Server issues spoil a good hybrid title
AIRMECH ARENA has all the nostalgia of a Transformers cartoon coupled with the unit management and base building of a real-time strategy title. AirMech is a curious hybrid with some fun modes and a fair free-to-play financing structure. What is perhaps the most bitter aspect of this game is that all of the above points only serve to make more frustrating the fact that the multiplayer servers don't work.
Like virtually all RTS games in today's market, AirMech Arena is primarily built as a multiplayer game - which is unfortunate, because its servers fail to work time and time again. In every mode, when starting a match with other humans - even as a spectator - I almost always experienced server connection issues (and had others report the same). Single-player modes naturally don't see this issue, but they're not as fun or as challenging because bots aren't nearly as creative as human opponents. This alone makes it difficult to recommend, even though it does some cool stuff.
AirMech Arena shares simple yet fun mechanics across each of its modes. Transform between a cool mech and an aircraft, construct bases and build transport units around to map to attack your enemy's base. Learning the fundamentals is quick and easy, leaving you with plenty of time to iron out the details and master the game modes. A “here-ishow-to-walk” tutorial is available in the menu, but by default you're immediately dropped into the much more interesting Challenge mode. Over 15 single-player levels, it effectively schooled me in building units, finding the best tactic for capturing bases, and taking down opponents.
After that, I was ready to go into real combat. The other two modes each have their own feel, which kept me interested in purchasing new units to adapt to the modes. Skirmish requires a balanced loadout of units to push across the map to the enemy base, and can be played with up to three players on each team. Survival has up to four players and borrows from tower defense games in its winding maze of maps. It requires units that can handle large waves of enemies, such as the the larger tanks and turrets, instead of the foot soldiers that are helpful in capturing bases which aren't as helpful in protecting your base.
Although this game is solid as a rock and puts some new ideas on the table, it's hard to recommend due to constant server issues. What should have been a fun experience has been turned into a source of incredible frustration, the last thing in the world you want as a feature in a video game.