Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Trailer

Capcom's Steel Battalion for the original Xbox will forever be legendary, as it came bundled with a cockpit controller that featured over forty buttons and two control sticks which cost a whopping $200. Those who were willing to shell out the cash were treated with a great mech game that was certainly a conversation piece. Another Xbox sequel followed to help justify your purchase, but what was next in store for the series no one saw coming. Originally announced in 2010, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor shocked everyone when it was unveiled as a Kinect game, practically doing a 180 in terms of controllers. Today we finally get some more insight on the game and how the controls will work.

Set in the year 2082, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor takes place in a fictional future where computers don't exist. The ultimate weapon here is the VT, otherwise knows as the Vertical Tank. Capcom revealed today that controlling your VT will utilize both conventional controller and Kinect. You use your controller to move your VT in addition to aiming and firing your guns. A variety of important tasks are reliant on the Kinect, including starting the engine, operating the scope, or manning the turret machine gun. The Kinect also "provides a means of interacting with your fellow crew members, from ensuring a panicked crew member stays focused, to a high five for successfully completing a mission." Some of the gesture controls and features sound intriguing...aside from the high five.

Below is a trailer of the intense action you can expect in Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor:



Although the game does use a regular controller, Capcom has made it clear that this game is exclusive to Kinect on Xbox 360, and that the peripheral is required. The Kinect device has been extremely successful for Microsoft, but has also been met with lots of criticism among core gamers worried that they they will be neglected or forgotten. Capcom looks to give you that core experience on Kinect. Skepticism is to be expected, but the two original Xbox games definitely proved that the series wasn't just a gimmick. We'll have to wait until 2012 to find out how Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor pans out.