In the age of Battle Engine Aquila and MechAssault, Robotech: Battlecry might seem too retro for android aficionados. On the other hand, anyone who loved the 1980s anime series Battle Of The Planets will be itching to get into the cockpit.

After a mysterious battleship crash lands on Macross Island, the Robotech defence force is established to counter alien invasions. Their weapon is the Veritech Fighter, a 40-foot all humanoid robot that can transform into a high-tech spaceship and a half-mech, half-ship hybrid.

It's a shame that such a cool and influential concept has been beaten to the punch by the aforementioned Xbox bruisers - both slicker and more sophisticated games. Mercifully, Robotech does have a completely different visual style, thanks to some appealing cel-shading and authentic anime designs. Just as alluring is the immense scale of Robotech's war against the Zentraedi. Many stages feature an awe-striking array of explosions and funky alien Mechs. The battles rage at a furious pace and can become quite strategic - deciding which transformation is best suited for a mothership attack, for example.

You'll soon discover that all three battle modes operate with almost identical controls. While this makes Robotech very intuitive, it does leave the transformations lacking in variety. At least the robot form has an effective sniper mode, allowing you to pick off alien scum from a distance. It's a pity that enemies don't recoil or suffer visible damage when shot. In fact, they often just stand completely still, as if embroiled in a life-or-death game of playground statues. Although not as visually impressive as MechAssault, blowing up buildings in Robotech is still quite a treat. They buckle and collapse in a wake of cel-shaded debris and dust.

Unfortunately, Robotech's graphics are really the only thing worth shouting about. It doesn't have the new-millennium trendiness of Phantom Crash or the frantic Xbox Live antics of MechAssault. And there isn't enough action in the two-player Versus mode. While not a bad game, there's a lack of variety in the missions and in the way your Veritech controls. Robotech is a serious nostalgia trip and a pleasing diversion, but not sophisticated enough to stand up against the big boys on the giant robot scene.

Power
Distinctive visuals ripped straight out of the 1980s television series. A real boon for anime fans.

Style
Features a fun and often dramatic orchestral score. And a near-monotone voiceover, sadly.

Immersion
Mission objectives are too basic and don'ttie in particularly well with the epic Robotech story line.

Lifespan
Unlikely to hold your attention for long, although there is no shortage of missions to get through.

Summary
A decent Mech game with super-stylish anime designs and flashes of excitement but not enough depth.

1. Cool Mech designs
2. Slick framerate
3. Faithful to TV series

1. Limited two-player
2. Dull voiceover
3. Not as flash as other Xbox Mech games