Was Steel Battalion worth it?

[OilFreak]

You know, Steel Battalion for the Xbox? The game with the hunk of a controller?

Can anyone who played it like this give their input? I'm curious if the actual game justified the behemoth required to play it

 

[esmith13]

I remember absolutely LOVING this game back when it came out. I wish I still had it. It was the first true simulation style game I played with physical controls that matched what was in the game. I have no idea if I'd still feel the same way now if I got to play it again, but man, it was frickin awesome back then!!!

 

[Robert Newbie]

I appreciate topics like these because I had a fascination with 6th gen peripherals back in the day.

There was the headset for LifeLine, the GunCon 2's for Time Crisis II and 3, the Guitar Hero guitar, the Buzz controllers for Buzz games, and the Sony EyeToy. On the Xbox end, nothing looked more complicated than the Steel Battalion controller. I always wondered what it'd be like. Since it goes for $400+ USD online, I may always be left wondering.

The 6th gen is arguably the best gen the industry ever had.

 

[esmith13]

I was always fascinated with the pop'n music controller (5th/6th gen console versions) too for some reason. Bigger than I thought it was going to be.

 

[Skv0ra]

You know, Steel Battalion for the Xbox? The game with the hunk of a controller?
View attachment 510695
Can anyone who played it like this give their input? I'm curious if the actual game justified the behemoth required to play it

Having 2 copies - VERY much so. Wish the PC usb driver was better than it is, but perhaps some day never....

Just the game itself - felt perfect for what it set out to do. Probably to-date the only perma-death, save erased mech game and likely to remain so. Controller is a sight to behold and feels great.

The real question is whether its worth $300-400 today, and that's a tough one. If PC port gets worked on, it would be one helluva way to play all the mech warriors, but it's still quite the experience as it is right now. If you got cash to burn, I'd get it before they're all gone.

 

[Skv0ra]

I appreciate topics like these because I had a fascination with 6th gen peripherals back in the day.

There was the headset for LifeLine, the GunCon 2's for Time Crisis II and 3, the Guitar Hero guitar, the Buzz controllers for Buzz games, and the Sony EyeToy. On the Xbox end, nothing looked more complicated than the Steel Battalion controller. I always wondered what it'd be like. Since it goes for $400+ USD online, I may always be left wondering.

The 6th gen is arguably the best gen the industry ever had.

Oh was TCII glorious with 2 GunCons! You could play single player akimbo like an absolute badass.

 

[Robert Newbie]

Oh was TCII glorious with 2 GunCons! You could play single player akimbo like an absolute badass.

You know. It was a shame that Namco removed that feature for Time Crisis 3. It locked multiplayer sessions to splitscreen, which was ridiculous on a CRT. We still did it a few times in college, but it was not ideal. TC2 was more convenient.

I forget, did Time Crisis 3 support the two PS2's, two TV's, two copies of TC3, two's GunCon 2's connection thing? I think TC2 had that capability, but good luck finding two TC2 fans within close proximity to one another.

 

[Skv0ra]

You know. It was a shame that Namco removed that feature for Time Crisis 3. It locked multiplayer sessions to splitscreen, which was ridiculous on a CRT. We still did it a few times in college, but it was not ideal. TC2 was more convenient.

I forget, did Time Crisis 3 support the two PS2's, two TV's, two copies of TC3, two's GunCon 2's connection thing? I think TC2 had that capability, but good luck finding two TC2 fans within close proximity to one another.

Good question actually, I have no idea since I never had 2 ps2 nor 2 copies of each. How would that even connect together?

 

[esmith13]

You had to have two older model PS2s with the iLink port (basically a mini firewire port if you're old enough to remember that standard) and an iLink cable (mini firewire cable) as well as two of everything else. You could do this in both Time Crisis 2 and Time Crisis 3.

It was a super fun experience if you had the resources to make it happen!!!

 

[Robert Newbie]

Good question actually, I have no idea since I never had 2 ps2 nor 2 copies of each. How would that even connect together?

I had to look it up, the original PS2 unit had an iLink IEEE1394 port. Apparently, both Time Crisis II and Time Crisis 3 had this feature. As of this posting, PCSX2 does not have the iLink functionality implemented.

 

[esmith13]

PCSX2 can't use real guncons either so it's kinda moot via emulation

 

[Robert Newbie]

PCSX2 can't use real guncons either so it's kinda moot via emulation

Not to mention the CRT/LCD business with the video cable attachment.

You can buy Wiimotes and a light gun-style case, and there's Sinden and Aimtrak light guns that go for about $120 USD. I don't think the Sinden or Aimtrak options have a D-pad, like the actual GunCon 2, so you'd have to assemble a controller+light gun solution for games like Resident Evil: Dead Aim.

TL;DR: Life is difficult for a PS2 light gun game enthusiast.

 

[esmith13]

Not to mention the CRT/LCD business with the video cable attachment.

You can buy Wiimotes and a light gun-style case, and there's Sinden and Aimtrak light guns that go for about $120 USD. I don't think the Sinden or Aimtrak options have a D-pad, like the actual GunCon 2, so you'd have to assemble a controller+light gun solution for games like Resident Evil: Dead Aim.

TL;DR: Life is difficult for a PS2 light gun game enthusiast.

My Sinden's have dpads, as do my A.E. Lightguns. Wiimotes paired with the dolphin bar are okish too.
None of those are "properly" supported in pcsx2 either though. They all only work as fancy mice in that emulator.