Overall, the gameplay isn't too bad. The one big complaint I have is the inability to switch targets quickly. It's annoying to have my mecha shot out from under me because the computer decides that shooting at some big-ass out-of-range space station is more important than getting rid of the annoying enemy fighter that's currently launching a whole mess of missiles at me. (Still, once I'd learnt how to compensate for it, the problem only ended up being a minor annoyance.)

There are quite a number of missions to fly, each one preceded with a briefing scene and some still anime shots. Missions can take place in several different terrains. As to be expected, most of them take place in the skies or in space. There are a couple of ground-only missions and even one underwater. However, all of them require nothing more than to move around and shoot things without getting yourself killed. (Not that I'm complaining that much, mind ^_^)

There is a point in the game where your character's story can branch off, leading to a 'good' ending/'bad' ending thing. However, the 'bad' ending is very, very difficult to get. It somehow seems as if the creators want to discourage you from taking that path by simply beating you down until you get fed up of having to replay the scenario over again.

The first time though the game, the choices of mecha available at your diposal are limited. As you progress, the variety of mecha increases. However, after you've cleared the whole game, your next round through will be laden with even more choices. Some of the fighters available in my second go had never been seen before in my previous game. Ni-iice :) So far, I've counted about ten mecha that can be used, each with their own limitations and advantages.

If there are any flaws in this area, it's that some of the fighters (*coughVF-19cough*) seem too good to be true.
 

Graphics :

It's all polygonal and, on the whole, look okay. The in-game flight scenes feel a bit... flat. There's not much of a sensation of watching actual craft flying. They move, they dodge, but it's like holding a static picture up and turning it this way and that to make it look like it's moving. The only time I ever got the illusion that I was piloting a fighter in a wide expanse of sky was when the Missile view kicked in.

Oh, yes. One peculiar quirk is that you can literally have your plane fly for hours in a straight line and not have the terrain below you change one iota. I know Macross City is supposed to be huge, but come on...

The music's not too bad. There are a couple of catchy in-game tunes here and there, but overall, nothing very memorable. Too bad. I was kinda hoping that Yoko Kanno'd make another Macross outing here :) At least there's nothing stomach-churning in the music department, either. The opening and ending themes are the only songs with vocals. 

The sound effects are top-notch, but a tad too loud. They tend to drown out any in-game conversations.

As usual, no 'review' of mine would be complete without at least a commentary on the voice actors :) VF-X 2 uses quite a few well-known VAs and they do the job more than adequately. I even found myself not minding the role that Megumi Hayashibara played. (That's a good thing, by the way ^_^)

All in all, it proved to be a pretty nice distraction.