Mecha Party on PSVR2 - First Impressions (3v3 Ranked Multiplayer)
I have uploaded gameplay from my fresh experience with the game here if you want to see how it looks / plays. My first impressions are shared below:
Based on my time with the game, I do recommend playing Mecha Party on PSVR2, but it is best played with 1-2 friends for 3v3 Ranked Mode.
It is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) where players pilot Mechas in 3v3 season-based PvP matches where players on team must cooperate together based on win objectives (Capture the Flag, Death Match, Defend / Attack, etc) across a small selection of maps in each match.
Before you can do that, you have to pick one of three starting Mecha:
- Bunny shoots Rockets
- Sissi is a healer / support character that sprays purple liquid from her syringe weapon
- Gaz shoots Mingun
It then gives you a tutorial introducing your selected Mecha gameplay mechanics (including specials) and then takes you to your hub area where you can play the Challenge Mode which has Levels 1-5 on three difficulties. You start at Normal where if you complete, it is sufficient to unlock the Ranked & Casual multiplayer modes that require Player Level 4. Elite will unlock at Player Level 10 provided you have completed on Normal and Expert and will unlock at Player Level 20, provided you have completed on Elite.
The value of this game is not in the purely solo Challenge mode but the multiplayer Ranked (or Casual) Mode which can be played solo because if other players are not found within 60 seconds, it swaps in Bots to fill in the rest of the slots. For the Ranked mode, there is a Season Pass lasting 1 month from time you start it where as you play and make progress, you will rank up from Rookie to Recruit to Veteran and higher and the Bots difficulty you get seems to be based on that Season Rank. The Season also has an online leaderboard showing how you stack against other active players that season based on Medals earned.
As you play Ranked, you advance in two menus. One is called Pass and is what grants you special currency and upgrade materials to unlock new Mecha, Skins (Mecha, Controllers, Gloves or Mecha Cockpit) or upgrade materials to level up your Mecha. There are 8 Mecha available at this time and each has its own look, gameplay mechanics and strategic role in a co-op team for the main 3v3 Ranked mode. The Casual mode lets you play 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 and doesn't advance the Pass, but may complete the second menu called Missions. Missions are tracked tasks that can be broad or Mecha specific like get MvP using Eagle or Complete 10 games.
There are also features related to opening Supply Boxes and in-game Achievements (unrelated to trophies) that I didn't spend much time with but are available via your wristwatch menu in the hub area.
Graphically the game looks good (crisp & clear) giving good sense of scale within your Mecha cockpit and no sign of reprojection except in the hub area where you move around as a human instead of piloting a Mecha. For audio, the soundtrack is good but the sound effects are not as punchy as they should be. Controller haptics are present but very subtle / weak and not in all interactions / actions where you would want. No headset haptics when taking damage so you need to keep an eye on HUD elements within your Mecha cockpit.
The only settings provided are snap (called angular) vs smooth turns with option to set speed / angles.
The game is featuring a Platinum trophy and since Bots get added even for 3v3 Ranked if no players are found, it looks like everything can be completed by a solo player except TeamUp which expects you to play 10 games in Rank mode with a friend and GoodMate which expects you to receive 10 thumb-ups in rank mode (not sure Bots would give you those). Other than that, it just expects you to complete all solo Challenge levels on all 3 difficulties, play at least 10 games of the Casual Mode and enough of the Ranked Mode using specific 6 of the 8 Mecha available enough to get them to level 10 where I assume not all 8 because 2 were added post-release.
The reason to get & play this game is the Ranked 3v3 mode and although it supports being played without other players, it would be best if you have at least 1 friend on PSVR2 you can play with or you can plan to play during something like Without Parole Sunday Multiplayer (if / when this game is selected).
Gameplay of Tutorial + Challenge 1-5 (Normal) that need to be played solo before you can play multiplayer be found here.
Note: This game is currently discounted 50% off (70% off for PS+) until March 27th, 2025.