Video Review - Strike Suit Zero – Director’s Cut

by Steph Dumont

Format reviewed on Xbox One
Developers;Born Ready Games 
Publisher; Born Ready Games 
Formats; PC, XO, PS4, 
Release Date; Out Now

For those who want to watch rather than read

Recorded via Xbox One

For the full review in words let your eyes shift below the line.

When Paul first mentioned a review code for Strike Suit Zero – Director’s Cut was available and asked me if I’d be interested in doing the review for it, I quickly went online to check out the trailer for the game. I recalled the game being advertised on steam and being on offer with greenmangaming some time ago and the images did intrigue me but I didn’t look into it any further. This unfortunately for me is because I prefer my console gaming to PC gaming and so I overlooked this whilst browsing for something else to purchase on my Xbox 360. However when I checked out the trailer and realised Strike Suit Zero – Director’s Cut was not only coming to Xbox One as Microsoft’s first indie initiative title but with all the changes and upgrades consisting of a new restructured campaign, new ship models designed by Mechanical Design Engineer Junji Okubo (Appleseed: Ex Machina, Steel Battalion), improved graphics, extra suits and the Heroes of the Fleet DLC also consisting of five extra missions, I was sold. And the accompanying soundtrack to the trailer had me wanting to flail glow sticks in the air. Awesome.
Before I start I just want to say that during my play through of the game’s story campaign, I did not come across any bugs or any issues with the game. I didn’t find the loading screens between levels any longer than expected and there were only a few instances of frame rate drops during some busy/heavy screens but other than that, nothing major and I reviewed this on the Xbox One.
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Developed by Born Ready Games, Strike Suit Zero – Director’s Cut is an action packed arcade space shooter which has two campaigns where during the main story campaign you assume the role of a fighter pilot who gets chosen by what is thought to be an A.I to pilot a top secret project called, the Strike Suit, a powerful transforming suit that at a press of a button can change from spacecraft to mech depending on the required energy to do so called flux. You gain flux energy by blasting and taking down enemy targets which without doing so leaves you stuck in the otherwise spacecraft mode. Each mode of course has it’s own uses however, for instance, you move and boost faster in the spacecraft mode whilst being able to fire your secondary weapon which could be whatever you choose it to be upon loadout opposed to being stuck to the mechs standard autolocking fire, which uses up your flux energy. This is great for taking out swarms of smaller enemy spacecraft and perhaps smaller turrets on carriers but sometimes a quick straight strafe towards a bigger target with some quick firing rocket pods fairs you better than waiting to lock on and firing away whilst depleting your flux energy levels. At the same time, the mech mode allows you again to take out said smaller enemies rather quite fast with a quicker 360 degree movement to do so. Mix the two together however (especially later on when you’ve unlocked upgrades) and you become a one pilot strike suited killing machine.
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Which brings me back to the beginning of the game. I was quite excited to install the game, watched the intro which is sort of set in a motion comic sort of way and started playing. Beginning the game meant I started with the basic loud out and combine this with the what felt quite a slow tutorial my excitement dulled down a bit. As I progressed into the next level or two I had wondered if I wanted to continue this game. Suddenly I was hit with everything all at once with no idea who and what I was locked on to and who to shoot at which was a bit confusing at first. When the game gets going it can be a little taunting to have that amount of movement when trying to fix on a single target and explosions are happening all around you. Which btw, they do look quite spectacular as do all the particle and light trail effects. If you also take the time to focus your eyes on something other than all those weapon blasts, missiles, rockets target locks and debris (which there is A LOT OF) in this game, you will catch the stunning view of whatever planet you’re orbiting as well. Graphically, Strike Suit Zero- Director’s Cut is pretty stunning and pretty to look at. Getting back to playing, ONCE I’d progressed a little more (and I had to notch the difficulty down to easy which is unheard of by me – honest) acquired some decent upgrades and learnt to use the targeting system better with B button locking on to your nearest enemy and X for targeting enemies directly ahead of you, I found myself enjoying the game far more and acquiring platinum medals much easier. It is at THIS point where the controls and the movement of the Strike Suit all click in place and will have you transforming in and out of suit modes, destroying whole squads of enemy fighters and stripping carriers of turrets and laser beam cannons like you were watching a Michael Bay film whilst on psychedelics to what sounds reminiscent of the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack (It’s actually award-winning sound designer Paul Ruskay (Homeworld).

And don’t be surprised if you can’t tell what way up’s the right way...
I like this game.

Wrap Up

Pros: Looks great for MS’s first indie initiative title. Explosions, weapon fire and trail effects are all colourful and vibrant. HUGE space battles! 13 missions to play through in the story campaign with another 5 in the Heroes of the Fleet campaign. There’s actually two or three different endings dependent on your choice at the end of the game but I only viewed two. Good controls.

Cons: £15.99 is a little steep/£11.99 may have been more suitable. Slight frame drops during battles. Tutorial and beginning of the game starts a little slow but eventually gets going. Can be a bit daunting at first but stick with it, it gets better.

3.5/5

Strike Suit Zero – Director’s Cut is out now as a digital download for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Images courtesy of Developer
Game provided from PR (ICO Partners)