​Hardcore Mecha Review

​Hardcore Mecha Review
By Kevin Mitchell  |  Posted: January 27, 2020

Formerly a successful Kickstarter game, Hardcore Mecha (originally titled Code: Hardcore), developed by RocketPunch Games, launched on Steam in late June 2019. The latest release brings the game to PlayStation 4 in North America (and Europe), following its earlier PS4 release in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. As a 2D action-platformer, you'll pilot giant mechanical suits or mecha, with clear inspiration from titles like Super Robot Wars, Metal Slug, and the classic anime Mobile Suit Gundam. There's even a die-cast/plastic collectible figure of Thunderbolt, the main (and incredibly cool-looking) mecha from the campaign.

Hardcore Mecha features three distinct game modes: campaign, simulation (survival), and multiplayer. In the campaign, you play as a mercenary named Tarethur, tasked with locating a missing U.N.F. intelligence officer on Mars. Her kidnapping becomes painfully obvious as you progress through the narrative, facing impossible odds and uncovering a deep-seated conspiracy across 18 stages. The highly varied and detailed environments keep the action engaging, as you'll fly through the vast vacuum of space, engage in combat on the planet's surface, fight deep underwater, and even take control of a massive space frigate. Animated sequences emphasize important events, seamlessly woven between gameplay segments.

The single-player campaign offers both normal and easy difficulty settings, without locking you into your selection. Easy mode is ideal for unlocking the survival mode (which becomes available after completing the story) or simply experiencing the narrative. You can always replay missions on either difficulty setting. On easy mode, you receive plenty of healing items that instantly replenish your health, making you nearly indestructible as long as you use them before destruction. Completing missions earns points to unlock new equipable mods, including improved shielding, faster reloads, new primary and secondary weapons, and more. Hidden weapon blueprints are scattered throughout, typically in secret passageways, granting access to some of the game's most impressive items, such as massive balls of electricity that devastate enemy mecha.

As a platformer, the game emphasizes verticality and mobility, utilizing your mecha's hovering and boost capabilities. This approach keeps levels feeling unique, rather than having you simply walk across flat environments until reaching the end. The old-school arcade-style space encounters are fantastic, reminiscent of when space shooters relied on fast reflexes and featured screens filled with enemies and bullets. Auto-scrolling elements in certain stages can be problematic if you're not paying close attention, as getting stuck behind enemies or environmental obstacles can result in instant death. One notable stage puts you at the helm of a slow-moving but powerful frigate, dodging telegraphed enemy cannon fire while destroying multiple mecha simultaneously.

Hardcore Mecha gameplay screenshot

Occasionally, you'll need to exit your mecha to explore interior corridors on foot, engaging terrorists and rescuing hostages. During these segments, you're considerably more vulnerable but equipped with sufficient firepower to handle any situation. You can even dismount during multiplayer fights, potentially surprising opponents with a handheld bazooka attack.

Multiplayer supports up to four players both locally and online. Combat becomes quite fast-paced, with mechas boosting through the air, executing combo strings using supporting firepower, and finishing off opponents with melee strikes. Regardless of player count, the screen always splits into four equal parts. This means that in two-player mode, only the top half of the screen is utilized, leaving the bottom half empty.

Hardcore Mecha multiplayer screenshot

The game offers free-for-all and team battle options across six playable maps. Each mecha has an assigned type indicating its strength, such as assault, sniper, or melee. Weapon loadouts and base stats are separated into three categories - power, armor, and mobility - further emphasizing optimal usage strategies. Players can unlock additional colors and mechas by leveling up and reaching paragon levels, though these unlocks are limited to online battles only. Online play includes options to create your own game, join a room via room ID, or use matchmaking. At the time of review, finding matches on PlayStation 4 proved difficult, though local gameplay remained accessible.

Hardcore Mecha combat screenshot

The simulation battle mode offers wave-based survival gameplay, where destroying enemies adds precious seconds to your continuously depleting timer. All 40 mechas in Hardcore Mecha can be unlocked and utilized, though the grind to unlock everything is substantial. Each mecha starts relatively weak but can be enhanced using simulation points earned by surviving enemy waves. Bosses, marked by skull indicators above their health bars, drop items (including healing supplies) and weapons for subsequent attempts. An online or local cooperative version of this mode would have been welcome, especially given the popularity of horde-based survival modes. While it adds longevity to the game, it lacks the cooperative element that typically drives engagement with unlockables.

Simply Put

Hardcore Mecha's engaging single-player narrative, fast-paced 2D side-scrolling action, multiplayer options, and impressive mecha designs create a well-rounded experience. The game performs and looks excellent on PlayStation 4 Pro. While the current lack of online players is disappointing, an active Discord community exists for organizing matches, though it primarily caters to the PC release.

Note: ​Hardcore Mecha was reviewed on PlayStation 4. A digital copy of the game was provided by the publisher/developer.
​Hardcore Mecha 8

Formerly a successful Kickstarter game, Hardcore Mecha (originally titled Code: Hardcore), developed by RocketPunch Games, launched on Steam in late June 2019. The latest release brings the game to PlayStation 4 in North America (and Europe), following its earlier PS4 release in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. As a 2D action-platformer, you'll pilot giant mechanical suits or mecha, with clear inspiration from titles like Super Robot Wars, Metal Slug, and the classic anime Mobile Suit Gundam. There's even a die-cast/plastic collectible figure of Thunderbolt, the main (and incredibly cool-looking) mecha from the campaign.

Hardcore Mecha features three distinct game modes: campaign, simulation (survival), and multiplayer. In the campaign, you play as a mercenary named Tarethur, tasked with locating a missing U.N.F. intelligence officer on Mars. Her kidnapping becomes painfully obvious as you progress through the narrative, facing impossible odds and uncovering a deep-seated conspiracy across 18 stages. The highly varied and detailed environments keep the action engaging, as you'll fly through the vast vacuum of space, engage in combat on the planet's surface, fight deep underwater, and even take control of a massive space frigate. Animated sequences emphasize important events, seamlessly woven between gameplay segments.

The single-player campaign offers both normal and easy difficulty settings, without locking you into your selection. Easy mode is ideal for unlocking the survival mode (which becomes available after completing the story) or simply experiencing the narrative. You can always replay missions on either difficulty setting. On easy mode, you receive plenty of healing items that instantly replenish your health, making you nearly indestructible as long as you use them before destruction. Completing missions earns points to unlock new equipable mods, including improved shielding, faster reloads, new primary and secondary weapons, and more. Hidden weapon blueprints are scattered throughout, typically in secret passageways, granting access to some of the game's most impressive items, such as massive balls of electricity that devastate enemy mecha.

As a platformer, the game emphasizes verticality and mobility, utilizing your mecha's hovering and boost capabilities. This approach keeps levels feeling unique, rather than having you simply walk across flat environments until reaching the end. The old-school arcade-style space encounters are fantastic, reminiscent of when space shooters relied on fast reflexes and featured screens filled with enemies and bullets. Auto-scrolling elements in certain stages can be problematic if you're not paying close attention, as getting stuck behind enemies or environmental obstacles can result in instant death. One notable stage puts you at the helm of a slow-moving but powerful frigate, dodging telegraphed enemy cannon fire while destroying multiple mecha simultaneously.

Hardcore Mecha gameplay screenshot

Occasionally, you'll need to exit your mecha to explore interior corridors on foot, engaging terrorists and rescuing hostages. During these segments, you're considerably more vulnerable but equipped with sufficient firepower to handle any situation. You can even dismount during multiplayer fights, potentially surprising opponents with a handheld bazooka attack.

Multiplayer supports up to four players both locally and online. Combat becomes quite fast-paced, with mechas boosting through the air, executing combo strings using supporting firepower, and finishing off opponents with melee strikes. Regardless of player count, the screen always splits into four equal parts. This means that in two-player mode, only the top half of the screen is utilized, leaving the bottom half empty.

Hardcore Mecha multiplayer screenshot

The game offers free-for-all and team battle options across six playable maps. Each mecha has an assigned type indicating its strength, such as assault, sniper, or melee. Weapon loadouts and base stats are separated into three categories - power, armor, and mobility - further emphasizing optimal usage strategies. Players can unlock additional colors and mechas by leveling up and reaching paragon levels, though these unlocks are limited to online battles only. Online play includes options to create your own game, join a room via room ID, or use matchmaking. At the time of review, finding matches on PlayStation 4 proved difficult, though local gameplay remained accessible.

Hardcore Mecha combat screenshot

The simulation battle mode offers wave-based survival gameplay, where destroying enemies adds precious seconds to your continuously depleting timer. All 40 mechas in Hardcore Mecha can be unlocked and utilized, though the grind to unlock everything is substantial. Each mecha starts relatively weak but can be enhanced using simulation points earned by surviving enemy waves. Bosses, marked by skull indicators above their health bars, drop items (including healing supplies) and weapons for subsequent attempts. An online or local cooperative version of this mode would have been welcome, especially given the popularity of horde-based survival modes. While it adds longevity to the game, it lacks the cooperative element that typically drives engagement with unlockables.

Simply Put

Hardcore Mecha's engaging single-player narrative, fast-paced 2D side-scrolling action, multiplayer options, and impressive mecha designs create a well-rounded experience. The game performs and looks excellent on PlayStation 4 Pro. While the current lack of online players is disappointing, an active Discord community exists for organizing matches, though it primarily caters to the PC release.


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