Any decent single-player mech sims out there?

[Saika Renegade]

As of late I've been feeling a bit of a gap in my gaming repertoire, one that's usually been filled with giant robot fights, but I feel like I've worked my library of mech sims for as much as I can get out of it at this point. I have nothing against the multiplayer focus of Titanfall or Mechwarrior Online, but after giving them a fair shake I just found myself dispassionate about them and couldn't really bring myself to pick them up again. I was wondering if anyone out there had maybe heard about a good single player giant robot game that would be worth picking up. If you, good folk of the Escapist, have heard about any games in the genre that are worth the hunt or the effort to get running, I'd greatly appreciate a recommendation.

So far I've played all extant Mechwarrior titles, everything released under the Earthsiege and Starsiege line by Dynamix, and a fair number of Armored Cores. I have also played both Heavy Gear games and the first Steel Battalion (and gave Heavy Armor a well deserved disparaging), as well as Front Mission Evolved, Shogo Mobile Armor Division, Shattered Steel, G-Nome, Iron Soldier, and Iron Assault, just to name a few more esoteric titles.

I know the genre's offerings have gone a bit thin in recent years, but part of me hopes that I'm simply not well traveled and maybe there's something out there worth a shot.

 

[Racecarlock]

Iron Brigade is a steampunk mechwarrior and tower defense hybrid made by tim schafer. You're welcome.

 

[Fijiman]

Iron Brigade is a steampunk mechwarrior and tower defense hybrid made by tim schafer. You're welcome.

Damn, beaten to it but still highly suggest it.

The only other mech game I can think of is Chromehounds, but I can't wholeheartedly suggest that due to the fact that the servers were shut down years ago, effectively blocking you from like 90% of the game. That and it was primarily multiplayer focused when the servers were up and running.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Hmm, these two are a bit of a long shot I think because they're a different kind of giant mech to what you generally seem to go for, but have you tried Strike Suit Zero or Zone of the Enders (more specifically the second one)?

They're based more on the high-flying acrobatic kind of mech and Zone of the Enders has a lot of melee combat so it's kind of more of a Gundam-esque feel. I dunno if you want that kind of mech but if you do, these are pretty good games to try.

 

[broadbandmink]

If you have an original Xbox you might wanna check out MechAssault, which takes place in the BattleTech universe.

 

[Flammablezeus]

M.A.V. It's in early access and is basically a spiritual successor to Chromehounds. It looks great so far for being so early in development. You might want to hold out for a more finished product though.

 

[WindKnight]

at the moment all I can think of is armored core 4, and for answer - AC5 and its spinoff have more of a multiplayer focus that will put you at a disadvantage of you play solo.

If yours desperate, theres front mission evolved, but its ultimately a really dull 3PS, and really does not do the franchise justice (the series is know for gritty realistic scenarios, the game hits just about every sci-fi/mecha cliche it can).

 

[Saika Renegade]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've played Strike Suit Zero and ZOE--enjoyed them, but I don't quite class them as 'sims' due to their gameplay feel. Iron Brigade looks like it could be fun, and here's to hoping that MAV will pan out.

 

[Chappy0]

EDIT3: This is what I get for MOSTLY reading the OP. removing previous suggestions because you've played them.

EDIT2: Remembered something else. Ring of Red for the PS2. It's not a straight up Mech sim but it's got sim-like parts. It's part SRPG part mech combat part squad mangement. Here's some gameplay, skip to 1:36 for the mech gameplay (There's no real squad/crew management in this video, you can find other gameplay on youtube though).



Also, S.L.A.I. Steel Lancer Arena International, is another game that I remembered. A bit more in depth of a mech game than Ring of Red. A lot of customization and mech types. It's got a multiplayer mode but I never really gave it a look, the single player mode is rather large. I'm not sure if there's a story or not, I've never gotten very far (the Rankers, the top enemies of each area/ranking area really, REALLY tough).

(gameplay video I found on youtube, gives you the general idea).

 

[Sack of Cheese]

I've been playing Gundam Breaker. Pretty cool game. Hack 'n slash, with some gunplay, plays a bit like Dynasty warriors, maybe a bit tougher, with a lot of customisations.
You can pick up parts of enemies you've destroyed. For example, if you severe their head, there might be a bigger chance of you picking up the head part for your own Gunpla.
Here's a video in English if you're interested.

If you're into RTS, maybe consider Metal Fatigue. I love that game when I was growing up. You can pick up parts from destroyed mechs and put them on yours.

 

[Objectable]

Super Robot Wars. Its a turn based tactical RPG ala Fire Emblem, but it also contains about every character from every mech show ever made.

 

[Redryhno]

If you've played Front Mission Evolved, I highly recommend the previous entries in the series. They're not the best stories, but they are alot of fun and reward not just sitting and shooting, plus FM3 has a story that changes depending on a pretty funny choice early in the game.(basically, go to the mall or go to work) And some of the characters are just fucking amazing to listen to.

 

[moggett88]

I liked Phantom Crash for the original Xbox - if you can find some way to play it, I recommend doing so!

 

[Riddle78]

If you have an Xbox 360,there's Chromehounds. The multiplayer's been shut down for quite a while,but the single player game is still pretty nice. And,if you're willing to go back in time,I suggest literally every single MechWarrior game for the PC.