or "agrav" personal hovercraft, with one objective: soften up the city of Solo Nobre for interplanetary invasion by destroying everything that gets in your way. There's a wealth of content on offer here: dozens of pilots who modify difficulty and payout amounts, vehicles from the vast and impervious Treehouse to the tiny but noble Mongoose, and an array of weapons ranging from explosive cannons and machine guns to laser shotguns and heat rays, with the ability to combine them to your liking in the partially-randomised Freelance mode. There's also a Campaign mode where each mission uses a set selection of vehicles and weapons, so you can try before you buy. There's a learning curve to aiming and moving (though there's a variety of control schemes to choose from) and an engaging tutorial will make sure you get the basics. The story isn't front-and-centre, mainly told through weapon/vehicle descriptions (a la Dark Souls) and purchasable Lore. It's an interesting setting, and the audiobook included with the Deluxe edition is compelling, but the developers know you're here to wreak havoc in a mech, and they don't interrupt the action with a load of cutscenes. With the Up-Armored Edition adding tons of new stuff and improving what was already there, including some graphical enhancements, there's never been a better time to strap in. Welcome, Brigador. Great Leader has died. Liberate Solo Nobre by any means necessary.
