Within the diverse action-game genre lies a sub-genre made up of giant robots controlled by mankind. We put together scale models of them as children. We see them everyday in our anime (Mobile Suit Gundam). For more than two decades we've seen them in our favorite video games. The reason is obvious: they're just plain cool.

This sub-genre encompasses the very essence of controlling a mobile suit with the fast-paced combat of first- and third-person action games. Virtual On led the way as one of the first mech action games to enter the third dimension. It was best known for its arcade gameplay, but there was another game that was known for being a deeper and more realistic simulator: GunGriffon.

Many moons and several game consoles later, the GunGriffon series is finally ready to make its Xbox debut. Drum roll please! GunGriffon: Allied Strike is about to approach the red carpet...

...And it's got toilet paper stuck to its foot! Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Is this the same series that stormed the Saturn? How can this be?

GunGriffon: Allied Strike doesn't move the story ahead, but it does take the gameplay a few steps back. Most natural resources have been used; the enemy is fierce and just dying to kill something; and you, the hero, is determined to fight for what's left. That's the gist of the story.

The gameplay was presumed to have lots in common with a simulator, but the slow battles and sluggish controls are a bit much. Mech controls are similar in both the first- and third-person views, the primary differences lying within how quickly the mech reacts. It seems to react faster in third-person view, probably because you can see the action from afar. With the camera centered the slightest movement appears fast since the camera moves with every action.

In first-person view, the game feels strangely confined. Several details are placed on the screen, including missile count, weapon selection, and special grids to give it that in-the-mech feel. It's cool to have these options placed right before you in a semi-realistic manner, but they aren't overly effective. Playing the game in third-person mode shows that they weren't necessary.

Wanting to prove my mobile suit's superiority, I scavenged the area for enemies looking to eat a missile. Finding them reaffirmed my superior assumptions. They could be taken out quickly with a couple of missiles or a steady stream of bullets.

Once they were out of the picture I searched for more, eventually got through the mission, and continued going through the motions until one thing became clear: this is one seriously repetitive game. And an extremely slow one at that. While blowing up bad guys was certainly more fun than walking around and doing nothing, the battles never reached the point of excitement. There was no exhilaration, no urge to continue. The lackluster enemies didn't improve the situation. Neither did the long load times that make us sit around in boredom until the next mission begins.

I don't like to make a big deal about game graphics because they're second to gameplay, music, story, etc. – all the elements that can severely change the amount of enjoyment you receive from a game. However, there are special times when a game deserves extra kudos for putting on a visual showcase (Splinter Cell, Gran Turismo, etc.). There are also times when a game deserves to be degraded for having graphics so bad you wish you didn't have to look at them. This is one of those times.

Trust me, the in-game graphics are not this good.

The screenshots imply that this is a high-resolution middle-class Xbox game. In truth it's a bottom-of-the-barrel shooter with graphics so bland that they'll trigger memories of low-quality Nintendo 64 games. The textures can't even be called that. They have no detail, no smooth surfaces, no indication that a real object is there in front of you. Xbox can power millions of colors and million of polygons, but you'll forget all about that when you're staring at this game's palette.

The overall look could not be any plainer unless it was designed for a weaker console. Trees – a common object in today's games – disappear as you approach, acting as though they are a hologram that can be passed through without interference. It is not only disappointing but infuriating that these trees, among other real-world objects, lack the interactivity of other Xbox games. Trees should be a hindrance; an object that needs to be blown up. They could also be used to the player's advantage, enabling us to hide behind them or use them as cover from gunfire. None of those possibilities were explored in Allied Strike.

Gameplay: 5.9
Clunky and out of control, GunGriffon: Allied Strike is barely out of the beta phase. At least that's how it plays. Everything you do is slow. Turning is slow. Transportation is slow. It takes too long for the weapons to begin firing. Even the hovering ability, which boosts your mech into the air, is slower than the competition.

Graphics: 4
It's rare that an Xbox game scores below a 5.5. Even the most unattractive Xbox games have a slightly redeeming visual effect that keeps the player from losing interest. That isn't the case here.

Sound: 5
Boring sound effects and sub-par music to go along with the boring graphics and sub-par environments. Dreamcast games look and sound better.

Difficulty: Easy/Med
Moderately easy run-'n'-gun gameplay. It's all about shooting and destroying (the enemy mechs – nothing else).

Concept: 5.9
It's good to have so much information in the cockpit, but believe it or not you can have too much of a good thing. While a nice idea, it's hardly a new one, and it turned out to be more of a nuisance than a helpful feature.

Multiplayer: 5
Although it doesn’t make the game any better, Xbox Live is supported.

Overall: 5.7
If there was nothing better to buy I'd still tell you stay away from GunGriffon: Allied Strike. Since there is something better to buy, put your money towards the vastly superior (and exciting and entertaining) MechAssault 2. Low on cash? Buy a used copy of the original. Whatever game you choose, it's nearly guaranteed to be a better choice than this.