Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes

Last updated
Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes
MS-DOS Metal & Lace - The Battle of the Robo Babes cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Forest
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Hideki Masuko
Programmer(s) Hideki Masuko
Kazuhiro Otawara
Artist(s) Akihiro Yoshizane
Naoki Osaki
Takako Suzuki
Composer(s) Koichi Yamada
Yoshifumi Doiichi
Platform(s) FM Towns, MS-DOS, PC-98
Release
  • JP: May 29, 1992 (PC-98)
  • JP: October 1993
    (FM Towns)
  • NA: 1993 (DOS)
Genre(s) Fighting, eroge
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes is a 1993 fighting game published by Megatech Software in North America for the MS-DOS. Set in the year 2053 and featuring an all-female cast of seven "MeCha" robots, the players participate on a "RoboFighting" tournament at MeCha island. The gameplay consists of one-on-one fights using a main two-button configuration and features special moves.

Contents

Metal & Lace: Battle of the Robo Babes is a localization of Ningyou Tsukai [a] , which was published earlier by eroge developer Forest for PC-98 (1992) and FM Towns (1993). The title was then licensed for the North American market by Megatech Software and released for MS-DOS in 1993. Megatech expanded upon the game's concept during localization, introducing upgrade items, a different plot and English voicework.

Metal & Lace has garnered mixed reception from critics, most of whom reviewed it as an import title: they felt that its use of erotism was disappointing and criticized its high difficulty, while most reviewers were divided in regards to the audiovisual presentation, controls and gameplay. It was later followed by a Japan-exclusive sequel titled Ningyou Tsukai 2 [b] , which was first released for PC-98 (1996) and later for Microsoft Windows (1997). [1]

Gameplay

MS-DOS version screenshot. DOS Metal & Lace - The Battle of the Robo Babes (Ningyo Tsukai).png
MS-DOS version screenshot.

Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes is an arcade-style all-female eroge fighting game reminiscent of Street Fighter II using a two-button layout. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] The plot varies between each region. In the original Japanese version, humanity began migrating to another planet due to significant development of industrial remote-controlled robots called "Si-lhouette". They were eventually used for martial arts competitions and duels, gaining popularity and causing their technology to grow rapidly. Mizuho Factory, was a company dedicated to the manufacturing of Si-lhouette machines but its parent company went bankrupt before a new model was launched due to a large debt. Rika Mizuho decides to participate with a Si-lhouette machine she created called Mimi after hearing news of a competition where the winner will receive a cash prize. [2] [3] [7] In the North American localization, players assume the role of an aspiring enthusiast commanding a RoboFighter participating in a RoboFighting tournament taking place at MeCha island, where warriors known as MeCha rely on armor suits that provides several benefits. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Prior to starting a match, the player must pay an entry fee in order to participate. [7] The player fights against other opponents in one-on-one matches and the fighter who manages to deplete the health bar of the opponent wins the first bout. [6] The first to win two bouts becomes the winner of the match. Each round is timed; [4] if both fighters still have health remaining when time expires, the fighter with more health wins the round. It features two modes: single-player battles and versus. [4] In single-player mode, players fight against seven girls representing a computer-controlled fighters and as each are defeated, an image of each girl is rewarded in an increasingly revealing state of undress. [2] [5] [6] [7] If all of the opponents are defeated, the player will be able to fight against the "Ultimate Champions". Characters available in the game are Mimi, Rogue, Mistress, Anna, Sky Hound, Sun C and Silver Dragon. [4] [6] Special moves are performed by entering button commands while pressing the d-pad. [3] [4] [5]

Unlike other fighting games of the era, the player's health bar is not replenished between fights, requiring the purchase of energy batteries by visiting a parts shop where other items can be bought to increase offensive and defensive power levels with money earned from bouts. [4] [5] [6] [7] Players can also buy different armor sets via an armor shop, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, and each one becomes stronger by repeatedly using the same armor during matches. [7]

Development and release

Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes was first published in Japan by eroge developer Forest for PC-98 under the title Ningyou Tsukai on May 29, 1992, and later for FM Towns in October 1993. [3] [7] [8] The game was originally programmed and designed by Hideki Masuko. [4] [9] [10] Akihiro Yoshizane, Naoki Osaki and Takako Suzuki, who worked in the Japanese anime industry, as well as two artists credited under the pseudonyms "Ikuko" and "Yoko" were responsible for the creation of characters, animations and backgrounds. [4] [9] [10] [11] [12] The soundtrack was scored by co-composer Koichi Yamada and Yoshifumi Doiichi. [4] [10]

Metal & Lace was then licensed for the North American market by Megatech Software and released for MS-DOS in 1993. [7] [9] [13] [ citation needed ] This version was also distributed in Europe by Screen Multimedia via import. [6] [14] Megatech designers David S. Moskowitz, Erwin Mab and Kenny Wu expanded upon the game's concept during its localization by introducing elements such as upgrade items, a new plot and English voice acting. [7] [9] The DOS localization was published in both disk and CD-ROM format under two releases: an under 13 version lacking nudity and an over 18 version featuring partial nudity only available via mail order. [6] [15] [14]

Reception

Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes was met with mixed reception from critics since its release, most of which reviewed it as an import title. French magazine Génération 4 regarded Metal & Lace as a disappointing and dull fighting game that uses erotic imagery as pretext, criticizing its difficulty, sprite animations and repetitive fights, stating that Cobra Mission was more fun to play. [16] Joystick 's Vincent Solé called the game to be a "pale copy" of Street Fighter II and panned its poor color palette, controls, action and jerky sprite animations but commended the manga-style graphics and CD-quality voice work in the CD-ROM version. [15] PC Player 's Anatol Locker felt that the title was mediocre outside of its presentation and graphical "frills", criticizing the difficulty at higher matches and recommended playing Body Blows instead but gave positive remarks to the extras and ability to customize the fighter for adding tactics into gameplay. [20] Dutch publication Power Unlimited gave it a more positive outlook, praising the anime-style visuals that started to become popular at the time of the game's release. [21] Aktueller Software Markt 's Michael Suck praised its elaborate animations, atmospheric background graphics, sound and action. [11]

In contrast, Computer Gaming World 's Charles Ardai panned Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes for its length, combat system, lack of additional customizable items and backgrounds, sluggish controls and repeatability, stating that the core gameplay is not good. [9] Micromanía 's Óscar Santos García commended the visuals, addictive gameplay, sound and character animations. However, Santos García felt mixed in regards to its originality and the high difficulty was criticized. [17] In a similar manner, Pelit 's Jyrki J.J. Kasvi gave Metal & Lace a positive outlook but criticized the lack of in-game music. [18] PC Joker's Joachim Nettelbeck thought that the controls worked well and gave positive remarks to the sprite animations and fight sequences, though he felt mixed about the presentation and criticized the poor backgrounds. [19] Power Play's Michael Hengst found the action to be dull, criticizing the audiovisual presentation and erotism. [13] PC Zone 's Chris Anderson summarized that the game was completely "devoid of any entertainment value whatsoever." Anderson criticized the gameplay for being boring and the erotic elements to be disappointing. [14]

James V. Trunzo reviewed Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes in White Wolf #42 (April, 1994), giving it a final evaluation of "Good" and stated that "The Battle of the Robo Babes isn't for everyone. Liberal thinkers might be offended by the implied sexual rewards of victory and by its dehumanization of women. You also need to enjoy games that require a high degree of hand-eye coordination [...] If you're of the Street Fighter, Ninja Warriors, Double Dragon ilk and like a little flash of flesh, Metal & Lace offers everything you want." [22]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: 人形使い, Hepburn: Ningyō Tsukai, lit. "Puppeteer" or "Puppet Operator"
  2. ↑ Japanese: 人形使い2, Hepburn: Ningyō Tsukai Tsu, lit. "Puppeteer 2" or "Puppet Operator 2"

Related Research Articles

<i>Virtua Fighter</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Virtua Fighter is a fighting video game developed and published by Sega for arcades. It was developed for the Sega Model 1 arcade platform by AM2, a development group within Sega headed by Yu Suzuki. An early prototype version was location tested in Japan by August 1993, before the complete game was released worldwide in December 1993. It was the first arcade fighting game to feature fully 3D polygon graphics. The game was ported to Sega Saturn as a global launch title in 1994 and 1995, and also received a port to the Sega 32X.

<i>Rise of the Robots</i> 1994 video game

Rise of the Robots is a fighting game released by Time Warner Interactive in 1994. Originally developed for the Amiga and DOS by Mirage's Instinct Design, it was ported to various video game consoles, including the Super NES, the Mega Drive, and the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. The game includes a single-player mode in which the player assumes the role of the ECO35-2 Cyborg as he attempts to stop the Supervisor, who has taken over Electrocorp's facilities in Metropolis 4, and a two-player mode in which the second player controls a character chosen from among ECO35-2's enemies.

<i>Sonic the Fighters</i> 1996 video game

Sonic the Fighters, also known as Sonic Championship, is a 1996 three-dimensional fighting video game from Sega. The game, developed by Sega AM2 and built on their Model 2 arcade system, pits players in one-on-one battles with a roster of characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Sonic the Fighters was made using the fighting engine for Fighting Vipers (1995), and it was the first 3D game in the Sonic series; the idea for a Sonic fighting game was conceived when a Sega AM2 programmer experimented with a 3D Sonic the Hedgehog model in Fighting Vipers, its animation impressing and convincing the Sonic Team to approve the project.

<i>X-Men: Children of the Atom</i> (video game) 1994 video game

X-Men: Children of the Atom is a 1994 fighting game developed and published by Capcom and released on the CP System II arcade hardware. It was released in December 1994 in Japan and in January 1995 in North America and Europe.

<i>Silpheed</i> 1986 video game

Silpheed is a video game developed by Game Arts and designed by Takeshi Miyaji. It made its debut on the Japanese PC-8801 in 1986, and was ported to the Fujitsu FM-7 and DOS formats soon after. It was later remade for the Sega CD and has a sequel called Silpheed: The Lost Planet for the PlayStation 2.

<i>Ghost in the Shell</i> (video game) 1997 video game

Ghost in the Shell is a 1997 third-person shooter video game developed by Exact and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. A part of the larger Ghost in the Shell media franchise, it utilizes the same English voice cast as the feature film of the same name, although the two do not share a story continuity. The game was released in July 1997 in Japan, December 1997 by THQ in North America and July 1998 in Europe. Soundtrack albums, an artbook and a guidebook were produced to accompany the game.

<i>Knights of Xentar</i> 1991 video game

Knights of Xentar is an erotic role-playing video game published for MS-DOS compatible operating systems in North America by Megatech Software in 1995. It was originally published as Dragon Knight III (ドラゴンナイトIII) in Japan. It is part of the Dragon Knight series of games created by Japanese game developer ELF, who originally released the game for the NEC PC-9801 computer in 1991, followed by ports for the X68000 and PC Engine CD in 1992 and 1994. In addition to the regular version of the game, the PC port also has an "adult" version with more explicit nudity.

<i>Street Fighter</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Street Fighter is a 1987 fighting game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. It is the first competitive fighting game produced by the company and the first installment in the Street Fighter series. It was a commercial success in arcades and introduced special attacks and some of the conventions made standard in later fighting games, such as the six-button controls and the use of command-based special moves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megatech Software</span> Video game licensing company

Megatech Software was the first licensor of anime games in the United States, and the first licensor of hentai games or eroge in English.

<i>Steam-Hearts</i> 1994 shoot em up and eroge video game developed by Giga and published by TGL

Steam-Heart's is a 1994 vertically scrolling shooter and eroge developed by Giga and published by TGL. The story follows two siblings as they fight off a virus that is possessing the people in their world. The game features shooter gameplay paired with ample erotic cutscenes with scantily clad women. Steam-Heart's was initially released on PC-98 personal computers on March 15, 1994; a version for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² System was released in 1996 followed by another for the Sega Saturn in 1998, all of which were for the Japanese market. Critics generally found the gameplay to be average, with the erotic content being the sole distinguishing feature.

<i>Brutal: Paws of Fury</i> 1994 video game

Brutal: Paws of Fury is a 2D fighting game published by GameTek in 1994. The game features a cast of various anthropomorphic animals as selectable fighters. It also features the ability to learn new attacks and save them via passwords. Originally a Sega CD exclusive, it was later ported to other game consoles.

<i>Aggressors of Dark Kombat</i> 1994 video game

Aggressors of Dark Kombat, known in Japan as Thrilling Intense March or GanGan, is a 1994 fighting arcade game developed by ADK and published by SNK. It was originally released on SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade platform, then on Neo Geo AES and Neo Geo CD home consoles, and in later decades appeared on retro compilations and digital storefronts. The English game title uses the same initials as the developer. The game's defining feature was that, while it uses a generally 2D format, characters can move towards or away from the screen. While some reviews praised this mechanic, critics generally remarked that it offers no meaningful innovation and that the game is generic and lacking in depth. Though a modest success, Aggressors of Dark Kombat failed to match the popularity of the leading SNK fighters.

<i>The Terminator 2029</i> 1992 video game

The Terminator 2029 is a first-person shooter video game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is based on the Terminator film series, and was released in 1992 for DOS. It is Bethesda's second Terminator game following The Terminator (1991).

<i>Pirates! Gold</i> 1993 video game

Pirates! Gold is a 1993 computer game, a remake to Sid Meier's 1987 release, Sid Meier's Pirates!

<i>Cobra Mission: Panic in Cobra City</i> 1991 video game

Cobra Mission: Panic in Cobra City is an MS-DOS adventure game published in 1992 in North America by Megatech Software as a port of the 1991 PC-98 Cobra Mission (コブラミッション) game by INOS. This was the first eroge released in English.

<i>Dangerous Streets</i> 1993 video game

Dangerous Streets is a fighting game developed by Italian game studio Micromania and released by Flair Software for the Amiga, Amiga CD32, and MS-DOS in 1993. It was poorly received by critics. Dangerous Streets was bundled with the CD32 in The Dangerous Streets Pack.

<i>P-47: The Phantom Fighter</i> 1988 video game

P-47: The Phantom Fighter is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by NMK and published by Jaleco. Set during World War II, players control a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft to face against the Nazis, who are occupying multiple countries around the world. Its gameplay involves destroying waves of enemies, picking up power-ups and new weapons, and destroying bosses. It ran on the Mega System 1 hardware.

<i>Yū Yū Hakusho</i> (1994 video game) 1994 video game

Yū Yū Hakusho is a 1994 fighting video game developed and published by Tomy for the 3DO platform, based on the YuYu Hakusho anime.

<i>Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu</i> 1994 video game

Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu is a 1994 fighting video game developed by BEC and published by Bandai for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² add-on. Based upon Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball franchise, it is a retelling of Goku's seven major battles over the course of the series up to the conclusion of the Cell Games saga. Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu was created by most of the same team at BEC that would go on to work on Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu. The game received generally positive reception from critics who reviewed it as an import title but criticism was geared towards its difficulty level.

<i>Gundam: Battle Assault</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Gundam: Battle Assault is a 1998 fighting video game developed by Natsume Co., Ltd. and published by Bandai for the PlayStation. Based on the Gundam franchise, it is a follow-up to Gundam: The Battle Master (1997), which was released only in Japan. The plot involves Heero Yuy, protagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and pilot of the XXXG-01W Wing Gundam, on a mission to destroy remaining enemy Mobile Suits under command of Treize Khushrenada to stop a war from starting. Its gameplay consists of one-on-one fights, with a main six-button configuration, featuring special moves and two playable modes, while players can select any available mech to battle against enemies in story mode.

References

  1. ↑ "人形使い2" [Ningyō Tsukai 2]. 格闘ゲーム総合サイト[Fighters Front Line]. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on 2017-08-27. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  2. 1 2 3 人形使い 取扱説明書 (PC-98, JP)
  3. 1 2 3 4 "「人気美少女格闘ゲーム大攻略!! 人形使い」" [Popular Bishoujo Fighting Game Great Strategy!! - Puppet Master]. Technopolis  [ ja ] (in Japanese). Vol. 11, no. 8. Tokuma Shoten. August 15, 1992. pp. 6–11.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes manual (MS-DOS, US)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Delgado L., Francisco (December 1993). "Preview: Curvas peligrosas - Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes (PC)". Micromanía (in Spanish). Vol. 2, no. 67. Hobby Press. p. 16.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scotlord, Laurence (February 1994). "Blueprint: Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes". PC Zone . No. 11. Dennis Publishing. pp. 10–11.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Davison, Pete (June 17, 2021). "The History of Lewd: Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes". Rice Digital. Rice Digital Ltd. Archived from the original on 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  8. ↑ "人形使い" [Ningyō Tsukai]. 格闘ゲーム総合サイト[Fighters Front Line]. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Ardai, Charles (February 1994). "Review: Anime Mine - MegaTech's Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes (IBM)". Computer Gaming World . No. 115. Ziff Davis. pp. 120–122.
  10. 1 2 3 Forest (May 29, 1992). 人形使い[Ningyō Tsukai] (PC-98) (in Japanese). Forest. Level/area: Staff roll.
  11. 1 2 3 Suck, Michael (February 1994). "Review: Metal und Spitzenhäubchen - Metal & Lace". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). No. 84. Tronic Verlag. p. 34.
  12. ↑ Forest (October 1993). 人形使い[Ningyō Tsukai] (FM Towns) (in Japanese). Forest. Level/area: Staff roll.
  13. 1 2 3 Hengst, Michael (February 1994). "Computerspiele / Tests: Mach mich nicht an - Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes (MS-DOS)". Power Play  [ de ] (in German). No. 71. Markt & Technik. pp. 38–39.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Anderson, Chris (September 1994). "Review: Metal & Lace: The battle of the Robo Babes". PC Zone . No. 18. Dennis Publishing. pp. 80–81.
  15. 1 2 3 Solé, Vincent (January 1994). "En Bref: Metal & Lace (Sur PC / Editeur MegaTech". Joystick (in French). No. 45. Hachette Digital Presse. p. 134.
  16. 1 2 "Test Express...: Metal & Lace - MegaTech (PC)". Génération 4  [ fr ] (in French). No. 62. Computec. January 1994. p. 44.
  17. 1 2 García, Óscar Santos (February 1994). "Femme Fatales - Metal & Lace (PC)". Micromanía (in Spanish). Vol. 2, no. 69. Hobby Press. p. 41.
  18. 1 2 J.J. Kasvi, Jyrki (February 1994). "Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes – Lapsilta kielletty (PC)". Pelit (in Finnish). No. 21. Sanoma. pp. 24–25. (Transcription by Pelit. Archived 2021-04-27 at the Wayback Machine ).
  19. 1 2 Nettelbeck, Joachim (February 1994). "Twilight — Games Für Idividualisten: Bit mal Byte=Sex? - Metal & Lace". PC Joker (in German). No. 19. Joker-Verlag. pp. 70–71.
  20. 1 2 Locker, Anatol (January 1994). "Spiele-Test - Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes (PC/XT)". PC Player (in German). No. 13. Future Verlag. p. 44.
  21. 1 2 "Review - Metal & Lace: The Battle of the Robo Babes - DOS". Power Unlimited (in Dutch). No. 5. VNU Media. January 1994.
  22. ↑ Trunzo, James V. (April 1994). "The Silicon Dungeon". White Wolf Magazine . No. 42. p. 53-54.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.