A complete review is on the way, but in the meantime, enjoy some initial thoughts on Japanese developer Marvelous’s freshly released Daemon x Machina on Switch.
Thought No.1: A mech combat game? Heck to the mother-mech-ing yeah.
Daemon x Machina is a cell-shaded action game, with flying mech battles, a customisable protagonist, and a complicated plot played out in cutscenes and voiceovers. Think Dragon Ball Xenoverse, but with mechs.
You can be honest with me – customising your mech is why you’re interested, right? It has certainly been the highlight for me so far. Customisation is surprisingly in depth and, to be frank, has been my main driver for completing story missions. Each weapon, arm, processor, leg, all the things, can be replaced and upgraded via the shop, scrap, or custom-made. Even your human protagonist can be modified with genetic enhancements.
Oh, I defeated the evil AI and saved my friends? Cool, cool, cool. Let’s skip to the part where I can upgrade my mech some more. Momma needs a new missile load out.
Combat has also been serviceable and becomes more enjoyable as you unlock abilities through the story. As for the story itself, it has been … convoluted thus far, but hey, aren’t most mech anime sagas? There has also been a huge number of different NPC characters thrown at me, who I suppose I will eventually care about. Again, see earlier point re anime sagas.
I’m preferring playing docked, mostly as the soundtrack is hype over our sound system, but it also plays acceptably when undocked. Preferably with good headphones. Played loudly. Speaking of, I’m absolutely in love with the soundtrack so far. It’s rock, it’s metal, it’s dramatic in all the best shōnen anime ways. This soundtrack is the one, guys. We’re going to elope, have babies, and grow old together.
I’ll have more coherent thoughts once I’m closer to completion, but for the moment I encourage you to go live out your Gundam fantasies.