Super Robot Wars XO

Last updated

Super Robot Wars XO
Super Robot Wars XO cover art.png
Developer(s) Banpresto
Publisher(s) Banpresto
Series Super Robot Wars
Platform(s) Xbox 360
Release
  • JP: November 30, 2006
Genre(s) Tactical role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Super Robot Wars XO [lower-alpha 1] 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.

Contents

Microsoft enlisted the help of Banpresto and other third-party developers to support the Xbox 360 after its largely unsuccessful launch in Japan. As such, Banpresto designed XO to take advantage of the console's hardware capabilities and online support, specifically the Xbox Live online network service. The online multiplayer game mode was added as a means to provide a unique and fresh take on the series's gameplay that had not been seen in earlier installments. Though XO was well-received for its gameplay and tweaks made to its predecessors, the failure of the Xbox 360 in the region made it a commercial failure and among the franchise's worst-selling titles.

Gameplay

The player engaging in a combat sequence Super Robot Wars XO screenshot.png
The player engaging in a combat sequence

Super Robot Wars XO is a tactical role-playing game where players control a fleet of mechas that must destroy an alien race plotting to seize control of Earth. [1] [2] These mecha are drawn from a variety of real robot and super robot anime series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam , Getter Robo , and Matchless Raijin-Oh . [1] The gameplay is divided into multiple levels, or "scenarios", that provide more insight on the game's plot with character interactions and cut-ins as the player progresses. [1] [3]

In these scenarios, players move their mecha on a grid-based stage to destroy all of the enemies. [4] Moving a mecha next to an enemy initiates a combat sequence, which uses stylized anime-like cutscenes that are unique for each of the player's mechas. [1] The outcome of these sequences is determined by the mecha's speed, attack power, and weapon accuracy. [1] In addition to a standard single-player campaign, XO features an online multiplayer game mode that allows players to fight with somebody else around the world. [4] The multiplayer mode has players controlling a duo of mechas and engaging in combat scenarios with each other to be the last one standing. [1] [5] Players can also use the online mode to trade items with others and customize their mecha to increase its power or agility. [1] [4]

Development

Super Robot Wars XO was designed to take advantage of the Xbox 360's online capabilities. Xbox-360-Pro-wController.jpg
Super Robot Wars XO was designed to take advantage of the Xbox 360's online capabilities.

The launch of the Xbox 360 in Japan in December 2005 was seen as largely unsuccessful. Though the system was a resounding success in North America, it received tepid interest from Japan due to its software library and the console market having already been dominated by Nintendo and Sony. [5] As a way to drive interest in the console and Xbox brand, Microsoft began enlisting the help of third-party developers to begin production of games that catered specifically to the Japanese market. [5] Banpresto was among the first companies to apply, announcing it was developing a new entry in its Super Robot Wars series specifically to take advantage of the console's online and hardware capabilities. [3] [5]

Super Robot Wars XO is an updated version of the GameCube installment Super Robot Wars GC, released in 2004. [1] [5] [6] In addition to expanding on several of the mechanics and concepts in GC, XO contains a number of new additions, such as additional animations and new scenarios and events. [3] [6] As the Xbox 360 possessed powerful graphical capabilities, the development team was able to greatly improve the texture quality and visual effects, which they believed helped to invoke a sense of power in players. [6] The online multiplayer mode was designed to be a different take on the gameplay in the series. [3] Banpresto demonstrated XO at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show event as part of Microsoft's booth, [7] and released the game on November 30. [8] To coincide with its release, a strategy guide by Shiranui Pro was published that detailed its story, setting, and characters. [1] Like most Super Robot Wars games, licensing issues prevented it from seeing an international release. [3] [4] On January 10, 2008, XO was re-released under Microsoft's Platinum Collection budget title label. [9]

Reception

During its launch week, Super Robot Wars XO sold 4,909 copies, which climbed to 7,812 copies by the end of 2006 and 12,000 by 2007. [11] [12] The Platinum Collection re-release sold less than 3,000. [12] Having sold an estimated 15,000 copies total, significantly less than GC, XO is among the lowest-selling games in the Super Robot Wars series, which has been attributed to the Xbox 360's largely unwelcoming commercial and critical reception in Japan. [11] [12]

Four reviewers from Famitsu were generally impressed with its higher production value and additions to the gameplay of GC. One reviewer positively noted its online multiplayer capabilities, but another was critical at the lack of a tutorial for newer players. [10] In a preview, Ricardo Torres of GameSpot felt that the visuals in XO lacked polish and its 3D cinematics were not very impressive, but its gameplay and tweaks made to GC's mechanics made up for it. Torres said it was "shaping up to be a solid little game", and expressed disappointment at licensing issues preventing a worldwide release. [4]

Gamekult writer Greg believed the online mode would provide little excitement for players, and "seemed a bit anecdotal" to use. However, he complimented the high-resolution textures and short load times, even if the game itself likely would not seem "essential" for Super Robot Wars fans. [13] As part of a retrospective on the series in 2020, USgamer 's Kat Bailey ranked XO as being one of the worst entries in the series, which she collectively referred to as the "Scrap Heap". Bailey believed that games like XO were of poor quality since they disregarded what she considered key features of the series in an attempt to be experimental, while replacing its 2D sprite art with unimpressive and featureless 3D models. [14]

Notes

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

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.

Cyber Troopers Virtual-On is a series of video games created by Sega AM3. The series was created by Juro Watari. The original series was first published for arcades in January 1996. The game features fast, action-oriented gameplay requiring quick reflexes. It has seen four iterations to date and has been ported to several video game consoles.

<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 Wars: Original Generations</i> 2007 video game

Super Robot Wars OG is a 2007 tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation 2. OG is a remake of the two Original Generation games for the Game Boy Advance and is intended to celebrate the Super Robot Wars series' 15th anniversary. It was released on June 28, 2007.

<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 Alpha</i> 2000s video game

Super Robot Taisen Alpha, 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.

<i>Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation</i>

Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation is a three-episode OVA that takes place after the events of Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2, a Game Boy Advance game featuring only original characters and mecha created by Banpresto for the Super Robot Wars franchise.

<i>Daisenryaku</i> 1991 video game

Daisenryaku is a series of war strategy video games by SystemSoft and SystemSoft Alpha in Japan. The series debuted in Japan in 1985 with Gendai Daisenryaku exclusively for the NEC PC-98.

<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 OG Gaiden</i> 2007 video game

Super Robot Wars OG Gaiden is a 2007 tactical role-playing game, and direct sequel to Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations, for the PlayStation 2. The bonus segments of Original Generations, entitled Original Generation 2.5: Unified Wisdom, was regarded as a preview for Original Generation Gaiden. The game resolves many matters left unchecked at the end of Original Generation 2.5, such as one of the main antagonist's unfinished plan and the activities of one of the enemy factions.

<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>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>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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 スーパーロボット大戦XO完全解析ファイル (in Japanese). Shiranui Pro. January 1, 2007. ISBN   9784575164619.
  2. ↑ "Super Robot Taisen XO Gameplay Movie 1". www.gamespot.com. GameSpot . Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 IGN Staff (August 23, 2006). "Super Robot Port Planned for 360". IGN. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Torres, Ricardo (September 25, 2006). "TGS 06: Super Robot Taisen XO Hands-On". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Surette, Tim (April 11, 2006). "Slew of 360 games revealed at Xbox Summit 2005". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "スーパーロボット大戦XO". Super Robot Wars Official Blog (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Entertainment. August 26, 2006. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (September 20, 2006). "TGS 2006: Microsoft's Game List". IGN. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ Reese, Zack (October 30, 2006). "Blue Dragon and Super Robot Wars XO Media Update". RPG Site. MIST Network. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ Wakabayashi, Kenta (November 5, 2007). "「スーパーロボット大戦 XO」や「アーマード・コア4」がプラチナコレクションで登場". ASCII (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "スーパーロボット大戦XOのレビュー・評価・感想". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Game Search (based on Famitsu data)". Game Data Library. March 1, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Yamamori, Takashi (June 13, 2008). Xbox 360 広技苑 2008年夏 (in Japanese). Mainichi Communications. p. 247. ISBN   978-4-8399-2875-9.
  13. ↑ Greg (September 23, 2006). "TGS> SRW 360 at a glance". Gamekult (in French). CUP Interactive. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  14. ↑ Bailey, Kat (August 25, 2020). "A Brave Attempt to Rank 30 Years of Super Robot Wars Games". USgamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020.
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.