GIGANTIC ARMY

The game is rather short. However, it is quite fun. I can recommend it since it's good.

Very fun run and gun shooter from Astro Port. They graphics are relatively simple but attractive and well animated in my opinion. The action is a bit slower than your standard side scrolling shooter such as Contra or Metal Slug. The game obviously draws heavily from Assault Suit Leynos and Vulkan in both how the Mech handles as well as the way the game has a fairly basic loadout system with a primary and secondary weapon for the player to choose from. Definitely recommended for fans of robots and run and guns with a bit of patience.

After a trifecta composed of the bad [b]B.A.D.[/b], the disappointing [b]Gunhound[/b] and the decent [b]Leynos[/b] remake, there was good reason to be wary of approaching yet another mecha game from the mid-2010s, even if made by a developer with a good track record. Fortunately, [b]Gigantic Army[/b] succeeds because it's simpler: there is a shield but no lock-ons or dedicated run buttons, punches are delivered automatically to enemies up close with the same button as firing, and while of course bulky and slow as it should be, the mech is quite responsive. It feels familiar for fans of its subgenre, but quicker and easier to pick up and play. While some of the animation is too flash-like, it's overall pretty great to look at, with plenty of enemy mecha that go from the same size as the player to ridiculously huge war machines. Sprites and bullets stand out clearly over the backgrounds; the overall aspect is quite gritty in early levels, while the last missions are in cold, aseptic places spared from the destruction of war. The game however goes too far in simplifying certain aspects. The loadout is limited to a choice of one out of three main weapons and one out of three special…

short game but addictive.

This is thoroughly a spiritual successor to Assault Suits Valken/Cybernator. Even at that, Gigantic Army is a very pure game that can differentiate itself from Valken, the later MECHBLAZE, and other mecha platformers in general. If you vibe with it, you'll be coming back to it. Movement is appropriately weighty and deliberate. Walking gives tight but slow control while dashing has some inertia and locks the facing direction. Useful for firing backwards while keeping free aiming, but the double-tap input can get in the way of needing to take small steps into a tight bullet pattern. Moving in any direction will aim towards that direction. You can stop or lock freely at any point to fire at any angle. Properly aiming can be hard at times because the swivel is fairly fast and there is a long-enough-to-be-noticeable delay between holding the fire button and the direction locking. Can be avoided by letting go of movement before holding as a compromise. Jumps are a fixed height, the jetpack only gives so much airtime, and a hard landing leaves the Saladin inactive for a bit. Might be really bad inconveniences in any other game - and you'll certainly feel them settle in as you really grip…

Is it fun? No. Does it have the potential to be fun? Also no.