History VideoGame / SteelBattalion

* InstantWinCondition: Line of Contact is made of this. To elaborate, the game revolves around Strategic Points, which are calculated from each side's total VT strength (amongst others). If, at any point, one side's Strategic Points are depleted (either by exhausting it via repeatedly destroying their [=VTs=], or by capturing bases, or both), the other side instantly wins, even if they seconds to losing under the very same condition. Naturally, many last minute, back-from-the-brink style victories were done due to this.

* FallingIntoTheCockpit: Happens during the first mission (technically Mission 00) in the first Steel Battalion game, when you're supposed to undergo a training program first. It's best to read the manual ''before'' starting, because it's not as easy as [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Amuro Ray]] makes it look.

* LightningBruiser: Medium 3rd-gen [=VTs=] are this compared to 1st-and-2nd-gen [=VTs=]. They're balanced out by costing a lot of sortie points, making their loss that much more impactful on the team. (When a VT is destroyed, its sortie point value is immediately subtracted from the team's total sortie points. If that value goes to 0, that team instantly loses.)

* AMechByAnyOtherName: Vertical Tank

* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler: A bad ending, where if you failed to provide cover fire to Natch when he needs to go out to operate a machinery in the final mission, a good, but cut short, ending where you succeed to open fire on the would-be assailant, and the best ending, which requires zero deaths on top of the good ending.]]

And third, the game is NintendoHard. Most infamously, didn't hit the [[EjectionSeat eject button]] in time when the warning lights told you to? ''[[FinalDeath Kiss your save game bye-bye.]]'' Not to mention, it is possible to [[UnwinnableByDesign get stuck]] if you fail too much since you won't have enough supply points to get replacement [=VTs=]. All of this is compacted by the fact your AI allies [[ArtificialStupidity can barely navigate the map]], [[ItsUpToYou leaving it all up to you.]] You're even treated to an especially painful BossBattle with a mech that can literally turn you off if you get hit. That's after all the {{Dakka}}. If that wasn't enough, every single mission has a time limit, with [[BladderOfSteel no pause feature.]]

The game failed at retail, largely due to two factors: the price, and the fact that Capcom, like most Japanese companies at the time, did not want to support the Xbox and spend time making sure the online modes in ''Line of Contact'' worked properly. It's also obviously a very niche, hardcore sort of game, much like how you don't see many [[SimulationGame combat flight or mech simulators]] released for the PC these days.

* AfterTheEnd: The game is set roughly 60 years after "Datacide", where an evolving silicon-eating microbes spread worldwide, eating computerized devices and causing societal chaos which led to a cross between post-apocalypse and World War II. China took over as the new UN and has become a fascist empire (coloquially dubbed "Uncle"), and by the beginning of the game, the US has to reclaim their nation from the Uncles.

* PlotArmor: Natch is the only teammate that will never die no matter how bad the situation will be... [[spoiler:until the end if you're not cautious enough to provide him cover fire while he needs to operate some machinery by walking on foot.]]

** Every once in a while, your crewmates will get letters from home. They are often banal, but it helps humanize all of them.

The game failed at retail, largely due to two factors: the price, and the fact that Capcom, like most Japanese companies at the time, did not want to support the Xbox and spend time making sure the online modes in ''Line of Contact'' worked properly. It's also [[CaptainObvious obviously]] a very niche, hardcore sort of game, much like how you don't see many [[SimulationGame combat flight or mech simulators]] released for the PC these days.

''Heavy Armor'' is set in an AlternateUniverse where a global disaster called "Datacide", in which silicon-eating microbe starts destroying microprocessors back in 2020, and by 2080, there are none left (in short, there is no computers anymore in any form), hence the DieselPunk look. The United States has also taken a major downfall as a result, to the point where the "United Nations" has [[InvadedStatesOfAmerica invaded most of it,]] driving the remaining US army to Mexico to reorganize. The United Nations are 16 mostly asian countries that have been conquered by China, here called the [[TheEmpire Asian Empire]] and appointed into the new UN by them in 2045 at the end of WorldWar3.

''Heavy Armor'' is set in an AlternateContinuity where a global disaster called "Datacide", in which silicon-eating microbe starts destroying microprocessors back in 2020, and by 2080, there are none left (in short, there is no computers anymore in any form), hence the DieselPunk look. The United States has also taken a major downfall as a result, to the point where the "United Nations" has [[InvadedStatesOfAmerica invaded most of it,]] driving the remaining US army to Mexico to reorganize. The United Nations are 16 mostly asian countries that have been conquered by China, here called the [[TheEmpire Asian Empire]] and appointed into the new UN by them in 2045 at the end of WorldWar3.

Why? Well, for starters, look at the controller you have to play it with. It features over 40 buttons (a few of which are used very infrequently, often just during the startup sequence), 2 joysticks (the left one only moving left and right for steering, the right one not centering and used to aim weapons and the manipulator), 3 foot pedals (gas, brake, and slidestep), a gear shift, and a radio dial (with 16 discrete positions, but only 5 are actually used). [[CrackIsCheaper By the way, the game sold new for about $200, and that's before you factor in the collector's market.]]

''Heavy Armor'' is set in an AlternateContinuity where a silicon-eating microbe starts destroying microprocessors back in 2020, and by 2080, there are none left, hence the DieselPunk look. The United States has also taken a major downfall as a result, to the point where the "United Nations" has [[InvadedStatesOfAmerica invaded most of it,]] driving the remaining US army to Mexico to reorganize. The United Nations are 16 mostly asian countries that have been conquered by China, here called the [[TheEmpire Asian Empire]] and appointed into the new UN by them in 2045 at the end of WorldWar3.

* AfterTheEnd: The game is set roughly 60 years after an evolving silicon-eating microbes spread worldwide, causing societal chaos. China took over as the new UN and has become a fascist empire (coloquially dubbed "Uncle"), and by the beginning of the game, the US has to reclaim their nation from the Uncles.

The China in the game is never actually called China, despite the Infantry using Chinese weapons and the soldiers speaking Chinese and all. They are very reminiscent of the Germans of WW2, what with their VT design mimicking iconic Wehrmacht Tanks; or their capturing innocent civilians to put them in installations for experimentation; or their use of Railway Guns to bombard Poland, because Russian forces are pushing into Berlin... Did we say they were China? Oh yeah, they invaded all of Europe before moving to the US and Germany signed a treaty with them. Now Berlin is the capital, and the site for the construction of a new super weapon.

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Played straight for a mech simulation, oddly enough, given that the genre's usually known for SubsystemDamage. ''Line of Contact'' treated leg integrity as different from body integrity and that a legged VT could be salvaged in Campaign mode, but is of no longer a point,since the Campaign servers died well before original UsefulNotes/{{XBox Live|Arcade}} did. In any case, as long as you have 1% of body integrity yet, you are capable of fighting just as well as if you're not hurt at all.

* PlotArmor: Natch is the only teammate that will never die no matter how bad the situation will be... [[spoiler: until the end if you're not cautious enough to provide him cover fire while he need to operate some machinery by walking on foot.]]

''Heavy Armor'' has been mostly bashed by critics due to problems with Kinect integration[[note]]Possibly due to the fact From Software is a Japanese company and the Kinect is not only is as unpopular as the {{Xbox360}} there, but also the fact the Kinect was made for Western/American markets in mind and not for Asian markets; especially with small Japanese house sizes.[[/note]] some of which can make the game needlessly frustrating (if not borderline impossible) to play. However, many reviewers note that under the problems, the game offers excellent combat, interesting (if somewhat stereotypical) characters and a good plot. Plus, even while the Kinect is... flawed, reviewers note that is [[RuleOfCool incredibly cool]] when/if the integration works and you're pulling the levers and slapping your crew in the middle of an intense firefight. In fact, if the game is viewed not as "futuristic robot infantry simulator" games like the previous ones did, and more of "walking tank crew simulator", the entire game very much (thematically) delivers on that front. It was never patched to fix its many issues and sold less than the original, making this likely the [[FranchiseKiller last Steel Battalion game.]]

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Played straight for a mech simulation, oddly enough, given that the genre's usually known for SubsystemDamage. ''Line of Contact'' treated leg integrity as different from body integrity and that a legged VT could be salvaged in Campaign mode, but is of no longer a point,since the Campaign servers died well before original XBox Live did. In any case, as long as you have 1% of body integrity yet, you are capable of fighting just as well as if you're not hurt at all.

* InNameOnly: Different setting, different VT designs, gamepad + Kinect instead of a proprietary physical controller. About the only things bridging ''Heavy Armor'' with the original XBox games are the words ''"Steel Battalion"'' in the title and combat in mechs called Vertical Tanks.

A completely new sequel, ''Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor'', developed by Creator/FromSoftware, was announced at 2010's Tokyo Game Show, and uses the {{Kinect}} in lieu of the specialized controller as well as the regular gamepad. It worked [[EpicFail about as well as you might expect]] waving your hands at the screen to operate the control panel for a massively complicated mech would work.

* MercyInvincibility: Subverted with ''extreme'' prejudice, especially in Line of Contact. The fancy 30-second boot sequence can be a death sentence if you decide to respawn too close to the action, as you can be killed while you barely got your VT off the starting point.

* SaveGameLimits: Just like a Roguelike. One file per pilot, and the game saves with your every decision. Lose a VT in combat? The supply points spent on it are LostForever. Run out of supply points in the middle of a campaign? You're demoted, time to make a new file! Fail to eject before your VT [[CriticalExistenceFailure explodes]] or [[SuperDrowningSkills sinks and floods]]? Your pilot's KIA, time to make a new file!

* ArtifactTitle: This game has absolutely nothing to do with the first two games, the only carryover are the Vertical Tanks, which look more like the HOUNDS from ChromeHounds than the [=VTs=] from the previous games.

''Heavy Armor'' has been mostly bashed by critics due to problems with Kinect integration[[note]]Possibly due to the fact From Software is a Japanese company and the Kinect is not only is as unpopular as the {{Xbox360}} there, but also the fact the Kinect was made for Western/American markets in mind and not for Asian markets; especially with small Japanese house sizes.[[/note]] some of which can make the game needlessly frustrating (if not borderline impossible) to play. However, many reviewers note that under the problems, the game offers excellent combat, interesting (if somewhat stereotypical) characters and a good plot. Plus, even while the Kinect is... flawed, reviewers note that is [[RuleOfCool incredibly cool]] when/if the integration works and you're pulling the levers and slapping your crew in the middle of an intense firefight. In fact, if the game is viewed not as "futuristic robot infantry simulator" games like the previous ones did, and more of "walking tank crew simulator", the entire game very much (thematically) delivers on that front. It was never patched and sold less than the original, making this likely the [[FranchiseKiller last Steel Battalion game.]]

* {{Eagleland}}: A Type 1 example.

* {{Eagleland}}: Largely Type 1 by the looks off America's portrayal.

A sequel was made, called ''Steel Battalion: Line of Contact'' (2004), which does not come with a controller and is essentially a multiplayer ExpansionPack with no singleplayer. The Campaign mode servers were shut down in 2005, but Capcom released a patch that allowed a code to unlock all [=VTs=] for Free Mission use. As of April 12, 2010, it is no longer running due to Creator/Microsoft shutting down all servers for original Xbox games. Despite this, the community has moved to Xlink Kai for their Line of Contact fix. LOC.NET used to have all the fine details on the game one could ever ask for, but it has since gone defunct. (It also added support for the Xbox's relatively-little-used [[UsefulNotes/HighDefinition HD 720p]] mode and 16:9, whereas the original topped out at 480p 4:3.)

A sequel was made, called ''Steel Battalion: Line of Contact'' (2004), which does not come with a controller and is essentially a multiplayer ExpansionPack with no singleplayer. The Campaign mode servers were shut down in 2005, but Capcom released a patch that allowed a code to unlock all [=VTs=] for Free Mission use. As of April 12, 2010, it is no longer running due to {{Microsoft}} shutting down all servers for original Xbox games. Despite this, the community has moved to Xlink Kai for their Line of Contact fix. LOC.NET used to have all the fine details on the game one could ever ask for, but it has since gone defunct. (It also added support for the Xbox's relatively-little-used [[UsefulNotes/HighDefinition HD 720p]] mode and 16:9, whereas the original topped out at 480p 4:3.)

* OutsideRide: Once, there are members of your VT crew that has to hitch a ride on top of your VT, tank desant-style. Of course, this means that if you get into a firefight, [[AnyoneCanDie they will die]].

* ShoutOut: The names shown on the VT in the Gamescom 2011 trailer 39 seconds in are those of actual fans of the original games, if rumor has it right.

A [[http://kotaku.com/5639355/steel-battalions-trailer-brings-giant-robot-warfare-to-new-york-city?skyline=true&s=i completely new sequel]], ''Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor'', developed by Creator/FromSoftware this time, was announced at 2010's Tokyo Game Show, and uses {{Kinect}} in lieu of the specialized controller as well as the regular gamepad. It worked [[EpicFail about as well as you might expect]] waving your hands at the screen to operate the control panel for a massively complicated mech would work.

''Heavy Armor'' is set in an AlternateContinuity where a silicon-eating microbe starts destroying microprocessors back in 2020, and by 2080, there are none left, hence the DieselPunk look. The United States has also taken a major downfall as a result, to the point where the "United Nations" has [[InvadedStatesOfAmerica invaded most of it,]] driving the remaining US army to Mexico to reorganize. The United Nations are 16 mostly asian countries that have been conquered by China, here called the Asian Empire and appointed into the new UN by them in 2045 at the end of WW3.

The China in the game is never actually called China, despite the Infantry using Chinese weapons and the soldiers speaking Chinese and all. They are very reminiscent of the Germans of WW2, what with their VT design mimicking iconic Wehrmacht Tanks; or their capturing innocent civilians to put them in installations for experimentation; or their use of Railway Guns to bombard Poland, because Russian forces are pushing into Berlin... Did we say they were China? Oh yeah, they invaded all of Europe before moving to the US and Germany signed a treaty with them. Now Berlin is the capital, and the site for the construction of a new superweapon.

''Heavy Armor'' has been mostly bashed by critics due to problems with Kinect integration[[note]]Possibly due to the fact From Software is a Japanese company and the Kinect is not only is as unpopular as the {{Xbox360}} there, but also the fact the Kinect was made for Western/American markets in mind and not for Asian markets; especially with small Japanese house sizes.[[/note]] some of which can make the game needlessly frustrating (if not borderline impossible) to play. However, many reviewers note that under the problems, the game offers excellent combat, interesting (if somewhat stereotypical) characters and a good plot. Plus, even while the Kinect is... flawed, reviewers note that is [[RuleOfCool incredibly cool]] when/if the integration works and you're pulling the levers and slapping your crew in the middle of an intense firefight. In fact, if the game is viewed not as "futuristic robot infantry simulator" games like the previous ones did, and more of "walking tank crew simulator", the entire game very much (thematically) delivers on that front. Time will tell if a patch will fix the Kinect issues (although with sales ''lower'' than the original its unlikely).

* ArtifactTitle: This game has absolutely nothing to do with the first two games, the only carryover are the Vertical Tanks, which look more like the HOUNDS from ChromeHounds than the [=VTs=] from the first Steel Battalion.
* BigApplesauce: The debut trailer shows the United States making a D-Day-style offensive on Manhattan against an unknown invading force.
* ContinuityReboot: With no mention of the Pacific Rim Forces or Hai Shi Dao, instead focusing on a United States offensive against an unnamed enemy on [[BigApplesauce Manhattan]] (revealed in game to be a fascist UN led by China) and much more primitive Vertical Tanks without computerization, this or an AlternateContinuity is very likely.
** The Gamescom 2011 trailer mentioning a silicon-eating microbe appearing in 2020 all but confirms this, given that the original games have their campaigns set around 2080, complete with heavily-computerized [=VTs=].

* InvadedStatesOfAmerica

* ArtifactTitle: This game has absolutely nothing to do with the first two games, the only carryover are the Vertical Tanks, which look more like they were copied from ChromeHounds than from the first Steel Battalion.

* AnyoneCanDie: Every character is unique, and like in ''Franchise/FireEmblem, all deaths are permanent.