STEEL BATTALION
DEVELOPER: CAPCOM PRODUCTION STUDIO 4, NUDE MAKER RELEASE: 2002
■ It’s fitting that this Xbox exclusive from Capcom, which features hulking mechs and a imposing unique controller, has a price tag that’s suitably intimidating. Created by Capcom Production Studio 4 and Nude Maker, and overseen by producer Atsushi Inaba, Steel Battalion has become a centrepiece for many Xbox collectors as it’s just such a cool game to own. The appeal comes from the ridiculously oversized controller that manages to offer a deep, tactile and unique Xbox experience. You don’t play Steel Battalion, you feel it, and the sensation of starting up your Vertical Tank for the first time
is a memory not soon forgotten. There’s a price tag for that memory though, and it’s not pretty. No matter what region you buy from, Steel Battalion will cost you. The game on its own tops out at £80 for a PAL copy, but you’ll be looking at a minimum of £140 for a boxed version, with prices climbing even higher for mint copies. The US game is pricier, while the Japan version is cheap but has a language barrier.
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