First of all, i've never seen this section before and i'm thrilled theres one like this, to make reviews (i love meaking them, because you can make people to view and know some games that may pass unseen or underrated.). Anyways let's move on to the main topic, SRW W.
Super Robot Taisen W (Or Super Robot Wars W in English) is a Tactical RPG published and developed by Banpresto. The game revolves around (obviusly) mechas, anime mechas. Some are from well known anime series and others are "Banpresto Originals" or "Robots that we invented for this franchise". Anyways the story is quite... weird, mainly because the game is in Japanese and i didn't understanded it, so here's a quote from Wikipedia that should explain me and all of you what the game story is about.
(Not everything in life is battling mechas for fun, there HAS to be a story for that, or at least an excuse haha)
QUOTE said:Space Calendar (SC) 99. In the previous age, the governments of Earth formed the Federated Earth Nation (FEN) to bring World War III to an end. After putting down the defiant lunar colony, the Federation Space Calendar was instituted. To alleviate environmental pressures and overpopulation, the FEN began expanding into space, constructing space colonies and asteroid cities, as well as an Orbital Space Ring around the Earth, and the development and terraforming of the Moon and Mars. This was accomplished in a short time, due to quantum leaps in physics and energy research. But repression of those living in the colonies by the FEN ignited a war between factions in space, and OZ, the true leaders of the FEN. This "Revolutionary War" ended in the year 98, with the death of FEN President Treize Khushrenada. From Treize's will, a New United Nations was formed, returning power back to the individual states.
But the new Earth Sphere's troubles seemed to multiply. The Earth Sphere was invaded by the Radam, who seized control of the Orbital Space Ring, and the invaders known as the Jovian Lizards, who destroyed the Mars Colony. In addition, internal strife, such as the arbitrary distinction between Coordinators and Naturals, and mechanized terrorism, seem to be taking the New United Nations to the breaking point.
On June 13, SC 99, Kazuma Ardygun and his family, a group of Trailers, are tasked with the job of escorting Quatre Raberba Winner and Duo Maxwell, disguised as "Heero Yuy", to Earth...
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So now we know why was all the slashin', and battlin' and awesome blastin' to each other.
Now we need to meet the Main Characthers or "The tiny people inside the cool robots".
(All this people are Banpresto Originals) The awesome pilots and support crew are:[*]Kazuma Ardygun: (Only son in the Ardygun family, and of course, our protagonist) He's a 16 year old Trailer wannabe. He is the main pilot behind the Valhawk mobile unit.[*]
Mihiro Ardygun: Kazuma's little sister, she helps his big brotha' to battle inside the Valhawk as the secondary pilot (All this and she's only 10!)[*]
Blessfield Ardygun: Kazuma's father, and Capitain of the Valstork, the Ardygun family battle-ship. In an awsome explosion where he saves his son, he is forced to travel back in time using the Boson Jump, 15 billion years in the past. THAT much in the past.[*]
Shihomi Ardygun: Kazuma's older sister. She's not hot if you're wondering. She's the main operator of the Valstork[*]
Akane Ardygun: Kazuma's mid sister (Mihiro, Akane and Shinomi being the oldest). She's cheerful and doable.[*]
Horis Horian: Ardygun family employee of trust. He's the Valstork navigational operatorNow, those are the good ones, the bad ones, well i leave the meeting to you ;D.
Well now, let's talk about graphics. Oh man, where should i start? They're are just awesome. The quality and quantity of animations blew my hat off, i mean, is kinda watching an anime. There were parts that really left me with my jaw dropping. The sprites are really clean, and the effects used are really awesome and top of the line. The game's 2D graphics really do the job, there no need for flashy 3D to jawdrop someone!.
Anyways, they are really awesome. The best 2D animations i've seen on a DS.
Now, the Gameplay. The gameplay is like any other SRW (If you palyed any you'll know). Theres a battelfield with a grid, in where you have your units represented with an icon (Blue is your side), also you can see the enemy's unit (Red) and sometimes you'll see Yellow units (Can be Both your's enemy and the enemy's or the can join the enemy to really fuck you up).
The game goes by turns, you move and attack and end your phase, then the enemy does his phase too.
When attacking, after you make your move with an unit, the enemy can counter-attack (if they survive tou your ultra-blastin' of course). When attacking, if theres another unit right next to you, they cand team-up for a team attack. When the enemy attacks you, you have 3 options: To defend yourself, to evade the attack or to counter, sometimes countering also means evading but don't get trusted or you'll get hurt when you least expect it. I use Counter and evade most of the time.
Anyways... The main objective of the game is to acomplish the mission that you need to complete (Destroy all units, Destroy a command unit, etc.).
The game RPG part is very common, you've got an upgrade screen (To upgrade mechas HP, DEF, etc), a Shop for parts, "spirits" (They are like items that you can use before you attack) and other stuff. After each battle won you also gain Pilot PP to train the mechas pilots (Poor pilots, no one thinks about them!).
This is the basic gameplay explanation, there are alot of variables and options but i'll just stick to basic.
The music is just awesome. It really gets you in the atmosphere of the game... The tunes fit perfectly in the action and the Sound effects are really good too.
Wraping things up, this game really does the job hooking the palyer to the screen, altough non-anime fans will be doubtful about playing this game and i tell them: "Play it. Is a fun game where you get to see cool robots blow each other up".
This game is definitely an import (That is if you buy games). Also if you are a one-patched eye guy *harrr harr* the always awesome Noitora has made a Menu Trasnlation for this game, that you can grab *here*. And there's a walktrough *here*.
I hope you enjoyed all this bablling about mechas, if anyone tries this game because of this review, my job will be done.
Happy robot smashing!
