Steambot Chronicles
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| Steambot Chronicles | |
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| Developer(s) | Irem Software Engineering |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus 505 Games |
| Release date(s) | Japan: 2005-06-30 US: 2006-06-23 UK: 2006-10-13 |
| Genre(s) | Action-Adventure Sandbox |
| Mode(s) | Multi player |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | 1 × DVD-ROM |
Steambot Chronicles ( ポンコツ浪漫大活劇バンピートロット:Ponkotsu Roman Daikatsugeki Bumpy Trot?) is an action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2 that features a sandbox style of play. The game was developed by Irem Software Engineering in Japan and is published by Atlus. Irem later published a puzzle spin-off, Blocks Club with Bumpy Trot.
A sequel, Bumpy Trot 2, has recently been announced and was shown at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show.
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[edit] Gameplay
The game begins by asking the player personality questions, and then a scene where the main character, Vanilla Bean, wakes up on a beached shipwreck, and there is a girl named Connie standing over him. The player can choose how to converse with her, being either nice or mean. The pair are then attacked by a strange machine, and the damage it causes blocks the path to Connie's bus. Vanilla stumbles across an old run-down Trotmobile, a type of mecha resembling a bipedal automobile. After reading the operation manual, Vanilla manages to move the rock. The pair then discover Connie's bus is gone, so she asks Vanilla to drive her home.
From here on out, what happens in the game is entirely up to the player. Vanilla could take Connie home, get to know her friends and join the band that she is the lead singer of, or leave her there and join a pirate gang bent on landing on the moon. This ensures that every play through of Steambot Chronicles can be unique, and ensures a very immersive game world.
[edit] Character Names
Most of the characters' names are names of herbs, spices, flowers, or seasonings (Vanilla, Coriander, Dandelion, Basil, Rosemary, etc.). This is actually satired in an event where in Coriander's next door neighbor, Ms. Echinacea's room the player examines a number of jars containing a seasoning "or a person, it's hard to tell".
[edit] "Hot Cocoa"
One side quest in the game allows Vanilla to date one of three girls. If Vanilla "makes his move" on the girl, she'll ask him if he would like some "hot cocoa". This is obviously a reference to (as well as a parody of) the Hot Coffee mod in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
[edit] Trotmobiles
The mechs, or "Trotmobiles" as they are called in the game, are the main meat of the game. In order to get from town to town near the beginning, you must use your Trotmobile to traverse the countryside. The machine functions as more than a simple mode of transportation. Between towns, many other trotmobiles, many not really recognizable as such, are dispersed, such as the Desert Hornets' various models, the bandits outside of Happy Garland, and even the miners within the various ruins. These, obviously, must be destroyed.
The Trotmobile is also used to haul materials. When visiting an area such as a forest, there may be someone who will stock your trotmobile with lumber, which you can then transport to someone who needs it and sell it to them. Various back attachments are involved in this, such as a flatbed, carriage, basket, and a tank. Many people don't take this route, as it involves likely spending more money on gasoline for your trotmobile, but others believe it to be a good break from the battles.
Trotmobile battles are the meat of the game. There is an arena system, many dozens of parts, and the allure of being able to craft the best Trotmboile. Many parts are easily found, as they can be bought from stores, while others are rare and must either be purchased with arena medals or created from two other pieces, such as the Whip Arm, which requires you to be hauling silk and have a Claw arm, as well as be in the Desert Hornet's base.
Many styles can be created as well. Small trotmobiles are obviously faster, but cannot carry as much weight, and as such are prone to low HP totals. The smaller models, involving smaller leg types and the Small to Medium bodies, are effective against larger opponents, such as the earlier mentioned bandits, who use Trotmobiles at least three times your Trot's size. Meanwhile, larger Trotmobiles are more heavy-duty, bestowing more HP while lowering speed. Due to the stronger leg units, and likely the Large frame used, some of the heaviest equipment can be used, such as the Wide Flatbed back frame and Bazooka arm frame.
[edit] Music
The role of music in Steambot Chronicles is almost as a chapter ender. For instance, after the first series of events, which involves the meeting of Basil, Fennel, and the rest of the band, before the attack on Nefroburg they play the first song of the game. Eventually, you are given the sheet music to the song, and from then on you can play for money.
There are a multitude of instruments in the game, all ranging in difficulty. Many place the Trumpet at the bottom of the difficulty ladder because of the control scheme, and place the Accordion at the top, for the same reason. A few of the instruments are the before mentioned Accordion and Trumpet, Piano, Harmonica, and Guitar.
Music also serves, as before stated, to pull in money. With sheet music in hand, you can play at any place you can stop your Trotmobile and hopefully attract a crowd. Depending on your performance, you can earn a large amount of money.
As for the genre of music, it could be classified as light rock/almost pop. There is a point where you can play some dated rock, complete with flashing lights, electric guitars, and a set of bandmates that are...not quite metal, but not old rock.
