[PAX Prime 2012] Airmech

[Ghostbear]

Airmech is a game whose genre is hard to nail down. Is it an RTS? A MOBA? Tower Defense? Whatever it is, it is a blast to play. James from Carbon Games was kind enough to sit down and chat with me about the game. So let’s dive right in and see what Airmech is all about.

In Airmech you pilot the titular vehicle, flying and landing all over the map to fight your enemies. Like other Moba games, your ultimate objective is to destroy the enemy’s base. Unlike those games however, you can transform into a jet/UFO/helicopter to close the gaps. Your Airmech, however is fairly weak at the beginning of a match and you need to kill lots and lots of bad guys to level it up. Once you do, you start unlocking abilities like homing rockets, better armor, etc.

To help you win, you need to build units to help kill and fend off the enemy. Before every match, you can choose your load out of vehicles. Maybe you want to take some artillery? Or maybe you think that some quicker faster vehicles would suit the game better. You get to choose up to 8 different units at the before the game, with up to three PvP/PvE loadouts; these are saved for future use. In addition to choosing what units you can take into battle, you can also choose your pilot. The pilots all have different abilities, which you can augment with items. Some of these items are cosmetic, adding things like streamers to your missile attacks (well worth it if you ask me).

There are a several different game modes to test your piloting prowess; these are PvP, Co-op, CTF, Solo, Survival and Challenge mode. I was mostly able to try PvP and Survival mode, but I really look forward to giving them all a try. Challenge mode sounds like it will be a great time.

Airmech is Free to Play, and like most F2P games, has multiple forms of currency, one you earn in game by playing and the other you buy with cash. Unlocking achievements in the game even gives you currency. Sounds like a great reason to go achievement hunting!

I walked away from Airmech really excited about what I got to see. It’s a fast, beautiful action game that will be sure to please. It will be available on Steam later this month, though you can download the non-Steam version right now if you can’t wait that long. It even runs in Chrome if you’re so inclined. Speaking of Steam, I have six beta keys available, all you have to do to get one is post about your favorite mech or mech game. You’ll have to have been a CoG member before today to qualify for the key.

[Khrymsyn]

I got to peek at this and play this at PaX and man oh man, I'm so facinated by it. I have to admit, a couple of their mechs remind me an awful lot of Veritech fighters, but when I saw they had an A-10 so to speak, I was freaking sold. This looks to be a lot of fun and it went from being a game not on my radar at all to one I'll likely at least try out. =) The gang at the booth were really friendly and talkative, even showing a build on a tablet of this running.

As far as favorite Mech? Sorry, but I still love the MadCat (or would you prefer Timber Wolf?). It's like a slimmed down Catapult, that wants to point big, nasty energy weapon fingers at you. If I can't go with the MadCat, give me a Jenner. Stupid little hopping box with 4 lasers hanging off the side makes for an annoying knee biter. =)

[Ghostbear]

I should also note, the steam beta comes with a few goodies that you would normally have to plunk a bit of cash down on.

[Lint of Death]

I've actually been very curious about this game and glad to hear it's so good! Now I know why there's a Google Chrome-lookin' flying saucer in the trailer.

My favorite 'Mech - or, more accurately, HERC - of all time is the Goad from Starsiege. Thanks to that game, I renewed my interest in PCs and have been a PC gamer first ever since. Of course it also had tanks, much like this has both playable planes and walkers. The Goad itself was one of the lightest non-human HERCs available with such impressive speed that its hit-and-run attacks could be devastating, particularly with the pilot-killing radiation weapons or lightning-whip ELF guns.

I came up with my current-and-always moniker while playing that game online - NOT by stalking a young Robin Walker!

edit: somehow I'm not surprised to see Lekon in those screenshots. That guy is the beast of betas.

[Ravenlock]

Just because I don't see it mentioned, go look up Herzog Zwei. Airmech is basically a remake of that with a lot of modern conventions.

Which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But it's definitely a direct pattern of a previous game.

Cyber-Wing (the site sadly appears to be defunct), which Immortal Machines did a dev interview on awhile back, is another modern game directly inspired by Herzog.

[Ink Asylum]

I played this at PAX East and enjoyed it enough to try it out a few more times, then the beta at home through Chrome. It's fun having two forms to switch between, and having a more direct hand in controlling your troops by directly positioning them around the field.

[Karmakin]

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Just because I don't see it mentioned, go look up Herzog Zwei. Airmech is basically a remake of that with a lot of modern conventions.

Which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But it's definitely a direct pattern of a previous game.

Cyber-Wing (the site sadly appears to be defunct), which Immortal Machines did a dev interview on awhile back, is another modern game directly inspired by Herzog.

Yeah, I saw this for two seconds and it was obviously an evolution of Herzog Zwei. Which is a GREAT thing, again I'll say it.

Favorite mech is easily TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN (All caps because well. I can't type in galaxy sized letters)

Actually my favorite mech game is Virtua On, way back when. Back in HS my group were pretty addicted to this game, driving to the local arcade to play this game.

[menage]

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Just because I don't see it mentioned, go look up Herzog Zwei. Airmech is basically a remake of that with a lot of modern conventions.

Which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But it's definitely a direct pattern of a previous game.

Cyber-Wing (the site sadly appears to be defunct), which Immortal Machines did a dev interview on awhile back, is another modern game directly inspired by Herzog.

Herzog Zwei was the first thing I thought when I saw the trailer. That game was awesome, I still on occasion put on the soundtrack on youtube. Technosoft was great.

[zarathstra]

My favorite mech at the moment is Battletech's Awesome. I've been cruising around in that thing PPCing the crap out of folks. It's fast enough that I don't feel plodding, but tough enough to take some punishment.

This game looks really neat, too. I might have to pick it up

[Lekon]

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Just because I don't see it mentioned, go look up Herzog Zwei. Airmech is basically a remake of that with a lot of modern conventions.

Which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But it's definitely a direct pattern of a previous game.

Oh no, they are quite upfront about Herzog Zwei being a big impression on them. One of the devs I chatted with was a huge fan of the game, said that one of their goals was "Herzog Zwei with a hell of an update of fun."

[Libuke]

I had never even heard of this before but it looks really neat.

MOBA (I still hate that term) are one of my favorite genre right now so I wouldn't mind giving this one a try.

My Favorite Mech is the Panther. Not sure why but I have always been a Dragonis Combine guy and it was just a good mech to play the bored game with.

[hunterx280]

Not sure if it counts but Xenogears was my favorite game with mechs. There was nothing quite like getting into your mech and squishing lowly little enemies beneath your big metal foot. I also always wanted an MMO with mechs but have never come across any. Hawken seems like it will fill most of the void even though it isn't an MMO.

Also, I remember being super obsessed with the first Armored Core.

[Lekon]

Originally Posted by hunterx280

Also, I remember being super obsessed with the first Armored Core.

Slightly off topic, but if you were obsessed with early AC's, you're going to love Hawken.

[BrassGecko]

Mech3 is still my favorite mech game. The feel of the weapons and mechs was excellent, and the Mobile Field Base guy remains one of my favorites for mission briefings.

[violent]

Herzog Zwei bro. Herzog Zwei. Only game that really got me into robuts.

[Scull]

Am I missing something? Isn't AirMech a F2P game already available on Steam? I know my son is playing it, but he didn't buy it at all. I should probably look into that some more. I have about 15 AirMech cards from PAX to get in game items, and apparently access to the beta.

[Ghostbear]

Originally Posted by Scull

Am I missing something? Isn't AirMech a F2P game already available on Steam? I know my son is playing it, but he didn't buy it at all. I should probably look into that some more. I have about 15 AirMech cards from PAX to get in game items, and apparently access to the beta.

I addressed this:

I should also note, the steam beta comes with a few goodies that you would normally have to plunk a bit of cash down on.

And no, you can't play the steam version without a beta key for steam.

[hunterx280]

Originally Posted by Lekon

Slightly off topic, but if you were obsessed with early AC's, you're going to love Hawken.

GrrSnort and I got to play a little 1v1 on Saturday of PAX but I think a bit of the fun was lost due to it being a large map and only one opponent. I'm super excited to get to try it for realz though.

[anakin876]

I had some fun with chrome hounds back in the day.

The different pilot thing reminds me of UN squadron. You could buy and customize different planes to switch between throughout the game (including an a-10) but you also chose 1 of 3 pilots at the beginning of the game. The pilot selection made a huge difference in how the game played.

[Mashidar]

I enjoyed it enough that I bought the steam bundle then paid for the points in the game shop while they were discounted. It's been worth it. Thanks again to Ghostbear for the code for the pax item.