Robotech: The Macross Saga

Written by Kyle Williams on May 22, 2002

First Impressions: It's about damn time.

With how much of a following Robotech has in this country, it is amazing that we have never actually been able to play a game based on the series. We were close once. GameTek had been developing a N64 Robotech title called Robotech: Crystal Dreams before they went belly up. I know that the prospect of that game managed to sell at least one system. So, for me, Robotech: The Macross Saga has been about six years coming. What's best about it though is that it is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, what with the major console release of Robotech: Battlecry coming in time for Christmas.

Robotech: The Macross Saga is going to be coming home this September for play on your Game Boy Advance. The game is shaping up to be a straightforward 2D shooter with some pretty sharp graphics. You are going to be able to take to the skies as either Rick Hunter, Roy Fokker, Max Sterling, or his lovely alien wife, Miriya. Hopefully the game will be able to maintain the kind of speed and intensity of the classic Gradius games and mix in a healthy dose of Zentradi butt to kick. True, this game probably is going to rely more on the gameplay than it is the storyline from the show, but a good shooter is still a good shooter.

The one feature that has me really excited about Robotech: The Macross Saga is the ability to link four GBAs together for some intense space combat. The television series always managed to have insane battles and getting four players into the fray should help to recreate that feeling. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot else that has been released on this title yet. Maybe TDK will throw us a little bone at E3 this week.