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 a unique blend of on-foot and mech gameplay, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- The soundtrack is catchy and complements the game's atmosphere, adding to its nostalgic charm.
- Despite its technical issues, the game retains a lot of soul and humor, making it enjoyable for fans of classic FPS games.
- The game is plagued by significant technical issues on modern systems, often requiring extensive tinkering to run properly.
- Graphics and character models are outdated, making it difficult for new players to appreciate the game compared to modern titles.
- The difficulty spikes between Normal and Hard modes can be frustrating, with some encounters feeling unfair due to critical hit mechanics.
- story18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its compelling elements and potential for expansion, while others find it confusing and poorly presented, often overshadowed by gameplay and humor. Despite its attempts at depth, many players struggle to grasp the plot, leading to a sense of forgetfulness regarding the narrative. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary aspect to the engaging gameplay and soundtrack.
“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.”
“This game features both foot and mech stages, gives you a large ammunition supply, and also lets you choose between two plot forks closer to the end of the game.”
“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.”
“The story is also rather confusing and convoluted.”
“Oh sure, the game will try to make you care about the story, but more likely than not, you will find yourself immediately forgetting what the plot is and laughing at all the cheesy and adult lines between the characters.”
- 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 loading problems, freezing, and crashes, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the unique 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, 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.”
“If you are some zoomer 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.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and well-composed soundtrack that complements the game's art style and levels. However, some players experienced technical issues that prevented them from enjoying the music, leading to frustration. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally appreciated, its effectiveness can be hindered by performance problems.
“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 characterized by a mix of on-foot and mech-controlled action, but it suffers from repetitive elements and dated mechanics that may not appeal to newer players. While some find the combat engaging and the environments diverse, others criticize the level design and overall execution as uninspired. Despite its challenges, the game offers a blend of humor and a unique experience that can be enjoyable for those who appreciate its style.
“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.”
“Other than that the game is really good; it has amazing humor, a great story, awesome gameplay combat, great sounds, etc.”
“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 cheesy lines and entertaining scenarios, such as a cat quest and amusing boss fights, contributes to its reputation as a hilariously enjoyable old-school mecha shooter.
“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 feels outdated and 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 the consistent performance; it rarely experiences any issues.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, particularly highlighting the heartfelt and humorous nature of the credits, which adds a memorable touch to 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
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is viewed negatively, with users perceiving it as a cash grab that undermines the nostalgic value of the game. The lack of direct communication from developers further frustrates players, leading them to seek answers in forums.
“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 is so aggressive that it ruins the overall experience. It's like they care more about profits than player satisfaction.”
“I feel like I'm being constantly pushed to spend money. It's frustrating and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”