8Bit/Digi

Fight for What is Yours

The late 90s was a golden year for first-person shooters as many studios attempted to break away from the Doom style of shooters to forge more ambitious works. This era also saw a few titles that allowed players the thrill of piloting a mech in a first-person experience. Titles like Shogo: Mobile Armor Division and MechWarrior 2 are examples of such experiences.

That is why I got excited when I first heard about Mekkablood: Quarry Assault, a retro inspired mecha shooter.

Mekkablood: Quarry Assault puts players in the role of a robojockey on a warpath against the evil corporation that kidnapped his girlfriend. The game strikes a perfect balance between being a mecha experience and capturing the action of a classic first-person shooter.

Give Me Back My Stuff

In a distant future where humanity competes fiercely for resources, major corporations stop at nothing to gain the upper hand. One such entity, TorxCorp, plots to seize the mining claims on Fluxiam-7 from Bill, a former trucker turned robojockey. Believing they can force his surrender, TorxCorp kidnaps his girlfriend and steals his cherished figurines as leverage. Instead of yielding, their ruthless actions ignite Bill’s fury, propelling him onto a relentless warpath.

Players take on the role of Bill as he pilots his mekk through the TorxCorp quarry. With support from Rustry, he will rescue his girlfriend and reclaim his figurines. At the same time, he will teach TorxCorp a lesson on what happens when you mess with him.

On the surface, it carries all the hallmarks of a classic mecha story: evil corporations battling over resources with awe-inspiring mechs. However, Mekkablood: Quarry Assault sets itself apart by drawing more inspiration from Megas XLR than from the likes of the Gundam series or Battletech / MechWarrior. For those unfamiliar, Megas XLR was an anime-inspired show that could be best described as Evangelion if it was created by Kevin Smith. This is best exemplified by its protagonist, he isn’t a noble soldier or a mercenary but a hard-working trucker who will defend his friends. His partner is a guy just like him while also being the voice of reason at times.

Dance of Metal

Mekkablood: Quarry Assault wants to capture the hallmarks of shooters from the late 90’s but with elements of a mech game. It has done this successfully on so many levels. From a visual perspective, it has succeeded at this with its retro-inspired visuals. It strikes the ideal balance of being detailed while also capturing the feel of a game from that era.

While the game draws inspiration from late ’90s shooters, it places significant emphasis on the details of your mekk’s interior. Health and ammo are displayed on the screen for easy monitoring. The cockpit-mounted monitors provide a rear view, enabling quick reactions to potential threats. The charm is further enhanced by small details, like scattered mess and leftover food. This all adds to your characters trucker roots.

There is nothing fancy or innovative about the gameplay mechanics. This is a first-person shooter and all you do is shoot the waves of enemy mechs you encounter. Your arsenal sticks to genre staples, offering everything from shotguns to plasma weapons and rocket launchers. Naturally, the game also features challenges to overcome and hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered. This all adds a layer of excitement to the overall experience.

Secret Unlocked

As mentioned earlier, I enjoyed the story and its colorful characters. It’s rare to come across something that evokes the spirit of Megas XLR, but when it happens, it’s always a welcome sight. Whether it’s in a mech discussion forum or a mech game, the nods feel like a delightful treat for those of us who remember the series.

First-person mech games are a rarity, and it’s even rarer to find one that doesn’t aim to be a simulator. The last time I played such a game was Gundam Evolution, and I was heartbroken when its servers shut down. That’s why I appreciated Mekkablood: Quarry Assault. It carries the hallmarks of a mech simulator while delivering the fast-paced feel of a 90s first-person shooter. Success requires adapting to its unique blend, rather than treating it strictly as a mech game or a traditional shooter.

I also enjoyed the variety of mech designs encountered throughout the game. It’s evident that the creators are true fans of the genre, as many designs pay homage to classics. These nods go beyond Gundam to include beloved titles like Patlabor, Front Mission, and MechWarrior. Fans of the mech genre will undoubtedly appreciate these thoughtful tributes to iconic designs and overall series.

Game Over

A first-person mech games always works out great when executed properly. Unfortunately Mekkablood: Quarry Assault isn’t perfect as it falls short in regard to some aspects.

It took some time but I started to notice how uninteresting most of the levels were. They appeared bland and uninspired, lacking any distinctive features or elements that captured the spirit of a mecha title. They had nothing that made them stand out or make the experience challenging. Instead, moving through them felt like playing a generic shooter from the ’90s.

While the game adopts the visual style of a ’90s shooter, it fails to replicate the feeling of one. Combat feels sluggish, and the weapons lack impact or excitement, with each delivering similar results. If the game had leaned into the tactical depth of a mech simulator, this might have been forgivable—but it doesn’t. There’s no strategy to your attacks; it’s simply a matter of shooting and defeating enemy mechs. In the end, you don’t get the same excitement you will have in either Doom or MechWarrior 2.

Finally, it’s annoying how the game takes you back to the title screen every time you die.

Lock’N Load!

Despite its shortcomings, Mekkablood: Quarry Assault is an experience that gamers can enjoy, whether they’re fans of mech games or classic shooters.

Mekkablood: Quarry Assault is an old-school inspired shooter that adds a unique twist to the classic mecha story. This is made possible with it’s colorful cast of characters that break from genre standards. Of course, it has not forgotten about its inspiration with a variety of mech designs that pay homage to the classics. Plus, it has been a long time since we saw an FPS mech game.

Disclaimer: The publisher through a PR representative provided the game used for this review.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mekkablood: Quarry Assault (PC)

7

Good

7.0/10

Pros

• Its colorful cast of characters that break from genre standards.
• Story is a genre staple but with its own twist.
• Variety of mech designs that pay homage to the classics.
• It has been a long time since I played a mecha FPS.

Cons

• Level designs are bland and uninspiring.
• Combat has more of a sluggish sensation.
• It takes you to the title screen every time you die.