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Super Robot WarsSuper Robot Wars (スーパーロボット大戦, Suupaa Robotto Taisen in romaji) is a series of turn-based strategy video games released in Japan by the Japanese gaming company Banpresto for different gaming consoles. The games' main feature is the use of mecha units from several 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 cannot understand 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, are representatives of the "Super Robot" type of units, while Gundam represents the "Real Robot" type of units. As more games where released, more characters and units were added to these games, either from old and recent mecha series, and/or original units design by Banpresto exclusively for the games, using complex story lines to tie the plots together. Some anime titles known in the US market that have been included in some of the games are Neon Genesis Evangelion, Macross (adapted outside Japan as the first part of Robotech), Nadesico, and some incarnations of the Gundam series like the original Gundam, G Gundam and Gundam Wing. Other mecha series included in the games, like Giant Robo, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Steel Jeeg,and countless others are less known or not known at all in the US. Most of these mecha series, originally broadcasted in Japanese TV, have never been released commercially in the US, some of them not even in Japan itself. Since the appeal of the game resides in the knowledge and familiarity that the gamer would have on the Japanese anime branch of mecha anime, the games have their biggest and most successful fanbase in Japan. For that same reason (and due to the limited availability of old mecha-based anime shows in the States), the games have not been made available officially in the US. Super Robot Wars 3 however, has received a complete fan translation. Other games like Super Robot Wars 1, 4, Gaiden, and R have received partial translations, mostly limited to menus. 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 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. 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 the most recent entry, Super Robot Wars GC for the Nintendo GameCube feature 3-D graphics), character voice-acting provided by live actors 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. 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 mantaining 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 points 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 Gundam Rx-78, 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 OVAs). 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 Kailum 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 villians, from Char Aznable and Master Asia to 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 industry, 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 Game Boy Advance version called , that reunites the original Banpresto characters and units that had appeared through the series. This version of the game has been very popular, creating a fanbase around the storylines and plots involving the original Banpresto characters and mechas. The JAM (Japan Animation Music) Project, consisting of veteran anime theme musicians like Ichiro Mizuki, Hironobu Kageyama, Rica Matsumoto, Kaizo Sakamoto, Masami Okui, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Hiroshi Kitadani and Masaaki Endou, 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 Mazinkaiser OVA released in the US in 2002, which was inspired by the giant robot of the same name that appeared for the first time in the game Super Robot Wars F, released for the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation in 1997 (Mazinkaiser is in fact a modified version of Mazinger Z, it was created by Banpresto for the game). Another one is Shin Getter Robo, a unit based on the original Getter Robo created for the Super Robot Wars 4 game, released for the SNES system in 1995. An OVA, called , was released, inspired by the same mecha. A completely original unit (not inspired by other units), 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, Banpresto is planning an anime OVA series called Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation, to be released in May 2005. 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 GameBoy - Super Robot Wars
- 2nd Super Robot Wars G
Nintendo/Famicon Entertainment System - 2nd Super Robot Wars (re-released for PlayStation)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Super Robot Wars 3: The only fully translated(English) Super Robot Wars game, this title had average(for the time) graphics, and most of the design is relatively primitive for a Super Robot Wars games. It lacks the features of future titles: Friendship system, attack/defense system, a skip feature(for dialogue) and so on (re-released for PlayStation).
- Super Robot Wars EX: Currently being translated by AGTP(re-released for PlayStation)
- Super Robot Wars 4 (re-released for PlayStation)
- Super Robot Wars Gaiden - Lord of Elemental: The first Super Robot Wars title to give original characters the spotlight exclusively. This particular title follows the storyline of Mashoukin and it's cast. Features non-superdeformed graphics, unlike most Super Robot Wars titles. Currently being translated by AGTP.
Nintendo 64 Nintendo Gameboy Advance - Super Robot Wars Advance
- Super Robot Wars Destiny
- Super Robot Wars Reverse
- Super Robot Wars Original Generation
- Super Robot Wars Original Generation 2
WonderSwan/ WonderSwan Color - Super Robot Wars Compact (WS)
- Super Robot Wars Compact for WonderSwan Color (WSC)
- Super Robot Wars Compact (1) Chijou Gekidouhen (WS)
- Super Robot Wars Compact (2) Uchuu Gekishinhen (WS)
- Super Robot Wars Compact (3) Ginga Kessenhen (WS)
- Super Robot Wars Compact 3 (WSC)
Sega Saturn - Super Robot Wars F (re-released for PlayStation)
- Super Robot Wars F Final (re-released for PlayStation)
Sega Dreamcast - Super Robot Wars Alpha for Dreamcast
Playstation - Shin Super Robot Wars
- Super Robot Wars Complete Box: a re-issue of SRW 2, 3 and EX.
- Super Robot Wars Alpha
- Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden: Currently being translated by AGTP
Playstation 2 - Super Robot Wars Impact
- Super Robot Wars Alpha 2
- Super Robot Wars Scramble Commander: the first (and only so far) SRW real-time strategy game.
- Super Robot Wars MX
- Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 (to be released in late 2005)
Nintendo GameCube Links Aeon Genesis Translation Proclaimation (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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