I never knew what a “Sandbox” style RPG was until I played Steambot Chronicles (Bumpy Trot in Japan). And actually, I still don’t think I get it. I understand that Steambot Chronicles is a non-linear game that lets the players decide what they want their gaming experience to be, whether it’s mecha-fighting, farming, music, or terrorizing the masses. And while it makes for a very one-of-a-kind gaming experience, personally I just don’t want to be that decisive when it comes to my RPGs.

Before the game starts, you take a personality-style quiz. Then the game opens with you waking up on the beach. You learn your name is Vanilla, a guy who just washed ashore. The girl who finds you helps you get your bearings. Then the passage off the beach is blocked by “a blue thing shooting missiles.” After some running around, you get your trotmobile, rescue the girl and away you go. But again, this is only the beginning.

Gameplay allows you to choose which path you’ll follow. The introduction lets you learn the skills you’ll be using for your gamelife. You’ll master your trotmobile, upgrade and customize it with parts you’ll receive or buy, right down to your paint job, and travel around either helping people or ganking them as a roaming thug (with your own vanity license plate). You become a musician and learn to play new instruments to earn currency and eventually play with the band. But know this: Sometimes the game requires you to play music, which is hinted at when you receive your first real item, a harmonica. It’s much like a rhythm game and pretty easy to pick up. You can be a farmer and grow the food all the characters need to function. Because unlike most RPGs, you use up hitpoints just by standing around wasting time. You could literally be full, move to the next screen, plan your next moves and need to eat and refill your life meter-- if you take too long. Because of its non-linear story, each time you play (or each file you choose to make) will give you a completely different experience. There’s plenty of world to explore, so you may actually find yourself making new files just to see which story catches your fancy. There are also other minigames and side stories within the story framework. You’ll do errands like deliver carpets, or you can even play pool, or go swimming, or run around in a cowboy outfit (which I chose not to do, just on principle). You can customize your character in new outfits, learn to play new instruments, or simply explore the Steambot World.

As for the trotmobiles, there is a tutorial you can play that allows you to master the beasts. They drive like tanks, using both analog sticks to direct the monstrosity and the shoulder buttons to deploy the weapons. You can also lock on target before deploying your guns, or you can go into defensive mode (which I found mostly useless). It’s all a little tricky at first, but you’ll get the hang of it. I quite enjoyed throwing my mentor around the fight ring. It’s basically a simple FPS that lets you melee your opponent in cartoony graphics.

The one thing I did find annoying with the trotmobiles was in-town navigation. Once you entered the town, autopilot kicks in and you’ll be moving along on the street, waiting at stoplights, merging with traffic… exactly what you don’t want to do. Personally I was looking forward to running in traffic, picking up the car in front of me and using it as a battering ram on anything and everything in front of me. Sorry, no dice. The trotmobiles have a traffic failsafe.

Graphically, there’s nothing too showy. Don’t expect Square-quality graphics; I liked the cartoony-looking characters, but the water effects were nice only to a point. It seemed like well-rendered water until the character interacted with it, and then it became jello. I was also annoyed by how slow everything seemed. In my trotmobile, I found myself using the boost button way too much and wound up out of gas. Sound is pleasant, but not thrilling. The music fits this game, but it doesn’t make you want the soundtrack.

Overall, while playing this game, I was reminded of every Final Fantasy game I’ve played; they’ve brought in the bots from FF 5/6

I don’t doubt there are probably 50+ hours of gameplay, simply because of the game’s setup. Non-linear makes for a very unique gaming experience, if that’s what you want. If you like Animal Crossing, you may want to check this one out. I’m wavering on this game myself. It’s a nice diversion, but doesn’t drag me in like most RPGs. That’s probably because it isn’t like most.

Rating:
Our Scoring System