Super fighting robots.
I cut my teeth on mech games during the PSOne era. I loved Armored Core. The designing of the mechs and the mission structure really kept my brain popping for hours. I fell off of that simply due to time constraints over the years, but nothing has really grabbed me the same way since. Daemon X Machina is the closest it has come since then. While this might be Nintendo’s quietest first party release in 2019, it is one that resonates with my nostalgia on a lot of levels.
One thing it does not share with earlier Armored Core games though is its aesthetic. This is about as Manga as it gets. The mech designs feel like they were ripped from your favorite anime, while the intro and music just drive that point home. I like the look of the game a lot, but it is not without its shortcomings. The Switch is not secretly some overpowered console. Daemon X Machina drives that point home. While it gets points for style, the technical prowess of the console has a hard time keeping up. Some models leave a lot to be desired, while the frame rate can fluctuate more often than I would prefer.
MSRP: $59.99
Platform: Switch
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
When it works though, it works. Taking nods from Armored Core helps a lot here. I found myself lost in the endless customization. Finding new paint jobs and decking out my Arsenal with different parts and weapons is fun. I love how each mission might require a little bit of experimenting before getting that perfect loadout. The visual changes do little outside of making things feel different, but that didn’t stop me from sinking hours into finding just the right look.
Mission structure is where the game falls apart, though. While the campaign will run players over a dozen hours, everything it has to offer can be seen in the first 1-2 hours. The missions are laid out like bounties that can be taken to earn credits. They consist of a lot of the same objectives and start getting flat early on. I love the layout, I just wish the variety would have been spread out a little more. There is also a story here that the developers really seem to want players to care about. Sadly. it is all over the place, and I found myself grasping at straws trying to decipher its seemingly ridiculous plotline.
Daemon X Machina spends a lot of time focusing on the mechs, but players can also eject from their machines and fight on foot. This brings up one of the more interesting aspects of the game play. There is an upgrade path for the player character that takes on the weirdest of sci-fi turns. Upgrading my character involves body mutilation. For example, I can remove one of my arms and replace it with a weapon, or I could rip out my eyes in order to gain a better lock-on functionality. It is weird and highly interesting, probably the most interesting aspect of the entire game.
Controls feel tight and responsive. It took me a while to adjust to just how much I could do in and outside of my Arsenal though. This game is a series of micromanagement tasks both on and off the battlefield. Once I got it down though I was switching between my trusty rocket cannons and my sword and shield. This is truly the culmination of classic Armored Core and the insanity of a Manga comic.
Daemon X Machina might not be Nintendo’s most high-profile title of 2019, but I really enjoyed what it brought to the table. Mixing in nostalgia from the early Armored Core days and mixing it with over-the-top anime style action is a truly great combination. I wish the performance and aesthetic was a little better, but every other facet of its presentation really makes up for it. If you are like me and have fond memories of losing hours in classic Armored Core games this is the next best thing. Especially considering From Software seems like they are never going to revisit their mech franchise again.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
