We’re not sure how the folks at Endroad came up with the idea of reviving a long lost 70s anime for a new video game. But we’re glad they did, because UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves is really something.
The game gives you the opportunity to climb into the Grendizer, a Gundam-ish robot that avenges against evil. But it’s got its work cut out for it, after Planet Fleed finds itself ravaged by the Empire of Vega. The pilot, Daisuke, finds himself in a rebuilt state of mind, but eventually gets back on his feet and sets out to fend off further attacks from Vega before they can do further harm.
It does have minor technical setbacks here and there, but if you live for big robot action or anime-themed fun in general, Grendizer is a great little morsel.
Different Types of Gameplay That Works
When you’re first introduced to UFO Robot Grendizer, it’s in a third-person action game setup. You’ll guide the giant robot as he bashes enemies, while also dashing out of the way of harmful attacks. But what’s neat about this game is how it introduces other elements. This includes vertical shooting stages (ala a number of “shmups” on the market), as well as flying sequences with the Spazer (with the Grendizer housed inside).
These all blend together very nicely, creating a unique gameplay experience that we haven’t seen since the older anime games on the PS2. They all handle pretty well too, with just the right level of control and challenge. There are some tough bosses that can take a bit to overcome, but once you learn their patterns – in the classic gaming style! – you’ll be just fine. The missions could’ve used a bit more variety, but they’re still fun nevertheless.
You can also use experience points to unlock new abilities and upgrade current powers, creating even more devasting robo-action in the process.
While UFO Robot Grendizer doesn’t go above and beyond with its action, it definitely delivers for fans of this sort of game. That certainly beats going the “bad” route.
A Swell Ode To the Series, With Slight Hiccups
As far as appearance goes, UFO Robot Grendizer stays true to the original vision of creator Go Nagai. The graphics are great and mostly run at a smooth clip, and the little attention to details are pretty nice, particularly with the anime-themed explosions.
That said, some glitches do pop up on occasion, along with hit collision problems with some of the bigger bosses. They aren’t game-breaking, by any means, but they are slight annoyances that Microids will hopefully fix with a patch.
Audio-wise, the game is spot on. The heroic music is lovingly recreated from the anime (based on what I watched, anyway); and the voice acting, while cheesy, is certainly fun, giving the characters a great deal of heft.
Overall, some stuff could be fixed here, but I really enjoyed what UFO Robot Grendizerdid with its presentation. Now I’m tempted to watch more of Nagai’s work, just because.
Up, Up and Away With the Mighty Grendizer
UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves is a nice little holiday surprise. While there are some things that could use smoothing over, the overall adventure is a great one, and there’s a lot of fun stuff to bash with your super powered droid. Plus this will regenerate interest in the classic anime, which is a huge win for Nagai and his team.
I definitely recommend it, especially if you’ve got that classic anime itch you’ve been looking to scratch. And, honestly, who doesn’t have that?
GAMERHUB RATING: FOUR (out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Microids for the review code!
