Deep7
2004
Complexity: 2
Exosuit A-OK is a game based on “real robot” anime, and if you understand what I’m talking about you’re probably a nerd. Well I guess since you’re already reading a blog specializing in obscure tabletop role-playing game reviews that was already a distinct possibility.
Character Creation: 2/5
Characters are made my rolling up a few attributes, spending some skill points and then rolling for Background and Status—which provide bonuses to skills—and starting equipment—which is where you can get your exosuit, which can be further customized. It’s pretty much the same as in Shriek—albeit with less useless skills—and while I praised it for its simplicity in easily creating “disposable” characters, in this setting having a character intended to be easily made and easily killed doesn’t really feel so much like something that enhances my experience in the specific genre. Also when making your character you only have a 50% chance of getting an exosuit—or other combat vehicle—and aside from the balance issues, when playing the mech-suit-themed role-playing game aforementioned suit is the thing you’re probably most interested in. And even if you just let everyone have a suit, the options there are fairly minimal.
Mechanics: 2/5
As another 1PG game Exosuit A-OK uses the same mechanics, add attribute and skill bonus then try to roll under on a d6 roll. Once again it’s a situation where the simplicity that I liked in Shriek comes across as being too shallow. There’s very little in terms of mech-centric mechanics, and features like only being able to regain health via spending experience points just come across as pointlessly difficult.
Writing: 1/3 [−]
For as short as this game is it has a lot of errors. Like other 1PG games the full rules are provided on the character sheet, and again in more detail on a full page. The issue comes from issues like one set of rules saying that the highest value armor a character wears applies to all hits while the other states that armor only applies to the body part it’s worn on and attack targets are determined by a random hit location table. They also rebranded their sanity system as ‘Cool’ but instead of making sense it’s just stated that if a character loses all their Cool “go all frightened-like and run away.” Also the entire Cool system is only explained on the detailed rules page, while the hit location rules are only explained on the character sheet.
Presentation: 2/5
As stated, the game is presented as a page of rules, a character sheet with the rules, an additional page for the GM—which is mostly just advice—and a page covering the basics of exosuits. Unfortunately it doesn’t so much feel like the rules were edited down to fit on a single page as much as being written to fill up a page and then just stopping there. However, they did manage to find room on both the rules and GM page to plug The 1PG Companion, which apparently contains all the actual rules that this game is missing. Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re going to present an incredibly minimal and unpolished game and then say “Oh and if you want the actual experience we implied, buy this other game.” I am not going to be filled with confidence about that other product, or encouraged to want to buy it.
Content: 1/3 [−]
Oddly enough, while the rules themselves are barely provided, there are six one-page scenarios included. Which I guess is nice, but feel like an odd choice of priorities.
Final Remarks
Exosuit A-OK is a great example of how slapping a reskin and minor additions on a game doesn’t always work out so well. Although I guess it is asking a bit too much of game designers to actually design a gaming experience tailored to a specific genre when they can just slap a coat of paint on their old work.
Base Points: 6
Character Creation: 2/5, Mechanics: 2/5, Presentation: 2/5
Adjustments: −2
Setting: N/A, Writing: −1, Content: −1
Overall Score: 27% (4/15 Points)
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