Graphics: The graphics in For Answer perform like the Chicago Cubs did in the 2008 season: at the outset, they were great, but when it really counted, they fell short. The opening CG sequence sets a new standard of quality for in-game cut scenes, but when it comes to the gameplay, the visuals are merely ordinary. The marketing pitches that precede the missions are gorgeous and fun, but the battle environments are blocky and the textures are flat. The explosions tend to look sweet, but the mechs themselves haven’t improved much from previous games.

Interface: The user interface is nearly perfect. The menus are attractive and easy to navigate. It took me a little while to figure out some of the more complex customization options, but overall the layout looks and works great.

Gameplay: The gameplay is just plain repetitive. I hardly had to watch what I was doing in some missions, and even in the more difficult ones, button mashing was the order of the day. It’s insanely hard to hit another NEXT, and it’s tough to tell when you have. Most of my matched rounds and online matches ended abruptly, declaring me the winner even though I felt I hadn’t yet landed a hit. You’ll become bored by the easy and repetitive missions.

Multiplayer: Any game that has an online co-op mode has a special place in my heart. It’s great to be able to link up and actually accomplish something in a game in lieu of just beefing up your character and thrashing noobs. While competitive multiplayer can be fun, nothing beats decimating helpless cities with your best friend. The competitive multiplayer plays like ranked matches, except that it tends to last longer. A lot longer. Once everybody’s got the quick-boost down, matches can go on for some time before anyone’s hit. That said, the competitive matches are easy to set up, and there is virtually no lag. Given the level of customization available in the game, you’re bound to want to get online and show off your NEXT. Unfortunately, by the time I had my NEXT the way I wanted it and suited up for a multiplayer match, the online play seemed stale and uninteresting. It’s just not that much fun flying around in an online multiplayer match in which nobody lands a hit for 15 minutes.

Sound FX: The voice-over acting, particularly during mission introductions, is superb. The amount of characterization in those short sequences establishes as much about the plot and state of the world as any exposition in the game. During battle, the explosions and gunfire sound great.

Music: This came as a surprise. The menu music is great, but during missions, the score was often inappropriate, distracting and sometimes just plain annoying. My girlfriend actually interrupted me to ask what I was listening to, thinking I had chosen my own incongruous music to play during the game.

Intelligence: Really hit or miss. The Normals and weaker enemies are just plain dumb and barely move, whereas enemy NEXTs often seem precognizant. The AI goes from dumb as a post to incredibly astute, as the NEXTs themselves have a clear style and strategy, which is worthy of praise.

Difficulty: Again, the game is simply inconsistent. Many missions I found to be far too easy, while others are so insanely difficult that I had to walk away for a few hours to stop myself from launching the console off of my balcony. Not a single mission felt like it was “just right.” They were either too hard or too easy, with nothing in between.

Overall: From Software did a lot right with this game, just not nearly enough. The design is incredible, the customization is great, and the voice-over acting is impeccable, but the game just isn’t very much fun. The controls are sluggish and often incomprehensible, and the game is either too hard or too easy. The environments aren’t very attractive, and the game rarely presents any new challenges. If you’re really into the genre, For Answer might be worth a look. Otherwise, you’re not missing much.