[PAX Prime 2012] Strike Suit Zero

[UWCrash]

Wing Commander and Freespace are just a couple of the games serving as inspiration for Strike Suit Zero. Being developed by Born Ready Games, Strike Suit Zero is looking to bring back the space combat genre in a big way. Based on what was playable at PAX Prime this year, they certainly have a very good start to that end.

Taking place in a distance future where man has settled amongst the stars, you’ll be fighting to defend Earth from a splinter faction of humanity. You’ll primarily be piloting the game’s namesake: the one-of-a-kind Strike Suit. In its most basic form, the Strike Suit is a space fighter with the usual gun and lock-on missiles; however, as you destroy enemy craft you’ll build “Flux”. The Flux resource is used to transform into a Mech mode, which allows increased maneuverability and firepower. You’ll be able to pull off tight 180-degree turns and rapidly missile-lock several targets at once in this mode, and while it will constantly drain your Flux, it can be maintained indefinitely if you can continue taking down enemy forces.

You’ll also have an opportunity to pilot other craft, although they won’t be capable of the same transformations as the Strike Suit. Interceptors, Fighters, and Bombers will cover an array of speed vs. power when you aren’t using the mech. You’ll also have a degree of support from Earth’s defense forces. During part of the mission playable at PAX, three enemy ships fired a salvo of missiles at a capital ship you need to protect. Unlike a few older titles (again Wing Commander and Freespace come to mind), failing to take out all of the missiles yourself won’t spell failure for the mission as a whole. It might be in your best interest to take down a few missiles yourself and then switch your attention to the hostile destroyers, leaving the rest of the missiles to friendly NPC forces.

This isn’t to say that missions are a pushover or friendly forces can take care of everything themselves. In fact, you won’t even be able to complete all of the mission objectives on your first playthrough. As you expand your arsenal over the game’s 13 missions, you’ll have a chance to replay earlier levels and take down challenges that weren’t possible at first. You’ll need to do so if you want to successfully defend Earth and work towards the best ending.

The game looked fantastic on the show floor, and if you need references, they dropped a couple from the artistic side of production. Junji Okbuo, known for Appleseed and Steel Battalion, has had a hand in character/vehicle design. The score for the game is also being provided by the composer of the Homeworld soundtrack, Paul Ruskay.

Strike Suit Zero played fantastic on the show floor, which was a pleasant surprise as I was skeptical of using a mouse and keyboard for flight controls. I may not have finished the playable mission (hint: don’t fly into the firing solution of a capital ship), but it was a ton of fun. I can’t wait to get my hands on it when it releases later this fall on PC. Don’t fret console players, it's also planned for console releases in early 2013.

[Superman's Dead]

UNGH

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[evilgoodwin]

My pants! They're ruined!

[Darkmatter]

Mouse and keyboard.

[Superman's Dead]

WOAH. Composer of the homeworld soundtrack!?!?!??!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!? !?!?!?

guys

[Karmakin]

So it's Macross meets Freespace Meets Tie Fighter.

Yup. UNF UNF UNF.

[Wasson_]

That's cool and all, there better be some sort of melee attack with the robot mode.