PeakPointMatrix
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PLATFORM: PS3/PSVITA/PSP (PS1 Classic)
PRICE: $5.99
RELEASE DATE: Out now! (In the US)
Well this is a pleasant surprise. The long sought-after, rare hidden gem of a game on the PS1, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, has finally seen a release on the U.S. PSN store. Previously thought impossible due to the legalities and the general shirking of this particular franchise, TMoTB being granted a digital release is nothing short of a small miracle. What better way to celebrate than with a full blown OT for new-comers and fans alike!
PRICE: $5.99
RELEASE DATE: Out now! (In the US)
Well this is a pleasant surprise. The long sought-after, rare hidden gem of a game on the PS1, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, has finally seen a release on the U.S. PSN store. Previously thought impossible due to the legalities and the general shirking of this particular franchise, TMoTB being granted a digital release is nothing short of a small miracle. What better way to celebrate than with a full blown OT for new-comers and fans alike!
TMoTB is a prequel to the Megaman Legends series, starring the Sky Pirate villains known as the Bonnes. You take control of a sister amongst siblings, Tron Bonne herself, in a mission to pay back a million-zenny debt racked up by their eldest brother and leader, Tiesel Bonne. Despite its ties to the Legends games, this prequel requires little-to-no knowledge of anything Megaman or the Legends series for that matter. It is a self-contained game you can simply pick up and enjoy regardless of familiarity.
TMoTB is a mash-up of different styles of games. As the story progresses, you are tasked with robbing banks, going through with heists, dungeon crawling, puzzle solving, with some deceptively simple RPG elements weaved in. Between missions youll regroup on your airship and headquarters, the Gessellschaft, where you can train, level up or just chat up your Servbot underlings. As you are dispatched to missions, you will be bringing along a handful (out of 40!) of your most trusted Servbots to help you.
This ability functions across all gameplay types. Essentially, you can direct the Servbots with you to loot, attack, or interact for you on demand. You simply aim and shoot the beacon bomb at anything of interest, and your loyal Servbots will stampede toward that direction. Aim at everything! You never know what sorts of treasures or easter-eggs await
(Note: This next section explains the different gameplay types, and NOT the number of stages you will encounter in the entirety of this game)
DESCRIPTION: The most prominent type of gameplay in TMoTB will be at the helm of Trons robotic mech, the Gustaff. This action oriented mode of play is the closest Megaman Legends style of gameplay here. You are equipped with a customizable weapon on your left arm to shoot with, as well as the ability to pick up cars, boulders, or whatever you can find and throw at your foes. Upgrade and customize your Gustaff with items you find on missions in the Lab (more on this later). Youll be able to bring six Servbots of your choice to assist and attack for you on this style of mission.
IMPORTANT: In addition your six Servbots on the field with you, there is a seventh Servbot at the helm acting as the "Sniper". This role should only be filled by Servbots specialized with Sniper as their special ability. A Sniper Servbot's stats will directly affect the Range, Power, and Rate of Fire of your current weapon. (ATTACK = Higher Damage, SPEED = Rate of Fire, BRAINS = Range) To be clear, it IS NOT recommended you just place any Servbot in the role of Sniper. Even a regular attack Servbot with a high attack rating will be weak if they don't have the 'Sniper' title.
IMPORTANT: In addition your six Servbots on the field with you, there is a seventh Servbot at the helm acting as the "Sniper". This role should only be filled by Servbots specialized with Sniper as their special ability. A Sniper Servbot's stats will directly affect the Range, Power, and Rate of Fire of your current weapon. (ATTACK = Higher Damage, SPEED = Rate of Fire, BRAINS = Range) To be clear, it IS NOT recommended you just place any Servbot in the role of Sniper. Even a regular attack Servbot with a high attack rating will be weak if they don't have the 'Sniper' title.
DESCRIPTION: In this mode of play, you will be piloting a remote-controlled machine dubbed the Finkel, built specifically to search deep into caves and tunnels of Ryship Island. In this mission type, you will be maneuvering entirely in First Person, interacting with fellow spelunkers and adversaries as you go along. There is an increased RPG focus as you explore caves, overcome various traps, and collect the necessary items and treasures needed to progress. Of the three Servbots that can accompany you in this mission type, one will pilot the Servbot Borer, which will take care of any cave digging required.
DESCRIPTION: This gameplay places you in a grid-based harbor setting. Here, you pilot your modified Gustaff to hijack as much valuable cargo as you can. The puzzle aspect equips you with a limited number of moves you can make, as well as different kinds of crates that you must both clear out of the way and use to your advantage in retrieving the valuable cargo. In this mission type, you will be accompanied by one Servbot, who will supply you with hints if needed.
THE GESSELSCHAFT
This flying whale in the sky acts as both your home and headquarters. Both before and after a mission, you are free to roam the Gesselschaft to regroup after a mission or simply relax and hang out! As the game progresses, you'll unlock more areas of the ship, in addition to access to more and more of your forty servbots. I'll review a portion of the available rooms here:
THE LAB
This will most likely be your most frequented room. Here you can create weapon and armor add ons for the Gustaff through a combination of funding and spare parts you find on your journey. In addition, you can purchase recovery items to use on missions.
STORAGE ROOM
Here you can have items found on your missions appraised, as well as selling unneeded ones. The extra items you steal like apples, dinners, etc, can be sold here for some extra Zenny!
THE GYM
Another important room you may be spending a lot of time in. You'll be doing all of the key training for your servbots here, divided between two mini games.
Training game #1 is an attack based game, where the aim is to take down the required amount of targets within the time limit. Doing so will raise the current Servbot's attack rating by 1 point. HINT: The key to this one is to try aiming in between TWO targets to take them down at once. Especially those that offer double points. Later difficulties are impossible to beat otherwise.
Training game #2 is a speed based mini game. Here you must fulfill the lunch orders for a long line of Servbots within the time limit. Doing so will raise the selected Servbot's speed rating by 1 point.
THE TORTURE ROOM
This is... exactly what it sounds like. While your Servbots are generally loving and loyal, that doesn't mean they are free of laziness. Once their SLOTH rating hits 4, they will by too lazy to join you on missions. Enter the Torture Room! Whip up your layabout Servbots into shape in a torture mini game to make sure they never slack off again! (The frequency of this occurring is pretty low, so don't think you'll be over whelmed by 40+ Servbots going lazy on you)
This flying whale in the sky acts as both your home and headquarters. Both before and after a mission, you are free to roam the Gesselschaft to regroup after a mission or simply relax and hang out! As the game progresses, you'll unlock more areas of the ship, in addition to access to more and more of your forty servbots. I'll review a portion of the available rooms here:
THE LAB
This will most likely be your most frequented room. Here you can create weapon and armor add ons for the Gustaff through a combination of funding and spare parts you find on your journey. In addition, you can purchase recovery items to use on missions.
STORAGE ROOM
Here you can have items found on your missions appraised, as well as selling unneeded ones. The extra items you steal like apples, dinners, etc, can be sold here for some extra Zenny!
THE GYM
Another important room you may be spending a lot of time in. You'll be doing all of the key training for your servbots here, divided between two mini games.
Training game #1 is an attack based game, where the aim is to take down the required amount of targets within the time limit. Doing so will raise the current Servbot's attack rating by 1 point. HINT: The key to this one is to try aiming in between TWO targets to take them down at once. Especially those that offer double points. Later difficulties are impossible to beat otherwise.
Training game #2 is a speed based mini game. Here you must fulfill the lunch orders for a long line of Servbots within the time limit. Doing so will raise the selected Servbot's speed rating by 1 point.
THE TORTURE ROOM
This is... exactly what it sounds like. While your Servbots are generally loving and loyal, that doesn't mean they are free of laziness. Once their SLOTH rating hits 4, they will by too lazy to join you on missions. Enter the Torture Room! Whip up your layabout Servbots into shape in a torture mini game to make sure they never slack off again! (The frequency of this occurring is pretty low, so don't think you'll be over whelmed by 40+ Servbots going lazy on you)
There are a total of 40 Servbots in the game ready to serve you at your beck and call. Each Servbot has a unique personality, many with hidden talents waiting to be uncovered. Depending on their stats, many Servbots who specialize in different areas can benefit you in a variety of ways within your home base or actual gameplay.
Servbot Stats: Depending on their specialty and stats, you must mix and match your team of Servbots that come along missions with you. Here are their stat breakdowns:
Attack- This determines how much damage a Servbot will cause when sent to an enemy. Servbots specializing in certain weapon types (Bazooka, Grenades) will see more explosive output as their attack rating goes up. Train their attack abilities at the Gym in the Gesselschaft. Use Attack Cubes to raise attack as well.
Speed- Self explanatory. Simply the speed at which Servbots will charge at their Target. Train their speed in the Gym in the Gesselschaft. Use Speed Cubes to raise speed as well.
Brains- Servbots with higher brain ratings will bring back better items from their scouting missions, on top of providing better hints during the puzzle portions. Servbots taken on missions will naturally have their Brain ratings go up. Use Brain Cubes to raise their Brain as well.
Sloth- Servbots will become lazy overtime. When their Sloth meter is full, they will be too lazy to join you on missions. When this happens, the only solution to lower their Sloth is a trip to the Torture Room! Use Energy Cubes to lower their Sloth rating as well.
Servbots: Special Skills
Many Servbots have unique talents and abilities. Its up to you to discover them by talking to them, handing them items and training them. NOTE: For Gustaff missions, it is recommended to only use Servbots specializing as Snipers as your seventh Servbot placed as a Sniper.
Scouting Missions
Before you head out on a mission, don't forget to elect a handful of Servbots to head out and scout for items while you're away! When you return from a successful mission, you'll also be notified of the scout team's findings while they were out. A higher BRAIN rating increases the likelihood of a rarer item being found.
Servbot Stats: Depending on their specialty and stats, you must mix and match your team of Servbots that come along missions with you. Here are their stat breakdowns:
Attack- This determines how much damage a Servbot will cause when sent to an enemy. Servbots specializing in certain weapon types (Bazooka, Grenades) will see more explosive output as their attack rating goes up. Train their attack abilities at the Gym in the Gesselschaft. Use Attack Cubes to raise attack as well.
Speed- Self explanatory. Simply the speed at which Servbots will charge at their Target. Train their speed in the Gym in the Gesselschaft. Use Speed Cubes to raise speed as well.
Brains- Servbots with higher brain ratings will bring back better items from their scouting missions, on top of providing better hints during the puzzle portions. Servbots taken on missions will naturally have their Brain ratings go up. Use Brain Cubes to raise their Brain as well.
Sloth- Servbots will become lazy overtime. When their Sloth meter is full, they will be too lazy to join you on missions. When this happens, the only solution to lower their Sloth is a trip to the Torture Room! Use Energy Cubes to lower their Sloth rating as well.
Servbots: Special Skills
Many Servbots have unique talents and abilities. Its up to you to discover them by talking to them, handing them items and training them. NOTE: For Gustaff missions, it is recommended to only use Servbots specializing as Snipers as your seventh Servbot placed as a Sniper.
Scouting Missions
Before you head out on a mission, don't forget to elect a handful of Servbots to head out and scout for items while you're away! When you return from a successful mission, you'll also be notified of the scout team's findings while they were out. A higher BRAIN rating increases the likelihood of a rarer item being found.
This is one of those titles that survives the test of time on its unbridled charm alone. It oozes personality every step of the way, from the vibrant locals to the eccentric cast. Once thought to be lost in time forever, this digital release is a great chance for those who missed the game to get a taste of the Legends charm that has earned so many fans today. There's a lot more depth buried in this game, and the above has only scratched the surface. They really don't make games like these anymore. It also costs about as much as a sandwich, so what do you have to lose? Give it a shot, and learn WHERE the servbot helmet actually originated from.
(all credit for screenshots goes to legends-station.com)
