Summary
Gaming history has seen countless bizarre peripherals, from the NES Power Glove to the GameCube’s infamous chainsaw controller. Some of these are clever; others are questionable. But there’s nothing quite like the massive controller created for Xbox exclusiveSteel Battalion.
Steel Battalion’s Absurdly Complex Controller
Developed by Capcom and released in 2002 for the original Xbox,Steel Battalionis an immersive first-person shooter that places you in the cockpit of a bipedal mech known as a “Vertical Tank” (VT). Throughout the game, you’ll be engaging enemies in tense firefights while maneuvering through steep terrain, managing radio communications, and putting out fires in your VT.Steel Battalionis unwavering in its commitment to being a hardcore mech-simulator, but that’s not the only reason people still remember this game.
Steel Battalioncame bundled with a roughly 34-inch (88 cm) controller that featured nearly 40 buttons, three foot pedals, two control sticks, a radio dial, a gear shift lever, and an instruction manual for assembling and understanding each of these inputs.
Because of the controller’s complexity,Steel Battalionwas released in limited quantities and initially retailed for around $200. Unfortunately, the price of the controller alone has skyrocketed in recent years, now selling for anywhere between $300 and $700 in good condition.
Steel Battalion’s overwhelming control scheme isn’t just for show. Every single input on the controller serves a unique purpose in gameplay. Starting up your VT at the beginning of each mission requires you to complete a lengthy procedure that involves 8 different buttons. Moving around is a delicate process that demands careful use of the foot pedals and gear shift.
Most importantly, there’s a dizzying number of inputs involved in aiming, firing, and reloading your weapons. There’s even a button for cleaning your VT’s windshield.
Once you’ve grasped the controls,Steel Battalionwill still challenge you with its unforgiving combat. Unlike the mechs found in similar games such asTitanfallandArmored Core, the VTs ofSteel Battalionare slow, lumbering titans that require strategy and patience to pilot.
Encounters with enemy VTs often devolve into hectic shootouts that force you to carefully line up shots while evading an onslaught of gunfire and cannons. However, careless maneuvering can cause your VT to lose balance and tip over, adding an extra layer of challenge and tension to every battle.
The most brutal part ofSteel Battalionis how it handles failure. The controller includes an eject button, allowing you to evacuate from your VT during a mission. However, if you fail to eject before your VT is destroyed, that death is permanent. The game wipes your save and forces you to restart the entire campaign.
Steel Battalion’s punishing design won’t appeal to everyone, but the game is unmatched in its ability to immerse you in the role of a mech pilot. Whether you’re in the midst of combat or traversing the desolate battlefields between objectives, it’s hard not to get engrossed in the action when you’re seated behind a real-life control panel.
Steel Battalionprobably didn’t need a hulking, 40-button controller to deliver a decent shooter, but its inclusion results in an experience that even the best mech games can’t replicate. At its core,Steel Battalionis a simulator, and it dedicates every element of its design to delivering the most realistic-feeling experience you can possibly get out of a game about giant robots.
Although this immersive quality was a niche taste back in 2002, it’s the main reason thatSteel Battalionand its controller deserve a modern revival.
Steel Battalion for the Modern Age
Despite its niche status,Steel Battalionreceived two sequels that took the series in very different directions.
One of these sequels was the infamousSteel Battalion: Heavy Armor, released for the Xbox 360 in 2012.Heavy Armorditched the original’s controller in favor of the Kinect, replacing the 40-button panel and foot pedals with motion controls and voice commands. Unsurprisingly, the Kinect’s spotty motion detection couldn’t keep up withHeavy Armor’s ambitious demands, and the game was widely panned for its horribly unresponsive controls.
In contrast,Steel Battalion’s other sequel—Steel Battalion: Line of Contact—has kept the series alive for over two decades.Line of Contactwas released in 2004 and essentially served as a multiplayer expansion for the first game.
Using the originalSteel Battalion’s combat and controller,Line of Contactlets players battle online in a variety of team-based modes, as well as taking part in a faction-based “Campaign mode” that sees players fighting to conquer different regions across the game world. AlthoughLine of Contact’s online servers shut down in 2010, the game maintains an active playerbase throughLANmultiplayer and online matches supported byXLink Kai.
Due to the limited availability of the originalSteel Battalion’s controller,Line of Contactdidn’t have any chance of becoming a major success. Even so, its dedicated playerbase and enduring popularity among fans of the mech genre proves that there’s still a demand for games likeSteel Battalion. More importantly,Line of Contactdemonstrates exactly howSteel Battalioncould be revived for a modern audience.
In the age ofonline-shootersand hardcore action titles, a game likeSteel Battalioncould easily become Capcom’s next big hit. Games likePlanetSide 2and theBattlefieldseries have featured similar experiences toLine of Contact’s Campaign Mode (albeit on a much larger scale), and recent popular titles likeArmored Core 6andMecha Breakhave sparked a resurgence for the mech genre.
Even the complicated control scheme and unforgiving design ofSteel Battalionwouldn’t scare off modern players, especially when games with mind-boggling depth likeEve: OnlineandDwarf Fortresshave amassed sizable fanbases comprised ofhardcore gamers. Recent successes likeElden RingandHades 2also prove that many modern players love challenging experiences. These were some ofSteel Battalion’s most divisive qualities back in 2002, but they would easily be considered the game’s greatest strengths if it (or a potential revival) was released today.
The most important part of theSteel Battalionseries—and possibly the reason it hasn’t received a new entry in years—is its iconic controller. Capcom took a huge risk by creating such an elaborate peripheral for a niche Xbox exclusive, and it didn’t necessarily pan out well. Between its high production costs and moderate sales, the originalSteel Battalionlikely wasn’t as profitable as Capcom hoped.
Fortunately, there’s a much higher demand now for immersive peripherals like theSteel Battalioncontroller. Racing wheels, flight sticks, and other simulation controllers have become immensely popular in their respective genres, especially among fans ofhome setups for simulators. Additionally, a multi-platform release with cross-platform multiplayer would ensure the nextSteel Battaliongame reaches a wider audience than the original.
Times Change, But Mechs Are Eternally Cool
Despite its age,Steel Battalionis a truly one-of-a-kind experience, and that’s largely thanks to its stunning controller. The game is still fairly niche due to its age and rarity, but a sequel that revives the original’s iconic peripheral would be a guaranteed hit among longtime fans and new players. Since Capcom has been recently revisiting some of its other seemingly forgotten franchises such asDragon’s Dogma,Ghost ‘n Goblins, andDead Rising, a newSteel Battalionmight not be out of the question.
