Strike Suit Zero Review: Killer Babysitter

Ever wondered how it would feel to pilot a sonic-booming missile-launching spaceship and a robot that can destroy anything in its path striking terror into the hearts of its enemies? Well that was idea behind indie studio Born Ready Games’ Strike Suit Zero. While it was certainly a very cool thing they were trying to achieve, the experience falls a little short in certain key areas.

In Strike Suit Zero, you get to fly a ship that can also transform into a huge robot capable of destroying anything in its path. Sounds great right? Well it was for a little while then when I reached around the middle of the game, I felt the game started to annoy me. Here I was, piloting this badass ship that can transform to an even more badass robot which caused many a wet cockpit (enemy’s wet their pants seeing me get it?) and yet I felt like I was nothing more than a babysitter.

What a nice day to be blasting my fellow man.

It was starting to bore the hell out of me with its damned missions. I’m on an epic mission to save earth, so make me feel like it. The missions was pretty much the same throughout the whole thing, kill X amount of cannons, fighters, freighters, cruisers etc and make sure your bombers, cruisers etc don’t get fried in the process. Kill and babysit and rinse and repeat.

At one point, even the NPC sounded bored, she asked me to and I quote, “As usual, destroy the flak cannons.” As usual? Really?

[Insert funny/smart caption here]

It’s not entirely bad though. The game starts off really slow then after awhile the Strike Suit joins your cause. Transform from a light-speed fighter jet to a hulking beast of war (after filling up the Flux meter by killing some baddies) and this is where the best part comes. Demolish waves of enemy fighters and send them into the abyss, it felt like I was a god and nothing could stand in my way. These are the moments that make Strike Suit Zero.

But it wasn’t consistent so you’re down to killing X amount of things to advance the plot most of the time (there is a plot somewhere). The AI wasn’t exactly finely tuned either, your teammates will fly and knock you and enemies don’t present a real threat. It’s more about overwhelming you with their numbers.

Failure will come when you’re on an escort mission. Many times have I failed missions and didn’t know what the hell just happened. You won’t exactly feel that powerful after a few those. And with a checkpoint system that sometimes throws you back a fair bit where you have to complete the same boring objectives again, I don’t feel like a badass.

I see you

One more thing I didn’t really appreciate was transforming into the robot means changing from a speed demon to an immobile piece of metal used for target practice by the enemies. Transforming while attacking a bigger ship means that all of its weapons are now locked onto you and you will definitely beat a hasty retreat when you see your shield is dwindling down like it was nothing.

So because of that, most of the time you will be hitting and running. Go in, put in a few shots then hurry on out of there, make a U-turn, repeat chorus. It was tedious and monotonous. It certainly has its moments but they are too few and far between, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this game other than wait for a sale before getting it. I’m all into supporting indie games and I love what they’re trying to do with Strike Suit Zero but there is just too much frustration ladled among the bright moments.