Hardcore Mecha

It took me seven years, but I finally settled my debt with a mecha game called Hardcore Mecha, developed by the Chinese studio Rocketpunch Games. Overall, the game has its share of optimization issues, but it’s still a well-made mecha title from a Chinese developer, one I’m glad I owned a physical copy of.

I first encountered Hardcore Mecha in the mid-2010s when it was still a Kickstarter project called Code Hardcore. I remember it took a long time before the game finally released. In hindsight, Hardcore Mecha feels like a modern rendition of 2D mecha shooters and serves as a spiritual successor to games like Assault Suit Valken and Leynos, which had their heyday during the 16-bit era.

As a 2D mecha action game, Hardcore Mecha is impressive but feels somewhat unfinished. The storyline follows standard real robot tropes with a touch of super robot elements. The main story campaign feels only about 85% complete, making the experience feel janky and incomplete at times. It’s clear the development team may have struggled with level and pacing design, likely due to the lack of a veteran level designer on the team.

Where the game truly shines is in its mecha design and sprite quality. The visuals are top-notch for the genre, and the labor of love from the development team is vert obvious.

Although I didn’t enjoy the main story much as it felt hollow, I had a lot of fun with the post-game simulation mode, where the game's mecha assets are used far more effectively than in the main campaign. I’m planning to write a full article on Hardcore Mecha and its MechaTalk series in the future because the game clearly reflects the developers’ passion for mecha.

I also noticed a Chinese mobile game titled Hardcore Mecha Revelation, and I’m curious to see whether it will be released overseas.