History Trivia / Solatorobo

* AcclaimedFlop: While the game is considered to be an EvenBetterSequel compared to ''VideoGame/TailConcerto'', [[https://youtu.be/neoPdIXte6U According to a Q&A session]], ''Solatorobo'' only managed to push 100,000 units worldwide, in part thanks to the game being a very late release for the DS.
* ActorAllusion: Before Red (voiced by Creator/TetsuyaKakihara) competes in the final round of the Duel Ship Rookie Tournament, he tells the receptionist "[[Manga/FairyTail I'm fired up!]]".
* DoingItForTheArt: The only possible reason Creator/CyberConnect2 could possibly have for spending ten years trying to get a green light for a SpiritualSequel to a little game that barely sold and few had heard of: someone liked it and wanted to continue the world. Of those ten years, seven were spent on WorldBuilding. '''It shows.'''
* ExecutiveMeddling: Part of the reason the game spent ten years in development is because ''VideoGame/TailConcerto'' didn't sell as well as hoped, so [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco Bandai]] insisted that anything ''remotely'' related be tightened up. Arguably, this is an example of Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad, because the result is gorgeous.
* InvisibleAdvertising: In Japan, this was zig-zagged, as they made over 100 advertisements for the game, each of them lasting no more than 15 seconds... but they were all dropped on the same day as the game's release, though ''Solatorobo'' had some pre-release content beforehand. In western territories, this was played straight, as the only form of advertisement this game got was a moddest ''Magazine/NintendoPower'' article, maybe one trailer and that's it. Not helping is that both of them kept the second half of the game under wraps (as opposed to the European version teasing its existence and the Japanese version outright showing it), thus making many onlookers [[AnimationAgeGhetto assume the worst about the game.]]
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Due to its low sales, ''Solatorobo'' is considered to be one of the holy grails of DS game collecting. While European and Japanese copies are more common and thus cost less, the US version is notoriously expensive, where a loose copy can easily set you back nearly '''''[[CrackIsCheaper $300 USD]]'''''. It's at the point where people are more likely to know ''Solatorobo'' for its rarity alone rather than the actual content within the game itself.
* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: The Japanese version had a Collector's Edition that included a different cover sleeve, the game's soundtrack, and a Prelude disc that contains pre-release content and interviews. In America, certain versions of the game was packaged with a CD containing a set amount of songs from the game.
* MarthDebutedInSmashBros:
** This game marks Mamoru's first international appearance, as none of his exploits from ''Mamoru-Kun'' have ever been properly localized for western audiences.
** Likewise, this also marks the first appearance of the ''Tail Concerto'' characters in the European region as a whole, as that game never made it to [=PAL=] territories beyond France (for some reason).
* MilestoneCelebration: This game is considered to be [=CyberConnect2=]'s 15th anniversary celebration, being a sequel to the very first game they developed.
* ModelDissonance:
** Whenever the game transitions to real-time cutscenes, you get to see beautiful 3D models that takes full advantage of the area... for the backgrounds, robos and airships. Character "models" are simply segmented sprites textured onto flat polygons that are shaded to give each character a psuedo-3D look by abusing {{Cheated Angle}}s. As such, they look weird when viewed with a free-camera.
** Even Red's in-game model isn't immune to this, as the Red in the DAHAK is entirely different compared to Red on-foot, with his DAHAK model being meshed into the robo's gemoetry directly.
* NoExportForYou: Thankfully averted, both for [[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendo_signs_distribution_deal_with_namco_bandai_games_for_solatorobo_red_the_hunter_in_europe_32657.html Europe]], and [[http://www.1up.com/news/solatorobo-american-release-announced America]]. Unfortunately the artbooks and ''Red Data Children'' light novels remain untranslated officially.
** Fans have translated several of these light novels in recent years, with a [[http://5benfive5.tumblr.com/ collection of English translations available on Tumblr]], but official translations remain unforthcoming.
* OrphanedReference: The gauge medallion that Chocolat wears was supposed to tie into a gameplay mechanic where you would have to micromanage the state of the Asmodeus ship. Though the feature was cut, the medallion remained, eventually being a key part of Chocolat's design.
* ReferencedBy:
** Parts of Red's design (his hat, goggles, and canine features) were incorporated into the character [=Cyberconnect2=] in ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory'', who is an amalgamation of the real [=CyberConnect2=]'s other works, most dominantly ''.hack''.
** Red's hat and goggles (named "Hunter Goggles") can be obtained in ''VideoGame/ThemsFightinHerds'''s virtual lobby. Though because it's a backer item, [=Mane6=] legally cannot disclose the fact that it is a ''Solatorobo'' reference.
** ''{{Webcomic/Savestate}}'''s logo font is intentionally inspired by ''Solatorobo'', [[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/788331778284847124/884857904182738956/7f95de755ce818fc3d7e31dda80d9b75.png and Tim Weeks once drew Kade in Red's outfit]].
** likewise, Tom Fischbach, author of ''Webcomic/TwoKinds'', [[https://twitter.com/henstonn/status/1288226038648983552 sketched Natani and Keith dressed as Red and Elh respectively]].
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: Finally released in Japan in 2010 and the rest of the world in 2011.
* SequelGap: ''Tail Concerto'' was released back in 1998, with Solatorobo launching in 2010/11.
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: [=CyberConnect2=] has expressed time and time again that they would love to remake ''Solatorobo'' for modern consoles, but in order to do that, they would need clearance from Bandai Namco as they still own exclusive publishing rights over the game. Given how badly the game underperformed financially, it's understandable why Bandai Namco would remain hesitant to do anything regarding the ''Little Tail Bronx'' series as a whole.
** Bandai Namco's partial ownership also prevented [=CyberConnect2=] from directly referencing any of the game's characters in ''Fuga: Melodies of Steel'', which may had influenced the decision to make it a StealthPrequel rather than a follow-up or side-story to ''Solatorobo''.
* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Somewhat. Bandai Namco apparently had very little faith in the franchise selling outside of Japan. The publishing for the US version was handled by Creator/XSEEDGames with Nintendo handling the European release themselves. Regardless, the game received little to no advertising within those regions, and the European box cover ended up spoiling a few major twists. Bandai Namco has an American and European publishing arm and could've published the game outside of Japan themselves instead if they were so inclined.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Something to be expected for a game that spent nearly 10 years in development.
** The project started life back in 1999 as a direct sequel to ''Tail Concerto'' titled ''Tail Capriccio'' ("Capriccio" meaning "Fantastical Music", keeping up with the theme naming of the first game), with both Panta and Cyan in the running for being PromotedToPlayable. However, middling sales from the first game lead to Bandai (later Bandai Namco) rejecting the proposal. In 2004, the sequel was proposed again before being re-imagined as the PublicServiceAnnouncement game ''Mamoru-Kun'', before finally being retooled into ''Solatorobo'' starting in 2007.
** Many different prototype designs and plot ideas were revealed in the multiple ''Solatorobo'' art books titled "Bluesky", "Daybreak", and "Starlet". Some ideas include Red initially being younger and named Blue, and story ideas that would eventually morph into the tie-in novel series "Red Data Children."
*** The artbooks also had different designs proposed for the returning Waffle, Panta, Alicia, Flare, and Stair, suggesting that they would become OlderAndWiser come ''Solatorobo.'' For reasons unknown, these designs went unused and they all reverted back to their original outfits in the final game.
** Chocolat was originally designed as a Felineko before suddenly shifting into a Caninu late into production. Chocolat was also going to be the TokenHuman ActionGirl partner to Red at one point.
** Mervielle was going to be KilledOffForReal in the second half of the game, but the writers' attachment to the character prevented that from happening.
** Opera was supposed to be Fool's daughter, before being morphed into her own independent character.
** Flo was going to also serve as MissionControl, giving you hints and proverbs depending on the situation on the top half of the screen not unlike Mei Ling from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', before being delegated to a simple mission broker.
** Cocona's InsertSong, "Sparkling Shooting Star", was supposed to be a lot longer, but had to be cut down to only the first verse due to them running out of space on the game's cartridge. Oddly enough, in spite of the soundtrack getting remastered and released on CD, "Sparkling Shooting Star" never got extended to its intended full length.
** The three-way battle against Opera, Calua, and Gren was originally going to be much different, with the three revealing to have CombiningMecha [[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/788324889114574848/860528135815430174/unknown.png that would then fight against Red.]]
** There was going to be a mission where the Black Cats Gang would steal the DAHAK, forcing Red to borrow Waffle's Police Robo to get it back.
* WorkingTitle: Was referred to as ''Project CODA'' for the longest time before finally gaining its retail name late in development.

* ModelDissonance: Whenever the game transitions to real-time cutscenes, you get to see beautiful 3D models that takes full advantage of the area... for the backgrounds, robos and airships. Character "models" are simply segmented sprites textured onto flat polygons that are shaded to give each character a psuedo-3D look by abusing {{Cheated Angle}}s. As such, they look weird when viewed with a free-camera.

* ModelDissonance: Whenever the game transitions to real-time cutscenes, you get to see beautiful 3D models that takes full advantage of the area... for the backgrounds, robos and airships. Character "models" are simply segmented sprites textured onto flat polygons that are shaded to give each character a psuedo-3D look by abusing {{Cheated Angle}}s. As such, they look weird when put in a full 3D area.

* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: This game marks Mamoru's first international appearance, as none of his exploits from ''Mamoru-Kun'' have ever been properly localized for western audiences.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Somewhat. Bandai Namco apparently had very little faith in the franchise selling outside of Japan. The publishing outside of Japan was handled by Creator/XSEEDGames instead and received little to no advertising. Bandai Namco has an American and European publishing arm and could've published the game outside of Japan themselves instead if they were so inclined.

* VindicatedByHistory: The game launched with little to no fanfare in the west, accompanied with negative assumptions that it's a "game for the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom". Nowadays, it holds high acclaim, and used loose copies of the English version of the game can fetch hundreds of US dollars. And used, loose copies of the European English and Japanese version are only marginally cheaper.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: [=CyberConnect2=] has expressed time and time again that they would love to remake ''Solatorobo'' for modern consoles, but in order to do that, they would need clearance from Bandai Namco as they still own exclusive publishing rights over the game. Given how badly the game underperformed financially, it's understandable why Bandai Namco would remain hesitant to do anything regarding the ''Little Tail Bronx'' series as a whole. However it appears that as of 2021, Bandai Namco have either fully relinquished their rights, or their rights to the franchise has expired, as the third game of the Little Tail Bronx series, VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel, was self published, and [=CyberConnect2=] has hinted that a remaster of ''Solatorobo'' may finally happen if ''Fuga'' sells well.

** ''{{Webcomic/Savestate}}'''s logo is partially inspired by ''Solatorobo'', [[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/788331778284847124/884857904182738956/7f95de755ce818fc3d7e31dda80d9b75.png and Tim Weeks once drew Kade in Red's outfit]].

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: It seems the English releases are getting more and more expensive as time goes on. The European English and Japanese release is slightly cheaper than the US English release, and the older DS models are region free, however.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Somewhat. Bandai Namco apparently had very little faith in the franchise selling outside of Japan. The publishing outside of Japan was handled by Creator/XSEEDGames instead and received little to no advertising. Bandai Namco has an American and European publishing arm and could've published the game outside of Japan themselves instead if they so inclined.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Somewhat. Bandai Namco apparently had very little faith in the franchise selling outside of Japan. The publishing outside of Japan was handled by Creator/XSEEDGames instead and received little to no advertising. Bandai Namco has an American and European publishing arm and could've published the game outside of Japan themselves instead.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Somewhat. Bandai Namco apparently had very little faith in the franchise selling outside of Japan. The publishing outside of Japan was handled by Creator/XSeedGames instead and received little to no advertising. Bandai Namco has an American and European publishing arm and could've published the game outside of Japan themselves instead.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: [=CyberConnect2=] has expressed time and time again that they would love to remake ''Solatorobo'' for modern consoles, but in order to do that, they would need clearance from Bandai Namco as they still own exclusive publishing rights over the game. Given how badly the game underperformed financially, it's understandable why Bandai Namco would remain hesitant to do anything regarding the ''Little Tail Bronx'' series as a whole.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: It seems the English releases are getting more and more expensive as time goes on. The European English release is slightly cheaper than the US English release, and the older DS models are region free, however.

* VindicatedByHistory: The game launched with little to no fanfare in the west, accompanied with negative assumptions that it's a "game for the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom". Nowadays, it holds wide acclaim, and used loose copies of the English version of the game can fetch hundreds of US dollars. And used, loose copies of the Japanese version are only marginally cheaper. Good luck getting a copy at a reasonable price in this day and age.

* VindicatedByHistory: The game launched with little to no fanfare in the west, accompanied with negative assumptions that it's a "game for the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom". Nowadays, it holds wide acclaim, and used loose copies of the English version of the game can fetch hundreds of US dollars. And used, loose copies of the Japanese version is only marginally cheaper. Good luck getting a copy at a reasonable price in this day and age.

* VindicatedByHistory: The game launched with little to no fanfare in the west, accompanied with negative assumptions that it's a "game for the FurryFandom". Nowadays, it holds wide acclaim, and used loose copies of the English version of the game can fetch hundreds of US dollars. And used, loose copies of the Japanese version is only marginally cheaper. Good luck getting a copy at a reasonable price in this day and age.

** The three-way battle against Opera, Calua, and Gren was originall going to be much different, with the three revealing to have CombiningMecha [[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/788324889114574848/860528135815430174/unknown.png that would then fight against Red.]]

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: CyberConnect2 has expressed time and time again that they would love to remake ''Solatorobo'' for modern consoles, but in order to do that, they would need clearance from Bandai Namco as they still own exclusive publishing rights over the game. Given how badly the game underperformed financially, it's understandable why Bandai Namco would remain hesitant to do anything regarding the ''Little Tail Bronx'' series as a whole.