Mechabellum
- September 26, 2024
- Game River
- 35h median play time
Get on Steam"Mechabellum" is a Sci-Fi strategy game that offers both single and multiplayer modes, with a focus on tactical combat and customizable mech units. The game boasts masterful gameplay, compelling visuals, and a good soundtrack, but its plot may not be for everyone and grinding is required. With plenty of humor and high replayability, it's a rewarding experience for those willing to learn and adapt in battle.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Mechabellum offers a unique blend of strategy and auto-battler mechanics, making it easy to learn but hard to master.
- The game features a diverse roster of units with various upgrades, allowing for deep tactical gameplay and numerous strategies.
- The visuals and sound design enhance the gameplay experience, making battles exciting and engaging.
- The matchmaking system can be frustrating, often pairing new players with much more experienced opponents, leading to unbalanced matches.
- The combat power system punishes players for losses, making it difficult to progress in the seasonal rewards, which can detract from the enjoyment.
- Some players report performance issues, particularly during intense battles with many units on screen, leading to lag and crashes.
- gameplay516 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Mechabellum is characterized by its strategic depth and engaging mechanics, blending elements of auto-battlers and real-time strategy without the need for high APM. Players appreciate the intuitive yet complex mechanics, which allow for diverse strategies and unit customization, although some express frustration with the game's reliance on RNG and certain balance issues. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and rewarding, appealing to both casual and competitive players, despite some calls for improvements in balance and clarity of mechanics.
“Mechabellum is an awesome strategy game that captures the epic sci-fi vibes and deep tactical gameplay of classics like Starcraft.”
“The gameplay itself is an intriguing twist on 'rock-paper-scissors' mechanics, requiring players to anticipate their opponent's moves and hire the right units for the job.”
“The strategic depth is incredible; you're constantly anticipating and countering your opponent's moves, which makes for some truly engaging gameplay.”
“If you like RTS or action games where you have a very hands-on approach to gameplay and expect the same from Mechabellum, then you'll absolutely hate it.”
“Overall gameplay is painful and frustrating by design.”
“The gameplay is slow and boring auto-chess with mechs.”
- graphics186 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals, detailed mech designs, and dynamic battlefields that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's aesthetic, which combines a futuristic mecha theme with smooth performance, although some have noted issues with optimization during intense battles. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making battles visually engaging and enjoyable to watch.
“The visuals are stunning, with detailed mechs and dynamic battlefields that make every skirmish a spectacle to behold.”
“From the moment you boot it up, the sleek visuals immediately set the tone for a sci-fi skirmish that feels as though it has been meticulously crafted.”
“With its advanced mechanics, stunning visuals, and deep strategic gameplay, it outshines every other early access title in the genre.”
“The graphics are far too cartoonish, with an over-saturation of colors; half the time you can't really see what's going on, and things are moving so fast that it makes the actual combat visuals a little pointless.”
“Game graphics are dated.”
“My PC is pulling 300 watts playing this game, and that is way too high for the level of graphics shown.”
- replayability68 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many reviewers highlighting the variety of units, strategies, and the dynamic nature of multiplayer matches that keep the experience fresh. Players appreciate the depth of strategy and the balance between skill and luck, contributing to an engaging and addictive gameplay loop. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers endless replay value, making it a worthwhile investment for both casual and competitive players.
“Nicely balanced, huge replay value, cool graphical design and just an excellent strategy game overall.”
“The game is addicting and really fun with endless replayability.”
“There are legitimately millions of different combinations for each game, so the replayability is endless.”
“Not much replayability long term though, haven't explored the community and was not drawn to it...”
“It's fun for a few hours, but considering its price, they're quite costly hours, very little replayability.”
“There are legitimately millions of different combinations for each game so the replayability is endless, and if the developers add seasons or different robots, that is even more replayability.”
- optimization63 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during large battles, leading to frustrating frame rate drops. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower settings and commend the game's potential, others highlight the need for further optimization and fixes, especially for high-stakes multiplayer matches. The developers are encouraged to address these performance concerns to enhance the overall gaming experience.
“The game is well optimized, beautiful cinema to watch after placing your units.”
“It’s easy to pick up for newcomers, but seasoned players will find endless room for skill expression and optimization.”
“You need not fear, this game is optimized well enough to play in 1v1s and 2v2s, even on a crappy laptop.”
“The performance/optimization is not good; using a nuke late game will really show you the issues.”
“Optimization is really bad; when there is a lot going on, you experience crazy FPS drops.”
“Performance could be better, as matches that last longer, and thus have more stuff on the field, drop in performance by quite a bit.”
- music37 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players noting its catchiness and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize its repetitiveness and limited variety, often leading them to mute it. Some players appreciate the epic feel of the soundtrack, likening it to a battle anthem, but express disappointment over the lack of diverse tracks. Overall, while the music is seen as a highlight by some, it is also viewed as a significant drawback due to its predictability and insufficient quantity.
“The music is, without a doubt, a highlight of the game.”
“Fun game with lots of cool units and a good soundtrack.”
“The music is catchy and memorable; I'll often find myself humming certain tunes from it.”
“Start game and esc does not bring up options to let me turn down their loud annoying music.”
“Probably my only complaint is that there's only one repetitive song for each gameplay phase, so I muted music almost immediately.”
“The music tracks get repetitive very quickly.”
- story34 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its complete lack of a narrative or storyline, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a single-player campaign or character development. While some enjoy the gameplay mechanics and strategic elements, the consensus is that the game feels shallow without any engaging story or missions to provide context for the mech battles. Overall, the absence of a compelling narrative significantly detracts from the experience for many players.
“I usually don't care much for games that completely leave out any storytelling or characters.”
“No cliche cinematic story beats, no a-b progression, no skin-you-alive microtransaction ubi-arts horseshit [*at present].”
“Or a story arc of some sort.”
“No story, no grind, no exploration.”
“This game severely lacks a storyline campaign.”
“Overall, I can see this suiting some people well, but for me the lack of story, and RNG unit selection, bias towards survivable units and almost exclusive focus on PvP makes this a no.”
- monetization30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game primarily features cosmetic microtransactions, which many players appreciate as it avoids pay-to-win mechanics. However, there are concerns about the potential shift to a free-to-play model with more intrusive monetization in the future, as well as the lack of transparency regarding in-app purchases. Overall, while the game is well-received for its gameplay, the monetization strategy has raised mixed feelings among users.
“The only microtransactions are just skins - no pay to win.”
“Solid strategy game with fair monetization (no battle pass thus far and no boosts or any stat-based stuff).”
“In-game purchases are purely cosmetic which I like; this game wouldn't be too great if it was pay-to-win, feels perfect as is.”
“This 'indie' game has in-app purchases yet that is not disclosed on their Steam page.”
“In-app purchases... huge prices for in-game currency and skins... this 'game' is nothing more than a cash grab.”
“They also mentioned the game going free-to-play at some point with microtransactions, so that in itself is a big red flag.”
- humor27 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying its absurdity and chaotic fun, especially in multiplayer settings. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of gameplay, such as unexpected unit interactions and the entertaining nature of live chat. However, some players express frustration with balance issues that can detract from the overall humor, indicating that while the game is often hilariously fun, it can also be inconsistent.
“The game is hilariously fun with friends, especially when you backline them.”
“If you’re ready to embrace the absurdity of tactical warfare with a side of ridiculousness, grab your friends, deploy those mechs, and prepare for a hilariously chaotic time!”
“My favorite feature is the cinematic camera; watching the battle from one of your unit's perspectives is hilarious and awesome.”
“The game isn't funny anymore with the random unit picks after the last update.”
“The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the game less enjoyable.”
“I used to laugh at the jokes, but now they seem stale and repetitive.”
- stability20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant graphical glitches, slow launch times, and disconnections, while others report a relatively bug-free experience and smooth performance. Many users note that the game is still in early access, leading to occasional minor bugs, but overall, some find it polished and enjoyable despite its early development stage. The consensus suggests that while there are stability issues for some, others have had a stable and engaging gameplay experience.
“As I said before, the game is in early access still, but it is not buggy. Rather than feature-overwhelming loads of content, it features a modest amount of polished units that function in very important ways.”
“All accompanied by nice graphics and virtually bug-free execution.”
“Fun game, great balance at first glance, and most importantly, it's a bug-free game close to being extremely polished.”
“Refunded due to graphical glitches; however, I was not able to see the same errors on any other play.”
“Buggy game with very slow launch time.”
“I really liked playing the game, even if it is very buggy and kept disconnecting in the worst situations, but getting banned for disconnecting issues caused by a buggy game is too much!”
- grinding18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the minimal progression systems and the freshness of each match, others find the lack of fulfilling grind and lengthy game durations tedious. Many express a desire for more engaging mechanics that keep them invested, contrasting with their experiences in traditional strategy games like Starcraft 2. Overall, the game offers a balance of quick matches and strategic depth, but the grinding aspect may not satisfy all players.
“There is almost no grinding, which is what usually keeps me playing a game, but in this one, I'm just in it for the gameplay.”
“This game isn't grindy; there's very minimal progression systems.”
“But in the end, I kept on grinding away and not having fun or feeling fulfillment.”
“Given games can take 30+ minutes, it can be extremely tedious to both slowly whittle down an opponent or yourself without any hope of a comeback.”
“Mechabellum has a random shake of the unit decks and specialties that keeps battles fresh, but when you have a favorite unit type and it is countered by melting point every game... it gets tedious.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as a mixed bag, oscillating between excitement and frustration. While the community is generally supportive and wholesome, the game's mechanics can lead to feelings of confusion and distress, particularly when players struggle to understand their losses. Overall, the emotional journey is characterized by moments of joy and disappointment, creating a rollercoaster of feelings throughout gameplay.
“Great game, all recommendations! Although sometimes it feels like an emotional rollercoaster... one minute I feel like I am playing some 5D chess, adrenaline pumping, and then I see the idiotic pathing of units or target priority of giant units, etc.”
“No game has ever made me feel more stupid and even lost when I don't understand why I've lost, or more, what I could've done to prevent it.”
“The game paired with a mostly fun community makes for wholesome, entertaining online combat.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Mechabellum is heavily influenced by its grimdark 40k tone, creating an engaging and immersive experience. While some players appreciate the strategic depth it offers in a more relaxed setting compared to traditional real-time strategy games, others feel that certain gameplay mechanics detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game is noted for its strong thematic presence, earning a solid 4/5 rating.
“The grimdark tone of 40k slots right into Mechabellum’s atmosphere like a bolt shell into a bolter.”
“However you decide to play it - I really enjoy the feeling of being super smart by solving a challenge/enemy counter and analyzing things in a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the hectic pace of real-time strategy games.”
“It can be used as a differentiator between good and bad players, but it ruins the atmosphere of the game.”
“However you decide to play it, I really enjoy the feeling of being super smart by solving a challenge/enemy counter and analyzing things in a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the hectic pace of real-time strategy games.”
