Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
- April 14, 2017
- Monolith Productions
In "Shogo: Mobile Armor Division," play as Sanjuro Makabe, a commander in the UCA Security Force, and pilot a Mobile Combat Armor. Your mission is to assassinate the rebel leader Gabriel, whose group, The Fallen, threatens the balance of power on Cronus, the only known source of the powerful energy source Kato. The action takes place on Cronus and the Leviathan, the UCA's flagship.
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing story with unexpected twists, which is a rarity for shooters of its time.
- Players appreciate the nostalgic value and unique gameplay mechanics, allowing for both on-foot and mecha combat.
- The humor and dialogue are well-received, providing a fun and memorable experience for players.
- The game is plagued by technical issues on modern systems, often requiring extensive tinkering to get it to run properly.
- Many players find the graphics and controls outdated, making it difficult to enjoy the game without frustration.
- The gameplay can feel unbalanced, with critical hits leading to unfair deaths, and the level design is often criticized for being confusing and repetitive.
- story18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story of the game is noted for its intriguing twists and well-written plot, especially for a title from 1998, making it one of the early examples of story-driven first-person shooters. However, many players find the presentation lacking, with intermission text scrolls and convoluted progression leading to confusion about the plot. While some appreciate the humor and action, others feel the narrative is forgettable and overshadowed by gameplay elements.
“However, the story is intriguing and has some twists, something rare in a shooter of that time.”
“I grew up playing Half-Life and completely missed this one, but after playing it, I can appreciate that this was one of the early examples of story-driven FPS games.”
“Its compelling story, in-game cinematics, nearly continuous action, and unique armaments add new life to the FPS genre.”
“Story is alright but not presented very well; I'm not a big fan of these intermission text scrolls.”
“Games not that hard, music slaps though, and I still don't know what the story is after all these years.”
“The story is also rather confusing and convoluted.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and poorly executed, particularly in comparison to contemporaries like Unreal and Half-Life. Many users report technical issues such as freezing and crashing, which further detract from the experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the unique anime mecha-inspired art style and find enjoyment in the gameplay, suggesting that those willing to overlook the graphics may still discover a hidden gem.
“Great sound/music and art style...”
“With that being said, this is one of the most unique first-person shooters I've ever played because of its anime mecha-inspired aesthetics.”
“Played it through and thought the graphics are old school; it was still an awesome game with some comic relief in it.”
“The graphical presentation is not very good, especially the character models, especially considering that Unreal and Half-Life came out the same year.”
“While its mecha-filled universe initially intrigued me, the outdated graphics and clunky controls quickly soured the experience.”
“Graphics: dated and horrible all things considered.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchiness and quality, with many reviewers highlighting its anime-inspired and 90's techno-military influences that complement the game's art style and levels. However, some players experienced technical issues that affected their ability to enjoy the soundtrack, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact on the gameplay experience.
“Great sound/music and art style...”
“Very catchy soundtrack.”
“However, the soundtrack is fairly decent and does match the style of the levels pretty well.”
“I didn't know how to fix it and I played throughout the game with no in-game music and I wish I hadn't.”
“Music doesn't work for this game.”
“You have to fix no mouse recognition, missing soundtrack, windowed mode, often crashes and abysmal performance.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring both on-foot and mech-controlled segments that some find repetitive and dated, while others appreciate the variety and challenge it offers. While the environments are generally engaging and the combat enjoyable, issues with level design and mechanics can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the game is noted for its humor and sound design, though the story may be confusing for some players.
“Gameplay is split into two types: one is on-foot, and the other sees you controlling a giant mech (it's like Gundam but in FPS).”
“The gameplay is plain wicked - with no environments ever repeating (except for some cities), it's always fun to see what's around the corner.”
“The gameplay is fun and challenging.”
“The promise of high-octane action falls flat due to repetitive gameplay and uninspired level design.”
“If you are someone born after 2000 and pick this game up in 2022 or any year later, then you're going to be met with horribly dated graphics and janky mechanics.”
“There is one critical problem with the gameplay of Shogo that becomes immediately apparent and frustrates the player.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, featuring fun and hilarious dialogue that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements, including funny moments during gameplay and a heartfelt ending in the credits, which adds to the charm. The blend of humor with engaging gameplay, including quirky character interactions and absurd situations, makes it a standout aspect of the game.
“Great game, fun and hilarious dialogue.”
“8/10 great game, just make sure you don't skip the credits because it's actually pretty funny and heartfelt at the end.”
“Other than that the game is really good; it has amazing humor, great story, awesome gameplay, (a cat quest), great sounds, etc.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with users reporting issues such as no mouse recognition, missing soundtracks, frequent crashes, and poor performance on Windows 10. Players experience frame drops and stuttering even in menus, and the absence of fullscreen mode, along with the need for a "widescreen fix," further detracts from the experience. Overall, the game is considered poorly optimized for modern systems.
“You have to fix no mouse recognition, missing soundtrack, windowed mode, often crashes, and abysmal performance.”
“This is not optimized at all for Windows 10, at least.”
“But it is far from being satisfying: frame drops (even in the option menus), stuttering, no fullscreen, and a top bar on the screen to make it worse.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional stability and minimal bugs, making it one of the most reliable monolith titles available.
“The most stable and bug-free monolith game I've ever played.”
“This game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it enhances the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, particularly highlighted in the credits, which are described as both funny and heartfelt, enhancing the overall experience.
“8/10 great game, just make sure you don't skip the credits because it's actually pretty funny and heartfelt at the end.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over a lack of transparency and support, often directing players to forums for answers.
“Their only response is 'check the forums!' This is just a pathetic attempt at a cash grab for what was a pretty nostalgic game.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”