Finally, I have completed SRW W once…

An overview on it [POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK]…

Story: This is one of the better original storylines out there in the SRW universe, if we are talking about handheld SRWs. The idea of splitting the story into two parts is rather ingenious, and brings out the full flavor of some of the series. The original enemies are also interesting enough, with enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge.

Graphics: Basically an improved combination from SRW Judgement and SRW Alpha 3. The best part is where there are A LOT of extra battle scenes if the attack manage to kill off the enemy. And you thought only the best attacks have this privilege? No, even some of the lesser used moves have this system too. The number of animated scenes are arguably even more than any SRW ever released, heck it even feels like watching the anime itself, as various scenes were taken from the original anime. And some of the scenes are also used as the background for certain dialogues to enhance the experience.

Gameplay: Difficulty level? Easy. But the system of Multi-Combo where you can target an enemy in your range (in the past, to use this system you must be right next to your opponent) makes this a formidable and deadly weapon for enemy bosses (towards the later part, many “small fries” could also use this system, but luckily your guys should be strong enough to withstand it) and provide new strategies. Basically the multi-combo system counters the Support Attack/Defense system. Another interesting mechanism is the Request Support system, where you can summon mechs which are not deployed in the stage to help in support attack/defense. But the number of times you can use this is limited by the fact that the number doesn’t replenish after each turn, unlike the Support system. This means that if you used up your Request Supports, you won’t be able to use it for the rest of the stage. What is so interesting is that you can see the battle scenes of those mechs that you rarely deploy using this system. Also, there’s another change where you can use Spirit commands for mechs who just got deployed from your battleships, which is a change long overdue, but nonetheless welcome.

Here’s a review of the various mecha series, in terms of the 3 criteria listed above:

Yuusha-oh GaoGaiGar/Yuusha-oh GaoGaiGar Final 勇者王ガオガイガー/勇者王ガオガイガーFINAL

• + Appearance of Rairyu and Furyu, which means the appearance of three more forms shared by the four brothers
• + Rose Approval, the grandmother who’s part of United Nations, play a very important role
• + the terrorist organization BioNet play a more important role compared to in the anime
• + whole bunch of new combination moves
• + Goldion Hammer and Goldion Crusher are no longer combination moves, and Goldion Crusher can be used for many times
• + It’s possible to hear Endoh Masaaki’s voice in the theme song for GaoGaiGar, and the new version of the theme song (Gathering Mythology version) is used as the theme song for Genesic GaoGaiGar
• - The part of the plot where the whole team got banished from Earth is taken out
• - Somehow I don’t feel the hot-bloodedness… Maybe it’s because it’s voiceless
• - Goldymarg is practically non-existant in the story

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed/Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Astray/Mobile Suit Gundam Seed X Astray 機動戦士ガンダムSEED/機動戦士ガンダムSEED ASTRAY/機動戦士ガンダムSEED X ASTRAY

• + all three plots are intertwined together
• + there’s a re-enactment of the Bloody Valentine event, and the 1st half serves as a prequel to the Gundam Seed universe, which is an original idea that pays off well
• + which effectively change the destiny of some characters, especially Miguel Aiman, who’s involved with characters from Astray and essentially survive through the whole game
• + seen from the viewpoint of the Astray team
• + the viewpoint of ArchAngel is from an outsider’s point
• - which also means much of the plot in Gundam Seed which outsiders can’t see are left out
• - Astray plot seems more significant than the Seed plot because of the arrangement, although the latter is more important

Tekkaman Blade/Tekkaman Blade II 宇宙の騎士テッカマンブレード/宇宙の騎士テッカマンブレード II,

• + intertwined with the plot of Detonator Orgun
• + Tekkaman Blade is possibly the most tragic main character in the whole SRW lineup, which earns much tears from me
• + the plot is heavily emphasized, and with the inclusion of Tekkaman Blade II, allows for more scenarios never seen in the anime (Tekkaman Blade II is supposed to be a short sequel, but in SRW, it’s interwined with the original story)
• + hell lot of combination moves
• - though most of them are just reruns of the attacks of the various individual characters

Full Metal Panic!/Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu/Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid フルメタル・パニック!/フルメタル・パニック？ふもっふ/フルメタル・パニック!The Second Raid

• + “Whispereds” are a major part of the story
• + FMP TSR is arguably the only non-Gundam anime that got into the SRW lineup within two years of broadcasting, shining hope on recent mecha animes to get into the lineup within a short period.
• + FMP Fumoffu creates a lot of humorous scenes for SRW, while FMP TSR creates a solemn atmosphere for the most part. Exact opposites.
• - I personally feel that Arbalest is comparable to Xabungle, meaning they are mains that you will never use, due to the fact that there are better mechs out there…

Detonator Orgun デトネイター・オーガン

• + it’s only a 3 episode OVA, but they manage to drag it through the 40+ stages without it feeling redundant. Kudos to the producers!
• + The best part is possibly the appearance of the original Orgun in the 1st part of the story (the story as depicted in the anime was integrated only in the 2nd half of the plot)

Mazinkaiser/Mazinkaiser ~Shitou! Ankoku Daishogun~/Shin Getter Robo マジンカイザー/マジンカイザー～死闘!暗黒大将軍～/真ゲッターロボ

• + Ankoku Dai-Shogun is one hell of a menace (a.k.a he’s very strong and challenging)
• + Boss Borot is not the useless piece of crap he is anymore. But still, I won’t use him…
• - Not all the seven Generals appear to fight. Crap, I was hoping for a massive showdown…
• - Shin Getter Robo is just there for show. There’s no Dinosaur empire here to challenge them…
• - All three Getter pilots are shown to be in their teens (most likely their mental behaviour is taken from the Getter Robo anime). Crap, guess I’m too used to their mature forms…

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing ~Endless Waltz~ 新機動戦記ガンダムＷ: Endless Waltz

• + FINALLY, I saw Serpents around
• + it’s the first time Heero ever met his counterpart who he actually recognises for who he is: Sagara Sousuke from FMP. Both have too many similarities… so much so that Sagara is the only one who Heero can communicate well with
• + Great animations for Wing, Deathscythe and especially Sandrock
• + Relena, more than usual, is also an important character in the politics

Hyakuju-oh GoLion/Lion Voltron: Defenders of the Far Universe 百獣王ゴライオン

• + provides that little hope of a non-OG SRW being translated into English, due to its popularity in the west
• + the alternative to Combattler V and gang
• - boring storyline. I was hoping for something better, but it didn’t. Heck, even Combattler V and Daltanius which I already considered boring are better, much better
• - the only interesting part is that of the Lions, so the producers have an excuse to link this to GaoGaiGar. This is negative as it’s the ONLY interesting part

Martian Successor Nadesico/Martian Successor Nadesico: The Prince of Darkness 機動戦艦ナデシコ/機動戦艦ナデシコ -The prince of darkness-

• + the largest expanded Nadesico plot ever in SRW, with the largest number of characters appearing
• + many characters at the end of the movie who should be dead are still alive, and can be used, especially Gai and Yurika, who are given new portraits. Sadly, there are no cut-in scenes for them
• + Akito as the prince of darkness is realy beyond the cool factor
• + Gekiganger III is available as a BGM. WOW, that’s hot-bloodedness in the ultimate form
• + Much emphasis is given to the Nadesico plot
• + Lapis Lazuri is playable, with her own mech
• + it’s plot benefits from the splitting of the plot into two parts
• - Tsukiomi is not available as a playable character

All in all, this is one of the best out there, and kicks off well as the first SRW for NDS. Too bad there’s no Tsume Supa Robo, a mini game where you solve puzzles. I have only been through the routes mainly for GaoGaiGar and Tekkaman Blade, so I have missed out on Gundam Seed and Full Metal Panic, which i will revisit on my second replay, as well as to obtain more secret units.

~ by rei_andrew29 on 9 April, 2007.