Information AboutSuper Robot Wars |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SUPER ROBOT WARS | |
| video game franchises | |
| crossover fiction | |
| mecha | |
| turn-based tactics video games | |
| video games based on anime and manga | |
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Super Robot Wars (スーパーロボット大戦, ''Suupaa Robotto Taisen'' in '' Rōmaji '' or '''Super Robot Taisen''', abbreviated as '''SRW''') is a series of Turn-based Strategy Video Game s produced by the Japanese gaming company Banpresto , a division of Bandai , for various Video Game Consoles . The games' main feature is the use of Mecha units from multiple Anime and Manga titles, mixing them together in a battle simulation and adding a complex plot involving some of their respective storylines, characters, and backgrounds. Another feature is a simple menu interface that can be understood by the gamer, even if he or she does not know how to read Japanese. The very first SRW game was released for the Nintendo Game Boy system in 1991. The first anime Mecha series featured on the game (and the ones usually present in all the series' games) are '' Mazinger Z '', Getter Robo , and the earliest incarnations of the '' Gundam '' series. The first two, both creations of famous Japanese manga artist Go Nagai and his production company Dynamic Productions , are representatives of the " Super Robot " type of units, while Gundam represents the " Real Robot " type of units. As more games were released, more characters, units and storylines were added to these games, both from existing mecha series and/or original units designed by Banpresto exclusively for the games. As the number of series involved in the games increased, the stories have become increasingly complex. Some series that have been featured, including Evangelion and Gundam , are well-known in the US market, whereas others, including L-Gaim and Raideen , are virtually unknown. Because much of the appeal of any SRW game resides in the player's knowledge of and familiarity with the various series involved, the games are most successful and have their biggest fanbase in Japan. There is, however, a small but loyal fanbase for the games in other countries, including the USA. Prior to the announcement of the upcoming American release of the two Original Generation titles, it was widely believed that the series would never see release outside of Japan, largely due to potentially complicated rights and licensing issues. Because of this, Fan Translations of some of the games have been made. (see below) On March 3, 2006, Atlus USA announced that they will be releasing the two Original Generation games in America, thus making them the first games in the series to see release outside of Asian markets. {Link without Title} BASICS The basic premise of the game consists in confrontations between the heroes (controlled by the player) and villains (controlled by the computer), shown through action sequences. The player advances through the game by performing a mission (the objective is usually to attack and destroy enemy units). After completing a mission, money earned by achieving objectives and destroying enemies may be used to buy upgrades for the units and their weapons. During battle, the player chooses a unit and takes an action by the commands available (move, attack an enemy unit, use a unit's ability or power, etc.). Some units have unique characteristics. For example, a unit like the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam has the ability to transform from a humanoid mode to a "wave-rider" flying mode, thus making it unique among other units that cannot transform or fly. Battles are carried out in different kinds of terrain scenarios (land, sea, space, etc.) which affect the development of the battles, since some units can move or fight better in one type of terrain, while having a lot of difficulty in others. The effects of terrain is also affected by the statistics of the pilots (for example, most Gundam characters are excellent in space combat, but suffer major handicaps underwater). In addition, terrain also affects certain attacks (for example, like in their series, the Gundams and mobile suits' beam weapons are weakened underwater. Another example is how attacks that need atmosphere, such as Mazinger Z's Rust Hurricane, are unusable in space). Later games were enhanced to include more complex missions, and adding tactical features in combat, like support attacks and defense, and simultaneous attack by two or more units. Also, as games were developed for consoles like Nintendo , PlayStation , Dreamcast , etc., the games would include enhanced anime-style battle sequences, complete with detailed graphics (some of the games, like ''Super Robot Wars Alpha'' for the Dreamcast console, ''Super Robot Wars Scramble Commander'' for the PlayStation 2 , and ''Super Robot Wars GC'' for the Nintendo GameCube feature 3-D graphics), character voice-acting provided by live actors ( Seiyuu )and the mecha series' own music theme. Some have CG mini-movies depicting a certain mecha's dramatic appearance and/or transformation during the battle. In most of the entries in the series, most missions involve a storyline directly taken from a specific Mecha series. This ensures that some of the gamer's actions must follow some steps according to the events of the specific Mecha series to accomplish the mission or acquire a new unit. In some cases those events are predetermined and will occur no matter the player's course of action, sometimes one action taken by the gamer will lead to or skip an event. In many Super Robot Wars games, characters who were killed in their series may survive instead (for example, Elpie Puru and Puru Two from ZZ Gundam or Bernard Wiseman from Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket) and on occasion enemies may join the players forces, even if they originally perished in their respective series. An example of this is Tohou Fuhai Master Asia from G Gundam, who either dies at the hands of his pupil Domon as in the anime, or survives and fights alongside said pupil. Additionally, most recent games allow you to choose an original character, which you can customize. You can also choose a storyline path or route that you want for the character to follow. This will affect the storylines, missions and outcome of the game. UNITS, WEAPONS AND TACTICS The most appealing aspect of the game is maintaining the uniqueness of each and every unit included in the game. While other battle simulation games would use the same characteristics for every character and/or unit, in SRW most units and characters are completely unique, and thus have advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation. Some units may work better as long range attackers, others are better as support defenders, others have MAP attacks which can hit multiple units at once, etc. Mazinger Z, for example, a "Super Robot", has high Hit Point s and armor, which enable it to sustain heavy attacks; and powerful weapons, like the Rocket Punch, and Breast Fire, that can destroy an enemy easily. However the RX-78 Gundam , a "Real Robot", is faster and more agile than Mazinger, but has less armor and hit points. It can dodge attacks more easily, and has better accuracy toward some opponents. However, its weapons cause less damage. Furthermore, it requires less energy for its weapons, while Mazinger would lose its energy faster when using its poweful attacks. The game also allows you to exchange pilots between similar mecha. The pilots are critically important in carrying out the missions. The title character pilots are usually the best pilots. Kamille Bidan and Judau Ashta , from Z Gundam and Double Zeta Gundam , respectively, can be switched from their respective similar mechas. The same applies for characters like Tetsuya Tsurugi and Koji Kabuto, from the Mazinger series. All of them can improve their initial stats as they earn experience points for defeating enemies in combat. Some units are usually treated as "support units", which give health and/or energy to other units. While most of these units are weaker in attack and defense, they tend to be valuable in a lot of battle situations. These resupply units are usually the sidekicks of the title character units. Examples are Aphrodite A and Boss Borot (from Mazinger Z ), the Methuss (from Z Gundam ), and Ginrei Robo (from the Giant Robo ''Ginrei specials'' OVA s). The games also feature battleships, whose main purpose is to transport units and resupply them. Ships like the White Base from Mobile Suit Gundam and the Ra Cailum from Char's Counterattack , to the SDF-1 from Macross and the Exelion from Gunbuster are some of the battleships used in some of the games. The enemies featured in the games range from simple A.I. -controlled mechanical minions and units with common pilots to giant beasts and powerful arch-enemies in mobile suits. Classic anime villains, from Char Aznable and Master Asia to Dr. Hell and the Great General of Darkness are a few of the very powerful foes you can encounter. In addition, some of your enemies may join your side (as additional pilots with their own mecha or without), depending on the situation: some of them have to be defeated a number of times before you can convince them, others may join you automatically later in the game. INFLUENCE The Super Robot Wars games, initially conceived to cash-in on the anime mecha genre, eventually would have an influence on the anime industry itself. They sparked a fan interest in old anime Mecha shows, some of which were first heard of or seen by anime fans playing the SRW games. Banpresto also has released a '', that reunites the original Banpresto characters and units that had appeared through the series. This version of the game has become very popular, creating a fanbase around the storylines and plots involving the original ''Banpresto'' characters and mechas. The JAM (Japan Animationsong Makers) Project, consisting of veteran anime theme musicians like Ichiro Mizuki, Hironobu Kageyama, Rica Matsumoto, Eizo Sakamoto, Masaaki Endo, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui & Yoshiki Fukuyama, has also contributed to many of the SRW games soundtracks, with updates of old songs from the anime series and new original songs and themes. But the games' main influence has been in the creation of anime shows influenced by original units and characters that were created for the games. The best example of this is the '''', was released, inspired by the same Mecha . An original unit (inspired by the machines of Magic Knights Rayearth), the MasouKishin Psybuster (alternately transliterated as Cybaster or Cybuster), that appeared on the second SRW game in 1991, would be the basis for an anime series called ''Cybuster'', with a modified story line. Finally, in May 2005, Banpresto released an anime OVA series called ''Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation''. In April 2006, Banpresto announced the Super Robot Wars OG TV series, airing Fall 2006. SUPER ROBOT WARS TITLES SRW games has been released for every gaming system available in Japan. Below is a list of some of the Super Robot Wars games available for each platform (some with a short description): (Note: this is a list of the games' first availability for a certain console. Some titles have been re-released for other consoles). Nintendo Game Boy/Game Boy Color
Nintendo/Famicon Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo 64
Nintendo Game Boy Advance
WonderSwan/ WonderSwan Color
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PlayStation
PlayStation 2
Nintendo GameCube
PlayStationPortable
Cellular phone
CONTINUITIES Most of the preceding titles are standalone games, whose background stories may involve the plots of the series but no other SRW titles. However, there are two main continuities with an overall storyline. The first series is SRW 2, 3, EX, F, and F Final (in that order). F/FF replaced 4 in the continuity, and 2G is not considered to be canonical because of its non-inclusion in the Complete Box Set. The side-story Masou Kishin is in two parts; part 1 takes place before SRW 2 and part 2 takes place after SRW 4 (it came out before F/FF). The second series is the Alpha series, which consists of Alpha 1, Gaiden, 2, and 3 (in that order). Part 1 of the Masou Kishin side-story also provides relevant information (taking place before Alpha 1). Original Generation is also a series with only two entries at the present time. ANIME SERIES INCLUDED IN SRW GAMES
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS Aeon Genesis Translation Proclamation (linked below) is the first and, As Of 2005 , only translation group to produce a complete Super Robot Wars patch (namely Super Robot Wars 3). They are also working on three other Super Robot Wars titles.
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