Custom Robo

Last updated
Custom Robo
Customrobologo na.png
Logo since 2004
Genre(s) Action role-playing
Developer(s) Noise
Publisher(s) Nintendo
First release Custom Robo
December 8, 1999
Latest release Custom Robo Arena
October 19, 2006

Custom Robo [lower-alpha 1] is an action role-playing video game series developed by Noise and published by Nintendo.

Contents

The series spans five games, and has titles on the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Nintendo DS. Only the two most recent titles have seen a release outside of Japan. Custom Robo Arena was first released in Japan on October 19, 2006, later seeing international release in 2007.

International release

Beginning in 1999, the Custom Robo series has largely been exclusive to Japan. In 2001, however, Nintendo released Super Smash Bros. Melee , a fighting game containing characters from throughout the company's history, worldwide. In the title's trophy room, three custom robos from Custom Robo V2 appeared as trophies: Ray Mk II, Bayonette, and Annie.

Stated by several issues of Nintendo Power, an international release of Custom Robo GX , the third title in the series, was planned but later canceled. The fourth title in the series, Custom Robo: Battle Revolution , would later be released in 2004, the first title in the series to receive and release outside of Japan. The fifth title of the series, Custom Robo Arena , would become the first and only Custom Robo title released globally.

Gameplay

Custom Robo is an arena fighting game that makes use of a mix and match gear loadout system similar to games such as Robotrek or Front Mission , but with frantic action battles in confined 3D arenas (2D arenas in Custom Robo GX), similar to Virtual On .

In Custom Robo, the object is to reduce the opponent's hit points from 1000 to 0 by mixing together different Robos (bodies), guns, bombs and pods, usually by pressuring opponents into taking damage through various trap tactics allowed by a Robo's customized loadout. Custom Robos are arranged in groups that are similar to their abilities. The endurance bar is located above the player's hitbox; once it runs out, the Custom Robo gets "downed" which means that it stays fallen for a couple seconds. After the Robo gets up, it goes into "rebirth" mode, a temporary state of invincibility lasting 3 seconds. Should the player repeatedly lose the same battle, the game will offer the option of reducing the opponent's initial health, in order to make the battle easier. If players continue to lose several times, the degree of handicap offered increases up to 75%, giving the opponent a starting HP of 250, rather than 1000.

In each game's story mode, contextualized as a role-playing game, players slip into the role of a nameable protagonist just beginning to learn about Custom Robo. In each game, the first Robo players obtain is always the latest model of the Ray series. The goal for players is to improve their skills and collect different Custom Robo body kits and gear in order to defeat everyone, including champion Custom Robo users. The main objective of the game is to finish the storyline by collecting every Custom Robo and battle part, while winning every battle that moves players along through the story arc.

Games

The following is a list of games released in the series:

Games predating Battle Revolution were released only in Japan (except the first one, which was also released in China for the iQue Player). Due to this, there are no official titles for North American or European releases of these games. Such a title may be given if Nintendo divisions outside Japan elects to localize any of these games to their regions.
TitlePlatform(s)Release year(s)Notes
Custom Robo [lower-alpha 2] Nintendo 64, iQue Player Japan: 1999
China: 2006
The first title of the Custom Robo series. It is also the first and only title of the series released for the iQue Player in China.
Custom Robo V2 [lower-alpha 3] Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual ConsoleJapan: 2000, 2008, 2016 Second and last Custom Robo title developed for the Nintendo 64. It is also the first title of the series to allow up to four players to play, instead of up to two players. It was released on the Wii Virtual Console in Japan in February 2008 and the Wii U Virtual Console in June 2016.
Custom Robo GX [lower-alpha 4] Game Boy Advance Japan: 2002 The first Custom Robo title to appear on a Nintendo handheld. It is also the first and only Custom Robo rendered in two-dimensional (2D) graphics instead of three-dimensional (3D) graphics for Custom Robo battles.
Custom Robo: Battle Revolution [lower-alpha 5] GameCube Japan and North America: 2004 The first Custom Robo title released in North America. It is also the first to incorporate full motion video.
Custom Robo Arena [lower-alpha 6] Nintendo DS Japan: 2006
North America, Australia and Europe: 2007
The first Custom Robo title to use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for playing multiplayer gameplay online. It is also the first and only Custom Robo title to be released in PAL regions.

A sequel to Custom Robo GX was originally planned for release on the Game Boy Advance, [1] but the project was discontinued. It was planned for release in late 2005 in Japan.

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<i>Custom Robo</i> (1999 video game) 1999 video game

Custom Robo is an action role-playing video game developed by Noise and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in 1999 in Japan, and in 2006 for the iQue Player in China. It is the first game in the Custom Robo series. The game and its sequel Custom Robo V2 were re-released on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in Japan in July 2022.

<i>Custom Robo V2</i> 2000 video game

Custom Robo V2 is an action role playing video game developed by Noise and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan on November 10, 2000. It was later re-released on February 19, 2008, for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan, and June 8, 2016, for the Wii U Virtual Console. It is the second title of the Custom Robo series, as well as the last of the series for the Nintendo 64. It is also the first title of the series to allow up to four players to play, instead of two players. The game was re-released along with its predecessor on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in Japan in July 2022.

<i>Custom Robo GX</i> 2002 video game

Custom Robo GX is an action role-playing game developed by Noise, and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance on July 26, 2002, in Japan. The game stayed on Nintendo Power's future release list for a few years, until the release of the next title of the series, Custom Robo: Battle Revolution for the GameCube. NOISE also planned the sequel Custom Robo GX 2, but later dropped it in favor of Custom Robo Arena for the Nintendo DS. Nintendo previously planned to release it in late 2005 in Japan. Custom Robo GX is the third title of the Custom Robo series as well as the last Custom Robo title never released outside Japan.

<i>Custom Robo Battle Revolution</i> 2004 video game

Custom Robo: Battle Revolution, known in North America as Custom Robo, is an action role-playing game developed by Noise and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the fourth title of the Custom Robo series, and the first title of the series released outside Japan.

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References

  1. "開発者に訊く カスタムロボの歴史". Nintendo Online Magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

Notes

  1. Japanese: カスタムロボ, Hepburn: Kasutamu Robo
  2. Japanese: カスタムロボ
  3. Japanese: カスタムロボV2
  4. Japanese: カスタムロボGX
  5. Known in Japan as カスタムロボ バトルレボリューション (lit. Custom Robo: Battle Revolution).
  6. Known in Japan as 激闘!カスタムロボ (Gekitō! Custom Robo, lit. Rumble! Custom Robo).
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