I'd add Robot Alchemic Drive to this list as well. Pretty unique battle system where your protagonist is always on foot and controls the giant robot by remote. The key to victory is often making sure you've got an optimal vantage point from which to fight against the enemy. Developed by the same folks who make the Earth Defense Force series.
Yeah. The reason I didn't wanna include it is because I feel it's on basically every list of PS2 hidden gems, or weird mech games. If I could redo and had more time, I would've liked to do 10 games, including Front Mission 4 (maybe 5? Haven't played it though).
I feel the most difficult part of R.A.D. is actually finding an optimal vantage point. I usually end up so close that I can't really see what's going on, or so far away that I can't see much detail.
@@PlayStation_Paradise Never got to finish it myself but i did play it. Not the longest game. It only had 17 missions overall. It was one of the first games on ps2 so it had that purple tint on the discs which damaged the consoles and it damaged mine, so i had to replace it and never got to finish it. Amazingly weird cool game though and ive always wanted to play it again.
Fed vs Zeon is bloody fantastic, so is Gundam vs Zeta Gundam, it's successor where you fight the later time period, then see what they were doing in the one year war, change potential timelines, then change the other later times and outcomes. Just great.
armored core 3 has way more parts and weapons vs ac6. no checkpoints, true debt system, a bigger arena system with controllable and customizable replay after every match. ah the nostalgia. dont get me wrong though i still love ac6 but wish it had a lot of things old ac games had.
No you're not wrong, ac6 is a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be major improvements in a DLC. I remember playing last Raven as my first armored core game😂
There's a harshness to older games. AC3 isn't cruel, but I like that it gives you freedom. The freedom to go into debt, choose bad parts, etc. I feel like modern games restrict too much.
amen to that. it's how i feel about bethesda games. it's gotten more watered down. but i get it they're trying to appeal to the masses but some times they have to revert to what worked in the past. because fans are already wanting more as many have beaten ac6. @@PlayStation_Paradise
tbf there hasn't been a ac game in almost ten years and the gameplay style is a bit different from the previous. another factor is conserving budget which is also used in those big boss battles, effects, animation etc. I assume they will put more into it in the sequels.
AC6 is not an Armored Core game, it is Sekiro but with mechs. The stagger mechanic is absolutely awful, they crippled combat by giving everything a cooldown bar, and the boss spam is absolutely tedious. They also took away so much from us. No weapon arms, no dual melee, etc. I played through it once, and forcing myself to endure the later half was pain. I'll stick with For Answer and AC2.
Appreciate the mention of a readily available PC release for Battle Engine Aquila, often these kind of list videos are so honed in on the specific platform and/or the physical collectors scene that you might never know there's other alternatives that are potentially better or more easily available and maybe even cheaper options
This one of the games I will never forget and loves. Those soldiers in the map that you need to get before the enemies does. And my favorite is when your about to shoot the enemies. The heartbeat sound while targeting and the shakiness of the aiming is so exhilarating you will never had enough of it.
As much of a step back for the series as it is, there was always something about Front Mission 4 that I loved grinding out missions in to finely tweak each character until they were rolling through the missions, just destroying all the adversaries that marched up to them.
Nice list some good games for sure as Gundam Fed vs Zeon and Zeonic Front are some of my favs of the series. Never heard of Battle Engine Aquila but looking at it reminds me if of the Star Fox games so definitely gonna check it out.
Bro, you're moving in on my territory! Just kidding. I had checked all these out at one point but didn't feel the reviews were up to par and removed them. Interesting seeing someone else look at a few of these.
A mech game for the ps2 I found a while back, but I really enjoyed was "RAD - Robot Alchemic Drive. You were basically using a robot to fight off an alien invasion, but you were not in the robot but rather remotely controlling it from the ground. It had its issues but I enjoyed it.
Battle Engine Aquila can be accurately described as an RTS game where *_YOU_* are the Super Unit/Uber Unit/Mega Unit/Whatever the Industry decides on as a name for the super expensive and OP unit this time. I love BEA and I wish it had a sequel or a remaster.
Gungriffon Allied Strike is still a favorite of mine and Armored Core Nine-Breaker. Great video as it shows me some new games I've never heard of before. Thanks!
_Front Mission 4_ - even an oldskool Square fan like us had never heard of it before picking it up. It goes in basically the same category as _Ring of Red_ - a tactical game (one can feel a lot of FFT roots) featuring mecha. What's funny about the FM world is that in the early games, the mecha (or rather, wanzers) were such a novelty that they didn't really affect the wars they were involved in despite being the focus of the games. We haven't tried the new _BattleTech_ yet, but the feel of FM4 is probably pretty similar, if older BT titles like the _Crescent Hawk_ games are any indication.
My favorite on ps2 was Zeonic Front. I'm glad it made it in here. The strategy aspects are just enough for this kind of game. Such a great game and one of the best gundam games.
I thought I knew all the mech games on PC, but Battle Engine Aquila somehow escaped my all-seeing gaze :D looks like it's right up my alley, too. Gonna get it as soon as I have some time to play it. Thanks!
It's maybe my favorite. Tbh the PC version is the best. The PS2 version is ok but graphics suffer a lot. I have a longer video about the PC version on my channel.
I wish I knew what the 'not hidden gems' are for mech games on the PS2, because I'm trying to figure out what games to get for this system. This is probably the best of these lists I've found on youtube for PS2 games.
I appreciate it! I have enough games to make 2 more of these videos. Some bad mech games for the PS2 tend to be some of the Gundam games. They have some bangers, and most are at least alright, but Encounters in Space and Journey to Jaburo are poor to meh at best. I don't remember Space too well, other than I think it was ONLY space combat, which isn't very good. And Jaburo can be beaten in less than 2 hours, and is just a terrible version of FvZ's combat.
Too bad the sticks are switched so emulation is the only reasonable choice 😂 Glad to hear, I will 100% check it out It‘s one of my all time favourites!!!@@PlayStation_Paradise
I found Zionic Front in a used game store in early 2000's. Already a Gundam Fan, that game was amazing! BUT... with NO Manual. And EXTREMELY complex for the time. And back then it was not as easy to find pdf's of old manuals. It took me a long time to figure it out. Yet for a console of the era, with no manual, and some chunky text translations it was an amazingly complex game! If you're a Gundam Fan and a Gamer: Zionic Front is a MUST HAVE!
Ahh so many memories. Armored Core 3 is one of my two favorite Armored Core games along with Last Raven (I've played every main series game except V which I never owned and VI which I own but haven't played yet). I usually go for Hover Legs with a Missile Launcher and a mix of energy weapon types including a Laser Blade in Armored Core games. Plus Federation VS Zeon and Zeonic Front are my favorite Gundam games (I'm still annoyed that there was never a AUEG focused sequel to Zeonic Front and that they removed the free form campagin from later Gundam Vs games) The Dom is my favorite One Year War era Mobile Suit so I'm happy with any game that gives me the keys to one.
I thought I was the ONLY person who played ring of red. It's so good I've always wanted a sequel. I haven't went and bought a refurbished PS2 so I can play through it again when I found my old copy
One must import the great Votoms game from Japan. It offers the Mechassault 2 experience done right, lots of missions and lots of new improved mechs you get to upgrade to. The game's intro sequence alone is CGI eye candy with the series's theme song.
I loved federation vs zeon, at the time I was reading the 0079 gundam manga and I was so excited to play a game in that world, I’d have loved to play the other gundam games to but they never came out in the uk :(
You really got the reason why I like games like zionic front. You're not the superhero protagonist with unique powers, you're a regular foot soldier in a conflict far bigger than you, and you gotta make do with what you have. The reason I lost interest in most modern tactical games is that it's always about Mr hero and his band of super powered misfits. Hell, let me recruit a bunch of foot soldiers and customize them the way I want, let me lose them and have to recruit more, like on the XCOM games. The only new strategy/tactical game that got this right is the new aliens game, at least for me.
Not really the same kind of game, but have you tried DoorKickers 2? It's all regular soldiers doing fast paced tactical breach and clear missions, but you plan out every movement of the mission manually. It's really good if you're into that, and every soldier is customizable.
Zeonic front was my jam cause it was the world from the perspective of the average person in the war. You felt so much more fragile. Ring of Reds real issue was in later missions when you had way more units the missions take forever cause the combat sequences take so much time.
As a bit of a die-hard mech head, I have 4 out of 6 of these games. But Zeonic Front was, sadly, not released in the UK (my country), and I had no idea Ring of Red was a mech game. I'm now looking up copies on Ebay and game store listings. Not too expensive over here, can be had for about £18-20. Pretty sure I'll be snapping up a copy.
Battle Engine Aquila is one that surprised me alongside the Star Wars Starfighter titles. Way more fun than reviews ever gave it credit for. As far as mech games go Armored Core is fundamentally neat but leans too hard on the fantasy robot side of things. Always really enjoyed Front Mission though. The SNES original is one of my all time favorites. So good.
Federation vs Zeon is one of my all time favorite games for the PS2. I was 5 when I first saw it on a demo display at Walmart. Begged my mom for it lol it was also my introduction to the Gundam universe as a whole. Like you, I feel I never hear people talk about this game or it's sequel.
Robotech Battlecry. Much like the gundam games, you get to partake in some of the events in the Robotech anime. True to its anime counterpart, you can seamlessly transition into any of the 3 modes as you dogfight your way through the campaign mode. It's not to everyone's liking, but i like the cel shaded visual.
If Federation vs Zeon is a favorite, Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C. will absolutely blow your damn mind. I know you said you're not a Gundam fan per se...but, imagine getting to roleplay your way through the entire Universal Century era...and that's just the story mode! The combat is amazing too. Streamlining the Gundam Versus series style control scheme into something that lets you stop thinking about _how_ to play, and really just enjoy the game even more! Armored Core Formula Front is an interesting take on AC; It's all about the arena combat and has you managing a team. You don't actually control the ACs at all, you configure the attributes, abilities, and tactics of its AI. (There's a companion version of ACFF which was a PSP launch title, and even had a US release which added manual control of the mechs...completely undermining the whole idea of the game...but murika's gonna murika, amirite?) I got so into it, I actually designed printable forms to keep track of my AC configurations. 🤣👌 Another great game in the vein of Federation vs Zeon and Armored Core is Another Century's Episode. A.C.E. is FROMSOFT's answer to the question "What if Super Robot Wars was a mech combat action game instead of a turn-based strategy game?" Just search "Another Century's Episode opening" here on TH-cam and tell me that doesn't look rad af. ngl, I've probably watched that opening more than I've played the game...and I've played the game a fair bit! (lol, I can say the same thing about Z.O.E. ANUBIS...damn that opening is amazing.)
5:12 That's a Gogg in the clip, a Z'Gok is something else... Although still an amphibious mobile suit from Zeon the Z'Gok honestly looks cooler imo but the Gogg is nice.
Front Mission 4 for the Ps2 is hands down one of all time favorite golden age era Strat-RPG....plus it has mechs. Big recommend for anyone looking for a slower mech game.
It's funny you mention that. I may have a video about some hidden gem mech games on the psx soon 👀. I also love front mission 4. Special place in my heart. Super long game too
Ring of red was the only game I played where if they say this campaign takes a week they mean an actual real life week lol, I love the character art work tho
Oh dang, SeanSeanson can see my videos *sweating* /jk appreciate it! Tried out something a little different. Really happy with how it turned out and it's stats.
Been playing Gungriffon Blaze for 20 years. Sill pop it in and enjoy it. Federation vs Zeon was also one of my favorites still. I like it's sequel Gundam vs Zeta as well. Like the battles that include fighting battleships. Zeonic Front style was so good. Like a mecha rainbow six.
Good video. Wish most of these were available to play on both current consoles and pc. I'd especially like the Gundam games, the recent Gundam games haven't been good. They could also port that Gundam FPS that was released on the Sega Dreamcast. It was only held back by the controller, which still didn't have two analog sticks. Wth Sega. At least we're finally getting a new Armored Core. Hoping Metal Warriors gets remastered one day too.
Thanks! I feel you. In the future, I want to make a video about games stuck on the PS2. I try to mention the best or easiest way to play games, even though my channel leans PS2. Sometimes it's just better to use your PC if the game works on modern OS.
If you are looking for a new mech game for the PC then one of the upcoming games is "Custom Mech Wars" from the developers of EDF 5. coming out on DEC 14
A hidden gem that would deserve a good full length review is Recoil, from 1998 , Zipper. Would suggest to use a repack to play it; make sure ingame music works (the game videos can just be watched on TH-cam)
I remember all of these. Man I’m old lol. Also surprised you didn’t mention Another Century’s Episode series or Mechwarrior 2. Both of which were childhood favourites of mine. Nevertheless, solid list 👍🏾
It's ok. We're all old on this channel lol. ACE2 is on PS2 but I hadn't heard of it! It looks neat. I think Mechwarrior 2 is a PSX game. Thanks! I appreciate the comment and info on ACE. I'll check it out.
I played a hell of a lot of Zeonic Front back in the day, and Federation vs Zeon. Was super delightful seeing two gundam games on here. I would add that if you think Federation vs Zeon is good, check out Gundam vs Zeta Gundam.
AC3 Silent Line allows for the opportunity to train an AI partner for a 2 v 2 arena, which makes it a different experience. I made an AI that I even had trouble beating...
I've had Ring of Red on my list for a while now but I had no idea the system were that deep. I thought it was just mech Fire Emblem. This is so much more interesting now.
If you're into the import side of PS2 gaming, then I woold like to recommend Zoids Infinity Fuzors especially if you're a Zoids fan. There are technically better versions of this game with different names on other consoles since it's basically just a PS2 port of Zoids Infinity, a Japanese-only arcade that existed back then, but Fuzors is still a solid time and worth checking out if you can play imports. Another game, Zoids Struggle, might also be interesting but its technically a fighting game more so than a mech title so not sure if that counts here. As far as Gundam is concerned, if I had to choose something different, I'd go with Encounters in Space. It's a space-flight style Gundam game that looks really good for its time and is a nice change of pace compared to all the ground-action oriented Gundam games on the PS2. Front Mission 4 can scratch your itch if you happen to like RTS games. I'm not a mega fan of the franchise so I can't speak for other titles, but this one was alright to me. Finally, though I'm not sure if it counts as a hidden gem, Zone of the Enders is a must-own series of games for anyone wanting a couple of fantastic mech games for the PS2. They're also usually cheaper to buy than any Armored Core so I feel it's worth mentioning these titles. On a side note, you forgot to mention that Battle Engine Aquila is also available on the OG Xbox. If you're not into PC gaming, the Xbox version is far and away better to play than the PS2 version. Both are still good, but the PS2 was just simply too underpowered compared to the Xbox when it came to multi-plat games much of the time.
It is but I felt it was too popular. It's hard to find sales info though. It was either ZOE2 or Armored Core, and I felt Armored Core fit the nerdy mech niche more. I love ZOE2 way more, but it's borderline not even a mech game imo. More straight action.
Miss one really good mech game, steambot chronicles aka bumpy trot, now that game was a good hidden gem, its a massive darn shame they canceled the sequel game for it.
Armored Core series is best of the Mecha genre, you're not a hero, you're a gun for hire, doing the most hedious things and question yourself is it worth doing so, or ignore it and blow everything up , it is so awesome, but the other niche mech games are lovely too. I wouldn't dare to say it is a hidden gem, yes it is niche but Armored Core is well known for its garage, brutal battles and impressive world building. A playstation 2 owner has a higher chance of having the Armored Core series than the other games. Sadly the other games never got sequels, would love to have them. 😢
4:41 Honestly I wish Crossfire/Target in Sight on the PS3 was actually well made, it had potential to be one of the greatest Gundam games ever... Sadly it's not, maybe if it wasn't a launch title it could have had some more time to cook, but man is it rewarding to actually master the awkward and clunky controls. Now if only my PS3 worked so I could have another go at the final Zeon level, I haven't even gotten to a second Zeon playthrough.
For me if i want to recommended the mecha game PS2 is Mobile Suit Gundam Climax UC where it have 4 mode campaign which are chronicle mode which you can play some critical character of Gundam universe, 2nd the progress mode where you can create the character and choose which side your will fight and 3rd is extra mode where you will complete the Challege based on the mission and lastly versus mode where you fight with your friend in split screen. But sadly it only release in Japan so only Japanese language on this game.
i doubt anyone will see this, or even know what i'm talking about, but i figured i'd ask anyways. A long time ago, i recall seeing my father play a game that i am pretty sure was on the PS2. All i remember about it was the part of the game he was in was a desert area, The game was an RPG, and i'm 99% sure the player's party fought in mechs during the battles. The only other thing i remotely remember was a boss fight with a sandshark of some form. If anyone sees this comment and might know what the hell it is, please let me know!
While there aren't exactly hidden gems, the Super Robot Wars series were always a blast. The obvious problem is that most games in the series were only in Japanese though.
I'll add it for next mech video. I feel like RAD is the poster child for hidden gem PS2 games haha. It's in every list I've seen. Not that it doesn't deserve it, but yeah. That's why I didn't include it here. I've never played it so I'm curious to try! Do you like it?
Wait, you didn't mention Zone of the Enders??? It probably beats every single one of these games in terms of quality, and not only, it's made by Hideo Kojima, so obviously it has a great story too, my favorite game on the ps2 ever! Criminal that you didn't add it on the video...
To throw another mecha game out there is S.L.A.I it such a fun arcade style mecha game with tons of customizations and builds and is all set in a sorta vr setting
I'd add Robot Alchemic Drive to this list as well. Pretty unique battle system where your protagonist is always on foot and controls the giant robot by remote. The key to victory is often making sure you've got an optimal vantage point from which to fight against the enemy. Developed by the same folks who make the Earth Defense Force series.
Yeah. The reason I didn't wanna include it is because I feel it's on basically every list of PS2 hidden gems, or weird mech games. If I could redo and had more time, I would've liked to do 10 games, including Front Mission 4 (maybe 5? Haven't played it though).
one must also import it's unofficial sequel from Japan, that Tetsujin 28 Go!. Licensed greatness from Sandlot.
I feel the most difficult part of R.A.D. is actually finding an optimal vantage point. I usually end up so close that I can't really see what's going on, or so far away that I can't see much detail.
I also like how certain story elements can be influenced depending on if you ended up destroying certain buildings during the course of a battle.
and the english voices are hilarious.
Ring of Red was one of my favs on the PS2. When I got it, I sunk so many hours straight to beat it.
How long's it take roughly？
@@PlayStation_Paradise Never got to finish it myself but i did play it. Not the longest game. It only had 17 missions overall.
It was one of the first games on ps2 so it had that purple tint on the discs which damaged the consoles and it damaged mine, so i had to replace it and never got to finish it. Amazingly weird cool game though and ive always wanted to play it again.
Battle Engine Aquila and GunGriffon Blaze are pretty damn great. Been trying to find a good copy of Ring of Red for the longest time.
Does your local game store not have it? :o I think it's pretty rare.
Fed vs Zeon is bloody fantastic, so is Gundam vs Zeta Gundam, it's successor where you fight the later time period, then see what they were doing in the one year war, change potential timelines, then change the other later times and outcomes. Just great.
I've never played Zeta Gundam. It looks great. Added it to my backlog.
armored core 3 has way more parts and weapons vs ac6. no checkpoints, true debt system, a bigger arena system with controllable and customizable replay after every match. ah the nostalgia. dont get me wrong though i still love ac6 but wish it had a lot of things old ac games had.
No you're not wrong, ac6 is a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be major improvements in a DLC. I remember playing last Raven as my first armored core game😂
There's a harshness to older games. AC3 isn't cruel, but I like that it gives you freedom. The freedom to go into debt, choose bad parts, etc. I feel like modern games restrict too much.
amen to that. it's how i feel about bethesda games. it's gotten more watered down. but i get it they're trying to appeal to the masses but some times they have to revert to what worked in the past. because fans are already wanting more as many have beaten ac6. @@PlayStation_Paradise
tbf there hasn't been a ac game in almost ten years and the gameplay style is a bit different from the previous. another factor is conserving budget which is also used in those big boss battles, effects, animation etc. I assume they will put more into it in the sequels.
AC6 is not an Armored Core game, it is Sekiro but with mechs. The stagger mechanic is absolutely awful, they crippled combat by giving everything a cooldown bar, and the boss spam is absolutely tedious.
They also took away so much from us. No weapon arms, no dual melee, etc. I played through it once, and forcing myself to endure the later half was pain. I'll stick with For Answer and AC2.
Scored Armored Core 3 at a thrift store years ago and still enjoy it today.
Appreciate the mention of a readily available PC release for Battle Engine Aquila, often these kind of list videos are so honed in on the specific platform and/or the physical collectors scene that you might never know there's other alternatives that are potentially better or more easily available and maybe even cheaper options
The PC release imo is the best. It runs great, looks great, and is dirt cheap. I played it off gog.
Ring of Red was my first ps2 game and i still love it today. a remake or remaster would be awesome. but would just be happy to play it on the 5 again.
This one of the games I will never forget and loves. Those soldiers in the map that you need to get before the enemies does. And my favorite is when your about to shoot the enemies. The heartbeat sound while targeting and the shakiness of the aiming is so exhilarating you will never had enough of it.
Gundam Zeonic Front looks *very* interesting. I think I'm going to have to give it a try.
It's super weird. Are you big into mech games?
It’s the rainbow six of mech games
As much of a step back for the series as it is, there was always something about Front Mission 4 that I loved grinding out missions in to finely tweak each character until they were rolling through the missions, just destroying all the adversaries that marched up to them.
Bro I never finished that game but i sure want to
Nice list some good games for sure as Gundam Fed vs Zeon and Zeonic Front are some of my favs of the series. Never heard of Battle Engine Aquila but looking at it reminds me if of the Star Fox games so definitely gonna check it out.
Bro, you're moving in on my territory! Just kidding. I had checked all these out at one point but didn't feel the reviews were up to par and removed them. Interesting seeing someone else look at a few of these.
A mech game for the ps2 I found a while back, but I really enjoyed was "RAD - Robot Alchemic Drive.
You were basically using a robot to fight off an alien invasion, but you were not in the robot but rather remotely controlling it from the ground.
It had its issues but I enjoyed it.
no S.L.A.I is criminal. an unfortunate sequel to Phantom Crash from the xbox, but still a really fun customisable mech shooter.
💯💯💯
My favorite mech game tied with Armored Core. Never found with game had more personality and charm than SLAI and from a mech game no less.
Battle Engine Aquila can be accurately described as an RTS game where *_YOU_* are the Super Unit/Uber Unit/Mega Unit/Whatever the Industry decides on as a name for the super expensive and OP unit this time. I love BEA and I wish it had a sequel or a remaster.
Thanks for the list! after getting all 3 endings in AC6, it got me back into the mech genre
I've never heard of any of these before, but Gungriffon Blaze looks fun! I like the arcade style of it.
I learned about it while writing the script for this video. I was super pleasantly surprised. It's very short, but unique.
I never got too far in it back in the day. It had flipped joysticks that threw me off as a kid. Apparently there's a sequel as well.
Gungriffon Allied Strike is still a favorite of mine and Armored Core Nine-Breaker. Great video as it shows me some new games I've never heard of before. Thanks!
Thx for watching! Lemme know how AC goes. 2 and 4 are on my backlog.
_Front Mission 4_ - even an oldskool Square fan like us had never heard of it before picking it up. It goes in basically the same category as _Ring of Red_ - a tactical game (one can feel a lot of FFT roots) featuring mecha. What's funny about the FM world is that in the early games, the mecha (or rather, wanzers) were such a novelty that they didn't really affect the wars they were involved in despite being the focus of the games.
We haven't tried the new _BattleTech_ yet, but the feel of FM4 is probably pretty similar, if older BT titles like the _Crescent Hawk_ games are any indication.
Same. FM4 isn't the best but I'm super nostalgic for it. Did you play 3? Everyone says it's the best but haven't touched it yet.
@@PlayStation_ParadiseHmm, no, not yet. What supposedly makes it better?
My favorite on ps2 was Zeonic Front. I'm glad it made it in here. The strategy aspects are just enough for this kind of game. Such a great game and one of the best gundam games.
I thought I knew all the mech games on PC, but Battle Engine Aquila somehow escaped my all-seeing gaze :D looks like it's right up my alley, too. Gonna get it as soon as I have some time to play it. Thanks!
It's maybe my favorite. Tbh the PC version is the best. The PS2 version is ok but graphics suffer a lot. I have a longer video about the PC version on my channel.
9:44 not to mention surprisingly high quality skyboxes with very fast moving clouds
Dreamcast core
I wish I knew what the 'not hidden gems' are for mech games on the PS2, because I'm trying to figure out what games to get for this system. This is probably the best of these lists I've found on youtube for PS2 games.
I appreciate it! I have enough games to make 2 more of these videos. Some bad mech games for the PS2 tend to be some of the Gundam games. They have some bangers, and most are at least alright, but Encounters in Space and Journey to Jaburo are poor to meh at best. I don't remember Space too well, other than I think it was ONLY space combat, which isn't very good. And Jaburo can be beaten in less than 2 hours, and is just a terrible version of FvZ's combat.
YESSS Gungriffon getting the recognition it deserves, instant like :D
I just learned about it right before making this video. I had to include it. Was super impressed. I wanna cover it in more detail later.
Too bad the sticks are switched so emulation is the only reasonable choice 😂 Glad to hear, I will 100% check it out It‘s one of my all time favourites!!!@@PlayStation_Paradise
@zoyboy1914 lmao yes. I def didn't swap my emulation controls 👀
I used to be a big RPG guy, but the older i get the more i appreciate mech games. I will be trying all of these. Thanks for the video.
I recommend this guy for retro mech games. www.youtube.com/@KeiNova
I found Zionic Front in a used game store in early 2000's. Already a Gundam Fan, that game was amazing!
BUT... with NO Manual. And EXTREMELY complex for the time. And back then it was not as easy to find pdf's of old manuals. It took me a long time to figure it out. Yet for a console of the era, with no manual, and some chunky text translations it was an amazingly complex game! If you're a Gundam Fan and a Gamer: Zionic Front is a MUST HAVE!
Zeonic Front feels like a PC game that somehow ended up on the PS2. Playing it without a manual sounds painful.
Ahh so many memories. Armored Core 3 is one of my two favorite Armored Core games along with Last Raven (I've played every main series game except V which I never owned and VI which I own but haven't played yet). I usually go for Hover Legs with a Missile Launcher and a mix of energy weapon types including a Laser Blade in Armored Core games. Plus Federation VS Zeon and Zeonic Front are my favorite Gundam games (I'm still annoyed that there was never a AUEG focused sequel to Zeonic Front and that they removed the free form campagin from later Gundam Vs games) The Dom is my favorite One Year War era Mobile Suit so I'm happy with any game that gives me the keys to one.
I thought I was the ONLY person who played ring of red. It's so good I've always wanted a sequel. I haven't went and bought a refurbished PS2 so I can play through it again when I found my old copy
One must import the great Votoms game from Japan. It offers the Mechassault 2 experience done right, lots of missions and lots of new improved mechs you get to upgrade to. The game's intro sequence alone is CGI eye candy with the series's theme song.
I loved federation vs zeon, at the time I was reading the 0079 gundam manga and I was so excited to play a game in that world, I’d have loved to play the other gundam games to but they never came out in the uk :(
Seeing these games reminds me of one of my favorites from around the early PS2 days... "SHOGO Mobile Armor Division"
One of my first mech games along with Heavy Gear 2.
played armored core and gundam federation 1 is ps2 back then. its really fun and nostalgic game back then
You really got the reason why I like games like zionic front. You're not the superhero protagonist with unique powers, you're a regular foot soldier in a conflict far bigger than you, and you gotta make do with what you have.
The reason I lost interest in most modern tactical games is that it's always about Mr hero and his band of super powered misfits. Hell, let me recruit a bunch of foot soldiers and customize them the way I want, let me lose them and have to recruit more, like on the XCOM games.
The only new strategy/tactical game that got this right is the new aliens game, at least for me.
Not really the same kind of game, but have you tried DoorKickers 2? It's all regular soldiers doing fast paced tactical breach and clear missions, but you plan out every movement of the mission manually. It's really good if you're into that, and every soldier is customizable.
Zeonic front was my jam cause it was the world from the perspective of the average person in the war. You felt so much more fragile. Ring of Reds real issue was in later missions when you had way more units the missions take forever cause the combat sequences take so much time.
As a bit of a die-hard mech head, I have 4 out of 6 of these games. But Zeonic Front was, sadly, not released in the UK (my country), and I had no idea Ring of Red was a mech game. I'm now looking up copies on Ebay and game store listings. Not too expensive over here, can be had for about £18-20. Pretty sure I'll be snapping up a copy.
Battle Engine Aquila is one that surprised me alongside the Star Wars Starfighter titles. Way more fun than reviews ever gave it credit for. As far as mech games go Armored Core is fundamentally neat but leans too hard on the fantasy robot side of things. Always really enjoyed Front Mission though. The SNES original is one of my all time favorites. So good.
Federation vs Zeon is one of my all time favorite games for the PS2. I was 5 when I first saw it on a demo display at Walmart. Begged my mom for it lol it was also my introduction to the Gundam universe as a whole. Like you, I feel I never hear people talk about this game or it's sequel.
Apparently there are sequels to check out.
Robotech Battlecry. Much like the gundam games, you get to partake in some of the events in the Robotech anime. True to its anime counterpart, you can seamlessly transition into any of the 3 modes as you dogfight your way through the campaign mode. It's not to everyone's liking, but i like the cel shaded visual.
If Federation vs Zeon is a favorite, Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C. will absolutely blow your damn mind. I know you said you're not a Gundam fan per se...but, imagine getting to roleplay your way through the entire Universal Century era...and that's just the story mode! The combat is amazing too. Streamlining the Gundam Versus series style control scheme into something that lets you stop thinking about _how_ to play, and really just enjoy the game even more!
Armored Core Formula Front is an interesting take on AC; It's all about the arena combat and has you managing a team. You don't actually control the ACs at all, you configure the attributes, abilities, and tactics of its AI. (There's a companion version of ACFF which was a PSP launch title, and even had a US release which added manual control of the mechs...completely undermining the whole idea of the game...but murika's gonna murika, amirite?) I got so into it, I actually designed printable forms to keep track of my AC configurations. 🤣👌
Another great game in the vein of Federation vs Zeon and Armored Core is Another Century's Episode. A.C.E. is FROMSOFT's answer to the question "What if Super Robot Wars was a mech combat action game instead of a turn-based strategy game?" Just search "Another Century's Episode opening" here on TH-cam and tell me that doesn't look rad af.
ngl, I've probably watched that opening more than I've played the game...and I've played the game a fair bit! (lol, I can say the same thing about Z.O.E. ANUBIS...damn that opening is amazing.)
Thanks for the recommendation for Climax! I'll def check it out.
Zeonic Front taught me that the Gundam and Amuro Ray were actually scary as hell
5:12 That's a Gogg in the clip, a Z'Gok is something else... Although still an amphibious mobile suit from Zeon the Z'Gok honestly looks cooler imo but the Gogg is nice.
Front Mission 4 for the Ps2 is hands down one of all time favorite golden age era Strat-RPG....plus it has mechs.
Big recommend for anyone looking for a slower mech game.
It's funny you mention that. I may have a video about some hidden gem mech games on the psx soon 👀. I also love front mission 4. Special place in my heart. Super long game too
Oh man...Gungriffon Blaze brings back some memories. I found it at a Costco way back and dumped so much time into it. Rad mention.
The PS2 era was the absolute best time for the Super Robot Wars series, though the only PS2 title with an English translation is Original Generations.
Ring of red was the only game I played where if they say this campaign takes a week they mean an actual real life week lol, I love the character art work tho
Federation vs Zeon is STILL on my shelf. Such a fun romp.
It's a classic. So many fond memories.
This was really good, keep it up!
Oh dang, SeanSeanson can see my videos *sweating* /jk appreciate it! Tried out something a little different. Really happy with how it turned out and it's stats.
Saw Gungriffon Blaze on the shelf at my local shop, but didn't get it. Zeonic Front looks interesting, didn't realize the gameplay was so strategic
Been playing Gungriffon Blaze for 20 years. Sill pop it in and enjoy it. Federation vs Zeon was also one of my favorites still. I like it's sequel Gundam vs Zeta as well. Like the battles that include fighting battleships. Zeonic Front style was so good. Like a mecha rainbow six.
Good video. Wish most of these were available to play on both current consoles and pc. I'd especially like the Gundam games, the recent Gundam games haven't been good.
They could also port that Gundam FPS that was released on the Sega Dreamcast. It was only held back by the controller, which still didn't have two analog sticks. Wth Sega.
At least we're finally getting a new Armored Core. Hoping Metal Warriors gets remastered one day too.
Thanks! I feel you. In the future, I want to make a video about games stuck on the PS2. I try to mention the best or easiest way to play games, even though my channel leans PS2. Sometimes it's just better to use your PC if the game works on modern OS.
If you are looking for a new mech game for the PC then one of the upcoming games is "Custom Mech Wars" from the developers of EDF 5. coming out on DEC 14
A hidden gem that would deserve a good full length review is Recoil, from 1998 , Zipper. Would suggest to use a repack to play it; make sure ingame music works (the game videos can just be watched on TH-cam)
I remember all of these. Man I’m old lol. Also surprised you didn’t mention Another Century’s Episode series or Mechwarrior 2. Both of which were childhood favourites of mine. Nevertheless, solid list 👍🏾
It's ok. We're all old on this channel lol. ACE2 is on PS2 but I hadn't heard of it! It looks neat. I think Mechwarrior 2 is a PSX game. Thanks! I appreciate the comment and info on ACE. I'll check it out.
Unlocked EVERYTHING in fed vs zeon… destroying my friends as big zam in arcade mode… so much fun!!!
Red ring is my favorite hidden gem.
The battles are so dope and unique
The mechs are like tractors
tractor is a great description. They're kinda realistic.
I played a hell of a lot of Zeonic Front back in the day, and Federation vs Zeon. Was super delightful seeing two gundam games on here. I would add that if you think Federation vs Zeon is good, check out Gundam vs Zeta Gundam.
I'mma check it out! Thx for recommendation
AC3 Silent Line allows for the opportunity to train an AI partner for a 2 v 2 arena, which makes it a different experience. I made an AI that I even had trouble beating...
I played the unholy HELL out of Feddy VS Zeon! Zaku II with leg-mounted missile pods was my go-to MS! Excellent games on display and great vid!
Appreciate it! I like how you can customize a few of the mechs a little. Apparently there's some sequels but I haven't tried em. Maybe Japan only?
Thanks for this video! Imma check these out YOU ROCK
no u!
I've had Ring of Red on my list for a while now but I had no idea the system were that deep. I thought it was just mech Fire Emblem. This is so much more interesting now.
Yee. The actual combat that begins once you initiate is pretty in depth. Lots of variables goin' on.
If you're into the import side of PS2 gaming, then I woold like to recommend Zoids Infinity Fuzors especially if you're a Zoids fan. There are technically better versions of this game with different names on other consoles since it's basically just a PS2 port of Zoids Infinity, a Japanese-only arcade that existed back then, but Fuzors is still a solid time and worth checking out if you can play imports. Another game, Zoids Struggle, might also be interesting but its technically a fighting game more so than a mech title so not sure if that counts here.
As far as Gundam is concerned, if I had to choose something different, I'd go with Encounters in Space. It's a space-flight style Gundam game that looks really good for its time and is a nice change of pace compared to all the ground-action oriented Gundam games on the PS2.
Front Mission 4 can scratch your itch if you happen to like RTS games. I'm not a mega fan of the franchise so I can't speak for other titles, but this one was alright to me.
Finally, though I'm not sure if it counts as a hidden gem, Zone of the Enders is a must-own series of games for anyone wanting a couple of fantastic mech games for the PS2. They're also usually cheaper to buy than any Armored Core so I feel it's worth mentioning these titles.
On a side note, you forgot to mention that Battle Engine Aquila is also available on the OG Xbox. If you're not into PC gaming, the Xbox version is far and away better to play than the PS2 version. Both are still good, but the PS2 was just simply too underpowered compared to the Xbox when it came to multi-plat games much of the time.
5 of these were among my favorite games. I still got them all on disks!
Are you big into mech games?
Was Zone of Enders not a PS2 title? It was the first mech game that legit made you feel like you were in an anime.
It’s on ps2 yeah
It is but I felt it was too popular. It's hard to find sales info though. It was either ZOE2 or Armored Core, and I felt Armored Core fit the nerdy mech niche more. I love ZOE2 way more, but it's borderline not even a mech game imo. More straight action.
Zeonic front is to date one of the best games to come from Gundam.
THAAANKS! Happy to have somenthing nwe and interesting on my emulator consel ;-)
Miss one really good mech game, steambot chronicles aka bumpy trot, now that game was a good hidden gem, its a massive darn shame they canceled the sequel game for it.
Yes!!! Ring of Red love!!! 😍👍
Ha im currently playing Ring of Red again! awesome game!
Gonna ook into the others tho, that squad based zaku one looked really cool
You forgot MS Saga. Probably one of the best RPG in PS2 and one of the best Gundam game. And surprisingly, not a lot of people knows about it.
Makin' a 2nd vid :3
Armored Core series is best of the Mecha genre, you're not a hero, you're a gun for hire, doing the most hedious things and question yourself is it worth doing so, or ignore it and blow everything up , it is so awesome, but the other niche mech games are lovely too.
I wouldn't dare to say it is a hidden gem, yes it is niche but Armored Core is well known for its garage, brutal battles and impressive world building. A playstation 2 owner has a higher chance of having the Armored Core series than the other games. Sadly the other games never got sequels, would love to have them. 😢
4:41 Honestly I wish Crossfire/Target in Sight on the PS3 was actually well made, it had potential to be one of the greatest Gundam games ever...
Sadly it's not, maybe if it wasn't a launch title it could have had some more time to cook, but man is it rewarding to actually master the awkward and clunky controls. Now if only my PS3 worked so I could have another go at the final Zeon level, I haven't even gotten to a second Zeon playthrough.
For me if i want to recommended the mecha game PS2 is Mobile Suit Gundam Climax UC where it have 4 mode campaign which are chronicle mode which you can play some critical character of Gundam universe, 2nd the progress mode where you can create the character and choose which side your will fight and 3rd is extra mode where you will complete the Challege based on the mission and lastly versus mode where you fight with your friend in split screen. But sadly it only release in Japan so only Japanese language on this game.
I remember having battle engine and liking it a lot
AC3 is sooooo damn good! I also loved Gungriffon but i had it on the Saturn.
i literally burned out the disc for federation vs zeon, such a gem!
i doubt anyone will see this, or even know what i'm talking about, but i figured i'd ask anyways. A long time ago, i recall seeing my father play a game that i am pretty sure was on the PS2. All i remember about it was the part of the game he was in was a desert area, The game was an RPG, and i'm 99% sure the player's party fought in mechs during the battles. The only other thing i remotely remember was a boss fight with a sandshark of some form. If anyone sees this comment and might know what the hell it is, please let me know!
Try the subreddit "tip of my joystick" or the PS2 sub.
While there aren't exactly hidden gems, the Super Robot Wars series were always a blast. The obvious problem is that most games in the series were only in Japanese though.
Ace 3 the final and MS Saga are amazing games.
Steel lancer arena international is a great pick as well!
no way. an actual mech hidden gem list that isn't just a list of RTSs and turn based games. the first of its kind
These are my favorite comments! I really appreciate it.
OH! Also another good one for this list is: R.A.D.
Now THAT was a unique Mech game!
I'll add it for next mech video. I feel like RAD is the poster child for hidden gem PS2 games haha. It's in every list I've seen. Not that it doesn't deserve it, but yeah. That's why I didn't include it here. I've never played it so I'm curious to try! Do you like it?
Steambot Chronicles fits in this list, as well.
Surprised SLAI wasn't on here.
Segas Macross on the ps2 was so good
Great video, and great recommendations Subscribed, keep it up..
Appreciate it! Are you a big mech fan? PS2? or both?
@@PlayStation_Paradise I am a big mech fan, but i am very fond of my ps2 it was a great console and a great era for games.
There used to be a mech game that was fighting 1v1 that kicked so much ass. I wish I could remember more
On the PS2? RAD? Gundam Battle Assault? Gundam Federation vs Zeon? Was it an Armored Core game maybe?
Wasnt Macross VOXP part of the PS2 Games? It was an absolute GEM, I really wish we had a new version for PC
These may not qualify:
A mech JRPG is MS Saga. Really solid game.
And kind of...Metal Saga, too. Weird open-world JRPG with tanks. And weird enemies.
i would love a remake of ms saga
Gun griffin blaze , I loved that title, played that game to death with my Pops.
Bro you deserve way more subs
We're gettin' there! Appreciate it.
I can't believe you didn't mention zone of enders. All these are great but zone is by fary favorite mech game
I was very close to. It's pretty popular though. It was either going to be that or AC3. I actually have a list for a second video I wanna do
@@PlayStation_Paradise understandable. I got lucky and found the PS3 remaster thrifting.
my husband still have these games still own a ps2
I'm a simple man. I see a Zeon Zaku ll, I click. Gundam vs Zeta Gundam and S.L.A.I. are great mech based games on PS2 as well 👍🏿
I bought Zaku 2 sunglasses recently lol They're cool.
I´m a bit disappointed that "ZOE:2nd Runner" isn´t showing up here
I'm Commander Shepherd and Armored Core 3 is my favorite game on the second PlayStation
Wait, you didn't mention Zone of the Enders??? It probably beats every single one of these games in terms of quality, and not only, it's made by Hideo Kojima, so obviously it has a great story too, my favorite game on the ps2 ever! Criminal that you didn't add it on the video...
One of my favorites but I felt it was too popular to include. It was either that or AC3, and I felt AC3 is more mechy.
I recomend Neon Genesis Evangelion Battle Orchestra. This is very good Evangelion game.
You talk about mobile suit Gundam zeonic front what about the one you play as federation
To throw another mecha game out there is S.L.A.I it such a fun arcade style mecha game with tons of customizations and builds and is all set in a sorta vr setting
SLAI or STEEL LAUNCHER ARENA INTERNATIONAL is also a hidden gem