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" Also available on: N/A Developer: From Software Publisher: Capcom Genre: Action Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor is the third release in Capcom&amp;#039;s mech simulation series. It follows Xbox originals Steel Battalion and Line of Contact, two titles that cost upwards of \u00A3100 and came with gargantuan 40-button, three pedal controllers.  Developed by From Software, the studio behind Dark Souls, the latest release combines the physicality of Kinect with the familiarity of a controller, and while not as physically impressive as its predecessors, Heavy Armor is no less hardcore. Death is an inevitability in Heavy Armor, due to the crippling level of difficulty. In keeping with past releases and From Software&amp;#039;s reputation of making hardcore games, Steel Battalion is tricky on so many levels. The first challenge is mastering the controls of a walking vertical tank and figuring out what everything does. It&amp;#039;s something that&amp;#039;s made easier with a tutorial, but proves difficult in the heat of battle.  The main thing to remember is that movement and weaponry is mapped to the controller, while everything else utilises Kinect. There are numerous buttons and dials within the VT that are pushed, pulled and pressed with a quick hand gesture. If the engine&amp;#039;s overheating, for example, relieve it by pulling a lever to the right-hand side of the viewing hole. Want to speed up? Pull the gearstick to the left of the viewer.  The majority of the game is spent sat down, but there are occasions when players stand up to peer outside the VT, holding hand to head to bring up a set of binoculars, or using both arms to grasp gun turrets. Though not as difficult as mastering a 40-button controller, memorising the ins-and-outs of your mech is tough, especially during particularly intense battles (which happens to be all of them).  You can give yourself a little extra protection by closing your viewing shutter, but that makes movement more difficult, which will likely result in death. It&amp;#039;s moments like this which prove that survival in Heavy Armor is never straightforward. Like most games that offer a challenge, it&amp;#039;s a struggle making it to the end, but a satisfying struggle nonetheless. Unfortunately, players aren&amp;#039;t helped by the occasionally unreliable Kinect system. Like most Kinect games, mastering the controls takes some getting used to, and there are moments when players will accidentally grab the wrong console or push the wrong button because of Kinect&amp;#039;s inconsistencies.  On the plus side, the developers have kept things relatively simple, so there are no inputs that flat out don&amp;#039;t work. It takes a little time, patience and practice, and will inevitably lead to moments of frustration, especially when levels must be restarted due to an accident with the self-destruct button.   One way to combat any sense of frustration is to participate in the game&amp;#039;s co-operative multiplayer levels, which can be unlocked throughout the course of the campaign. Co-op levels are a little more straightforward than other missions, offering the opportunity for some mindless score-based fun. It&amp;#039;s also the place to go to unlock new skins and weapons, which can be used to customise your VT.  With the single-player campaign is likely to occupy quite some time due to the difficulty, co-op is a good place to blow off some steam, get some extra practice and familiarise yourself with your VT. It&amp;#039;s a shame that there aren&amp;#039;t more options, because we think Heavy Armor would present some interesting versus, objective-based multiplayer scenarios.  The storyline, while not revolutionary, is handled well. Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor takes place in a war-ravaged future where semi-conductors are no more and battles are raged in antiquated vehicles. Your task will be to pilot a vertical tank, engaging in battle with a foreign superpower. Initially operating in urban areas on home soil, you will then take the fight to sandy dunes and picturesque countryside locales across the globe. The low-tech future setting gives Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor a WWII feel, something that&amp;#039;s reflected by the missions and locations. The first mission, for example, sees players storm New York in scenes that mirror the Normandy beach landings. The visuals are largely very good, although some of the environments, while detailed, are a little dull, something that isn&amp;#039;t helped by the amount of times you&amp;#039;ll have to replay them. Lead character Sgt. Powers, meanwhile, is a man with a troubled past, something that is explored in dramatic dream sequences. The strong, silent type, you can inject a little of your own personality or give him an edge by accepting or refusing gestures of friendship such as hand shakes and fist bumps. You can also beat the hell out of squad members who try to escape the VT, in moments that really ramp up the tension.  The supporting cast are bought to life in moments between battles and physical interactions with Powers. Their individual backstories and private lives are examined in loading screens and through unlockable letters from home. Most are clich\u00E9 stereotypes from every war movie imaginable, but the banter between each member feels authentic and is occasionally funny. It&amp;#039;s imperative you keep them alive, therefore, because death is final. Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor is the first genuine hardcore Kinect game, something that makes it so much more appealing. Despite some flashy visuals and a hard as nails single-player mode, there&amp;#039;s a sense that Heavy Armor would be a little dull if played exclusively with a controller. The use of Kinect makes it a much more immersive experience and adds an extra few layers of depth. The difficulty level won&amp;#039;t be to everybody&amp;#039;s taste, and the controls take some getting used to, but if you&amp;#039;ve got Kinect and want to test your mettle, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor is the game for you.    &amp;gt; What do you think of the game? Share your views "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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