Super Robot Wars Alpha

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Super Robot Wars Alpha
Super Robot Wars Alpha (Cover).jpg
Developer(s) Banpresoft
Publisher(s) Banpresto
Series Super Robot Wars
Platform(s) PlayStation, Dreamcast
ReleasePS [1]
  • JP: May 25, 2000
DC [1]
  • JP: August 30, 2001
Genre(s) Tactical role-playing game

Super Robot Taisen Alpha, [lower-alpha 1] known as Super Robot Wars Alpha outside Japan, is a 2000 tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Banpresto for the PlayStation. A version for the Dreamcast, Super Robot Wars for Dreamcast, was released a year later.

Contents

Gameplay

Chronologically, Super Robot Wars Alpha is directly followed by Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden . The series continues on the PlayStation 2 with the 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha and concludes with the 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy . Super Robot Wars Alpha is the first Super Robot Wars to feature fully animated attacks.

Super Robot Wars Alpha introduces the "Skill Point" (localized as "Battle Mastery") system, [2] where decisions made in and out of battle can affect the game's difficulty and the player's chances of receiving and unlocking more powerful units and items. The game has around 100 chapters. [3]

Story

In the year 179 of the New Western Calendar, the One Year War breaks out between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, but is halted when an object crashes to Earth, landing on South Atalia Island. An investigative team from the Extra-Over Technological Investigative Institute discovers the object is an alien battleship with highly advanced technology. Despite the warnings of Dr. Bian Zoldark, the Federation hides the evidence of intelligent, extraterrestrial life, and uses the time to increase their military power. Bian founds the Divine Crusaders to utilize the Extra-Over Technology found on the ship to devise weapons capable of protecting the Earth from alien forces, should the planet become embroiled in a conflict.

During this time, economic troubles caused by the Federation's buildup sees the rise of many anti-Federation movements, such as the Neo-Zeon, who had retreated to the asteroid Axis. In response, the Federation establishes special forces units, such as the Titans and OZ. Other forces, such as the Demon Empire (from Brave Raideen) and Dr. Hell also threaten the Earth, but are pushed back by the teams of Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and Raideen.

In the year 186, the Excelion battleship (from Gunbuster) battle a force of STMCs (Space Terrible Monster Crowd) when they are suddenly attacked by another alien fleet, known as the Aerogaters...

From this point on, the player can select from either a super robot or a real robot storyline, putting the player in command of the Grungust Type-2 or the Huckebein MK II, respectively.

Super Robot Wars Alpha for Dreamcast

Super Robot Wars Alpha for Dreamcast (スーパーロボット大戦α for Dreamcast, Sūpā Robotto Taisen Arufa for Dreamcast), is an enhanced remake of the original Super Robot Wars Alpha that features 3D battle animations, in contrast with the PlayStation version's 2D sprites. The game has an increased difficulty on many stages and includes a new boss character. The game was supposed to be released on July 26, 2001, but was changed to August 30, 2001 instead due to need for more time to improve gameplay quality. [4]

A new addition for the Dreamcast game is the inclusion of G-Breaker, a Super Robot from Bandai's Sunrise Eiyuutan video game. This marks the first time a Super Robot Wars game featured a mecha from a game produced by a different company.

Promotion

Limited edition versions of the game have folding slipcase and filled with an artbook, Pocketstation wrist-strap, cell-phone handy strap and keychains, and ten metal key/watch/cell phone fobs of the Cybuster, Eva Unit-01, Combattler, Raideen, Gunbuster, Giant Robo, Wing Gundam Zero Custom, Dancougar, Mazinger and a Valkyrie. [5]

Reception

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the PlayStation version of the game a 31 out of 40, [7] and the Dreamcast version a 30 out of 40. [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: スーパーロボット大戦α, Hepburn: Sūpā Robotto Taisen Arufa

Related Research Articles

Super Robot Wars, known in Japan as Super Robot Taisen, is a series of tactical role-playing video games produced by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Banpresto. Starting out as a spinoff of the Compati Hero series, the main feature of the franchise is having a story that crosses over several popular mecha anime, manga and video games, allowing characters and mecha from different titles to team up or battle one another. The first game in the franchise was released for the Game Boy on April 20, 1991. Later spawning numerous games that were released on various consoles and handhelds. Due to the nature of crossover games and licensing involved, only a few games have been released outside Japan, and in English. The franchise celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016, and its 30th anniversary in 2021.

<i>Super Robot Wars MX</i> 2004 video game

Super Robot Wars MX is a video game for the PlayStation 2. It is part of the Super Robot Wars series by Banpresto, and it was released on May 27, 2004. It was later ported to the PlayStation Portable on December 19, 2005, with minor gameplay tweaks, titled Super Robot Wars MX Portable.

<i>Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation</i> 2002 video game

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation is a tactical role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Banpresoft and published by Banpresto in Japan, Atlus in North America, and 505 Games in Europe.

<i>Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden</i> 2001 video game

Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden, or simply, Alpha Gaiden, is a video game for the PlayStation, first released in Japan in 2001. It is the first side-story in the Super Robot Wars Alpha series, continuing from Super Robot Wars Alpha. The characters of After War Gundam X, Turn A Gundam, and Combat Mecha Xabungle make debut appearances in the game.

<i>Super Robot Wars OG 2</i> 2005 video game

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 is a tactical role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance. It is the second Super Robot Taisen game that was officially released in North America.

<i>Super Robot Wars 64</i> 1999 video game

Super Robot Wars 64 is a tactical role-playing game for the Nintendo 64. It was released only in Japan in 1999. The game can make use of the Nintendo 64's Transfer Pak with the Game Boy Color game Super Robot Wars: Link Battler.

<i>Super Robot Wars Original Generation: Divine Wars</i> 2007 television anime

Super Robot Wars Original Generation: Divine Wars is a Japanese anime series, that retells the events from the Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation game, a game featuring only original characters and mechs created by Banpresto for the Super Robot Wars franchise. A sequel titled Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector began airing on the October 1, 2010.

<i>Super Robot Wars A</i> 2001 video game

Super Robot Wars A is a video game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, part of Banpresto's Super Robot Wars franchise and the first to appear on the Game Boy Advance handheld; the letter "A" in the title stands for "Advance". It was ported onto mobile phones as part of the Super Robot Wars i collection in 2006. An enhanced remake of Super Robot Wars A was released for the PlayStation Portable on June 19, 2008 as Super Robot Wars A Portable.

<i>Super Robot Wars R</i> 2002 video game

Super Robot Wars R is a video game for the Game Boy Advance and is part of the Super Robot Wars franchise. It is the second game for the handheld system, preceded by Super Robot Wars A. Like its predecessor, it is ported into a mobile cellphone as part of the Super Robot Wars i line.

<i>Super Robot Wars NEO</i> 2009 video game

Super Robot Wars NEO is a 2009 tactical role-playing game developed by Sazanami and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Wii.

<i>Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector</i> Japanese anime television series

Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector is a Japanese anime series, that retells the events from the Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 game, a game featuring only original characters and mechs created by Banpresto for the Super Robot Wars franchise. It was produced by Asahi Production and started broadcasting in several Japanese TV stations on October 1, 2010. The anime also received a simulcast release on the English anime streaming website, Crunchyroll.

<i>2nd Super Robot Wars OG</i> 2012 video game

2nd Super Robot Wars Original Generation is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation 3 developed by TOSE and published by Namco Bandai Games under the Banpresto label. It is the sequel to Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden. It was intended to be released on September 29, 2011 as part of Super Robot Wars' 20th Anniversary but got pushed back to November 29, 2012.

<i>2nd Super Robot Wars</i> 1991 video game

2nd Super Robot Wars (第2次スーパーロボット大戦) was the first game to be produced in the "Classic" canon timeline, the second game in the overall series, and the first game produced for the Famicom video game system on December 12, 1991.

<i>3rd Super Robot Wars</i> 1993 video game

3rd Super Robot Wars (第3次スーパーロボット大戦) was the third game in a series, the second in the "classic" canon, and the first on the Super Famicom, published on July 23, 1993. Along with 2nd and EX, 3rd Super Robot Wars was released on the Sony PlayStation on June 10, 1999, as part of Super Robot Wars Complete Box and June 22, 1999, as a stand-alone port.

<i>4th Super Robot Wars</i> 1995 video game

4th Super Robot Wars is a tactical RPG for the Super Famicom developed by both Banpresto and Winky Soft and published by Banpresto. It's the 5th entry in the Super Robot Wars series and the last entry in the Classic Timeline. It was first released on March 17, 1995, and received mostly positive reception, with reviewers highly praising the improvements from the last game while criticizing the game's increased difficulty. The game was ported to the Sony PlayStation and released on January 26, 1996, under the name 4th Super Robot Wars Scramble.

<i>Super Robot Wars V</i> 2017 video game

Super Robot Wars V is a tactical role-playing game developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Released as part of Super Robot Wars' 25th anniversary, it is the eighth standalone entry to the series since Super Robot Wars NEO, with the game's continued focus on the massive crossover between different mecha anime series released in Japan. It is released in Asia on February 23, 2017. A Nintendo Switch and Steam ports of the game were released on October 3, 2019.

<i>Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier Exceed</i> 2010 video game

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier Exceed is a crossover role-playing video game co-developed by Monolith Soft and Banpresto and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Nintendo DS (DS) in 2010. Forming part of the Super Robot Wars series, Endless Frontier Exceed is a sequel to the 2008 DS game Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier, carrying over its gameplay elements.

<i>Super Robot Wars T</i> 2019 video game

Super Robot Wars T is a tactical role-playing game developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is the eleventh standalone entry to the Super Robot Wars series and the third installment of the "International Era" series, with the game's continued focus on the massive crossover between different mecha anime series released in Japan. Released for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, it was also released in Asia on March 20, 2019.

<i>Super Robot Wars XO</i> 2006 video game from Banpresto

Super Robot Wars XO is a 2006 tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Banpresto for the Xbox 360 in Japan. Part of the company's Super Robot Wars series, it is an updated version of the GameCube installment Super Robot Wars GC (2004). Players control a fleet of mechas from a variety of super robot anime series, including Mobile Suit Gundam and Getter Robo, to defeat opponents on a grid-based map. XO combines tactical role-playing game mechanics with action sequences, which use stylized anime-esque cutscenes unique for each character.

References

  1. 1 2 "スーパーロボット大戦 公式サイト[SRW]".
  2. ↑ "RPGamer > Super Robot Taisen Alpha".
  3. ↑ Staff (August 23, 1999). "More Super Robot Wars Alpha Details - IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ "バンプレスト、DC「スーパーロボット大戦α for Dreamcast」発売を8月30日に延期".
  5. ↑ Staff (May 27, 2000). "Super Robot Wars Alpha". IGN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dreamcast Soft Review - スーパーロボット大戦α for Dreamcast" (in Japanese). No. August 2001. SoftBank Group. Dorimaga. September 7, 2001. p. 35.
  7. ↑ プレイステーション - スーパーロボット大戦α. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.24. 30 June 2006.
  8. ↑ ドリームキャスト - スーパーロボット大戦α for Dreamcast. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.54. 30 June 2006.
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