Line #103 VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Alphafrontsmall.JPG]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[Music/JAMProject I can fly! (Hey!) You can fly! (Hey!) We can fly! (Hey!)]] ''[[CrowdSong MOTTO MOTTO!!!]]'']]
3
4	->''We'll go into the space over our future.\
5	We're looking for the place under the shining star.''
6	-->-- '''Music/JAMProject''', "Skill"
7
8	In the year 179 of the New Western Calendar, the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam One Year War]] breaks out between the [[TheFederation Earth]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Federation]] and the [[TheEmpire Principality]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam of Zeon]], but is halted when an object crashes to Earth, landing on South Atalia Island. An investigative team from the "Extra-Over Technological Investigative Institute" discovers the object is [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross an alien battleship]] with highly-advanced technology. Heeding the warnings of [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsClassic Dr. Bian Zoldark]], the Federation secretly increases its military power, while hiding the evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life beyond the Earth. In the meantime, Bian utilizes "Extra-Over Technology" found on the ship to devise weapons capable of protecting the Earth from alien forces, should the planet become embroiled in conflict.
9
10	However, the economic troubles caused by the Federation's buildup sees the rise of many anti-Federation movements, such as the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Neo Zeon]], who have retreated to the asteroid Axis. In response, the Federation establishes special forces units, including the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Titans]] and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Organization of Zodiac]]. Other forces, like the [[Manga/GetterRobo Dinosaur Empire]] and [[Anime/MazingerZ Dr. Hell]] begin their plans for world domination, but are pushed back by the teams of Anime/MazingerZ, Manga/GetterRobo, and {{Anime/Raideen}}.
11
12	In the year 187, the battleship ''[[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} Excelion]]'' engages a force of "[[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} STMCs]]" (Space Terrible Monster Crowd) when they are suddenly attacked by another unknown alien fleet, codenamed the "[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Aerogaters]]"...
13
14	Thus begins the four-part saga of '''Super Robot Wars Alpha''', perhaps the best-known and most popular of all the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' series. It also holds the distinction of introducing the music of Music/JAMProject into the franchise. This page is not enough to cover this series; as a result, there's a [[Recap/SuperRobotWarsAlpha recap summary]] for the finer details.
15	----
16
17	!!Series Introduced In ''Alpha'' (Bold indicates debuting series)
18	[[quoteright:266:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alphadreamcast.jpg]]
19	* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''
20	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' (Movie compilations rather than the TV series)
21	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket''
22	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory''
23	** ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam''
24	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ''
25	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack''
26	** '''''[[Franchise/GundamExpandedUniverse Mobile Suit Gundam F90]]'''''
27	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91''
28	** ''Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam''
29	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing''
30	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz''
31	* ''Anime/MazingerZ'' (Includes the movies)
32	** ''Anime/GreatMazinger''
33	** ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}''[[note]]Only its concept from ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4 Super Robot Wars F Final]]'' is taken (the anime and manga had yet to appear); the ''Alpha'' series spun off an entirely different premise with the titular unit.[[/note]]
34	* ''Manga/GetterRobo''
35	** ''Getter Robo G''
36	** ''Shin Getter Robo'' (Manga)
37	* ''Anime/CombattlerV''
38	* ''Anime/VoltesV''
39	* ''Anime/{{Daitarn 3}}''
40	* ''Anime/{{Dancougar}}''
41	* ''[[Anime/{{Raideen}} Brave Raideen]]''
42	* ''Anime/AuraBattlerDunbine''
43	* ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}''
44	* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''
45	** '''''The End of Evangelion'''''
46	* '''''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'''''
47	** '''''Do You Remember Love?'''''
48	** '''''Anime/MacrossPlus'''''
49	* ''[[Anime/GiantRobo Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still]]''
50
51	Making the series' debut on the Sony Platform/{{PlayStation}}, ''Alpha'' was released in May 2000. It's the first ''Super Robot Wars'' installment where players can customize allied characters' pilot skills, stats, and terrain ratings. Furthermore, selecting the protagonist is based on the similar process previously used in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4''. The game also introduces a "Skill Point" system, optional decisions and objectives made in and out of scenarios where game difficulty will increase if more Skill Points are acquired, but gives players better chances of unlocking [[SecretCharacter secret characters, parts and units]]. This system would be used again in future ''Super Robot Wars'' titles, such as the "Battle Mastery" for the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'' localization.
52
53	A VideoGameRemake was released on the Platform/SegaDreamcast in 2001, featuring 3D visuals, increased difficulty, secret boss characters and a cameo of the "G-Breaker", a robot from a Bandai-developed video game called ''Sunrise Eiyuutan''.
54	----
55
56	!!Series Introduced In ''Alpha Gaiden'' (Bold indicates debuting series)
57	[[quoteright:207:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alphagaiden.jpg]]
58	[[caption-width-right:207:Notice [[Anime/GreatMazinger the Mazinger]] leading the pack. [[AscendedExtra It's going to be super relevant for this game.]]]]
59	* '''''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack - Beltorchika's Children]]'''''[[note]]Although it makes its debut here, it remains uncredited until ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX''[[/note]]
60	* '''''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'''''
61	* '''''Anime/TurnAGundam'''''
62	* '''''[[Anime/{{Xabungle}} Combat Mecha Xabungle]]'''''
63	* '''''[[Anime/{{Braiger}} Galactic Cyclone Braiger]]'''''
64
65	Released in March 2001 on the [=PlayStation=], ''Alpha Gaiden'' cut several series from the cast, some of whom return in the sequels: ''Gundam F91'' reappears in ''Alpha 2'', while ''Evangelion'' and ''Gunbuster'' return for ''Alpha 3''; ''Giant Robo'', ''Dunbine'', original ''Gundam'', and ''War In The Pocket'' do not. In addition, several new series were added, all making their ''Super Robot Wars'' debut.
66
67	Additionally, ''Alpha Gaiden'' is the only game in the saga to receive a FanTranslation.
68
69	!!Series Introduced In ''Alpha 2'' (Bold indicates debuting series)
70	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alpha2.jpg]]
71	* '''''Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam'''''
72	* ''[[Anime/{{Daimos}} Brave Daimos]]''
73	* ''Anime/{{Gaiking}}''
74	* ''Anime/GoShogun''
75	* '''''Anime/KotetsuJeeg'''''
76	* '''''Anime/BrainPowerd'''''
77	* '''''[[Anime/{{Gaogaigar}} King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'''''
78
79	Heading to the Sony Platform/{{PlayStation 2}} on March 2003, ''Alpha 2'' is the first ''Super Robot Wars'' to introduce squad-based mechanics, where players can group up to four allied units together into a single panel: while squadmates attack with a damage penalty, the squad leader can deal damage normally onto a single enemy unit or use an "ALL Attack" to strike all enemies in a squad, without their squadmates' assistance. The game also confirms the canon heroes of the ''Alpha'' saga from the eight character templates in the first game are Kusuha Mizuha and Brooklyn Luckfield. Similar squad systems would be reintegrated into installments post-''Alpha'' saga in the form of the "Twin Battle System" in ''Original Generation'' and the "TRI-Battle System" of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ''.
80
81	Unfortunately, none of the ''Alpha Gaiden'' debuts return for ''Alpha 2'' and beyond (mainly because ''Gundam X'', ''Turn A Gundam'' and ''Xabungle'' were set in an alternate timeline in this saga), while ''Victory Gundam'', ''Braiger'', and the ''Masou Kishin'' cast vanishes with them. ''Raideen'', ''Dancougar'' and ''Macross'' are conspicuously absent as well, but they return for the ''Alpha 3'' finale.
82
83	!!Series Introduced In ''Alpha 3'' (Bold indicates debuting series)
84	[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alpha3.jpg]]
85	* '''''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'''''
86	* ''Anime/Macross7''
87	* '''''[[Anime/GaoGaiGarFINAL King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL]]'''''
88	* '''''VideoGame/VirtualON''''' (Includes ''Oratorio Tangram'' and ''MARZ'')
89	* ''Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon''
90	* '''''VideoGame/NeonGenesisEvangelion2'''''[[note]]Uncredited[[/note]]
91
92	Launched in August 2005 on the [=PlayStation 2=] as the saga's GrandFinale, ''Alpha 3'' (which comes with the heading "終焉の銀河へ"[[note]]''Shūen no ginga e''; "To the End of the Galaxy"[[/note]]) boasted a record-setting ''33 individual series'' for its roster, one of which was [[Creator/{{Sega}} another company's]] video game series (''Virtual ON''), a first for the franchise. Only ''Brain Powerd'' and ''Crossbone Gundam'' are removed for ''Alpha 3'', but many titles that appeared in ''Alpha'' and ''Alpha Gaiden'', but skipped ''Alpha 2'', make their reappearance.
93	----
94	!!Tropes associated with the ''Alpha'' series:
95	* AdaptationAmalgamation:
96	** The ''Macross'' plot in ''Alpha'' is a combination of the [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross TV series]] and the [[Anime/MacrossDoYouRememberLove movie]]:
97	*** Character designs take after the movie, excluding Kamjin due to him getting hit hard with DemotedToExtra in said movie.
98	*** The plot begins just like in the TV series, with many episodes that weren't adapted in the movie being adapted here. However, movie-exclusive plot points – such as Zentradi and Meltrandi being at war with each other, and the existence of the titular "Do you Remember Love" song – are introduced halfway through. This leads to a finale based entirely on the movie, save for Kamjin's presence.
99	*** The kidnapping incident serves as a combination of the events of both versions of the story, and marks the point where the plot switched from following the series to following the movie. In the series, Hikaru, Misa, Max and Kakizaki are taken prisioner. In the movie, it's Hikaru, Misa, Focker, Minmay and Kaifun. In ''Alpha'', it's all of them.
100	*** The relationship between Hikaru and Minmay changes depending on a route split. In one of the routes, they meet before entering the Macross and quickly become friends, like in the TV series. In the other route, they don't meet until Minmay is already a famous idol and Hikaru is her fan, like in the movie.
101	*** Depending on the actions of the player in certain scenarios, the romance between Max and Milia will either end in Milia getting miclonized to pilot a Valkyrie like in the series, or in Max getting macronized to pilot a Queadluun-Rau like in the movie.
102	** The ''Alpha'' series uses the 70s anime ''Getter Robo'' designs, but combines them with a Shin Getter Robo that is heavily inspired by ''Getter Robo Armageddon''. On top of that, ''Alpha 2'' includes the Black Getter from ''Armageddon'' ahead of the series' "official" debut in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsDestiny''.
103	* AdaptationalWimp: In ''Alpha Gaiden'', [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Shagia and Olba]] never get their Gundams upgraded and retain the Gundam Virsago and Ashtaron throughout the whole game.
104	* AesopAmnesia: Humanity as a whole ends up having to learn the same lesson thrice. In the first ''Alpha'', a significant part of the plot was the heroes convincing the other factions that humans shouldn't be fighting against each other when the planet is in danger due to several threats from outer space. Come ''Alpha 2'', they have to do it all over again. And then one more time in ''Alpha 3''. Needless to say, the heroes are NOT happy about humanity's failure to learn from previous mistakes.
105	* AfterTheEnd: In ''Alpha Gaiden'', after Scenario 9, no less than three of them have occurred.
106	* AmbidextrousSprite: Averted with the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Blitz Gundam]] in ''Alpha 3''. The Blitz is a guest character for three stages in the Selena route where its sprite is correct but despite appearing as an enemy otherwise, its enemy sprite is mirrored rather than having the sprite adjusted. Contrastingly in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsJudgment Judgment]]'' that would come out a few years later, the opposite occurs.
107	* AnachronismStew:
108	** The ''UC Gundam'' plot of the first game is a combination of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory 0083]]'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta]]'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ ZZ]]'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 F91]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory]]''. In canon, the time gap between the earliest of those titles (''0083'') and the latest (''Victory'') is 70 years. Not to mention the presence of many characters from the original series that were long dead by the time of these events. ''Alpha 2'' continues using this trope by combining the plots of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'' and ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone]]'', and having them take place two years after the events of ''Alpha''. ''CCA'' and ''Crossbone'' originally happened 60 and 20 years before ''Victory'' respectively and thus have a 40 years gap between them.
109	** Also happens to ''Macross''. In the canon of the franchise, ''Anime/MacrossPlus'' takes place 30 years after [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross the original series]]. In the Alpha series, characters from ''Plus'' are present for the events of the original series in the first game. Parts of the events of the OVA are then adapted in ''Alpha Gaiden'' (six months after the first game that adapted the plot of the original) and ''Alpha 3'' (two years after that). Averted in regards to ''Anime/Macross7'', as its presence in ''Alpha 3'' relies on time travel.
110	* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Primarily with ''Alpha 3''
111	** Following the cumbersome system behind the "Ideon Gauge" and how it can trigger a NonStandardGameOver when the titular unit turns into TheBerserker in the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4 Super Robot Wars F]]'' duology, ''Alpha 3'' removes the instant game over conditions.
112	** In order to use the SRX ("Super Robot Type-X") in ''Alpha'', players need to deploy all three R-Units into battle, place them adjacent to one another, then combine them on the field, which will cost the sortie roster two valuable unit slots. The succeeding SRX "Banpreios" in ''Alpha 3'' averts this by being a combined unit from the very start.
113	** Due to how the ''Alpha 2'' squad system must be done manually, ''Alpha 3'' overhauled it by allowing automatic squad generation. Simultaneously, plenty of quality-of-life options were added to the squad system, including access to equippable parts, unit upgrade and pilot upgrade menus from the squad-setup menu, giving players the option to manually change each squad members' actions when targeted by an enemy ALL Attack and showing squadmates attack before the squad leader during animations; none of these were available in ''Alpha 2''.
114	* ApocalypseHow: So many on so many levels. In ''Alpha 3'', there's no less than three "X-2" situations; in fact, [[EarnYourBadEnding achieving the bad ending]] of ''Alpha 3'' results in an "X-4" event.
115	* ArtEvolution:
116	** In the first game of the series, Shin Getter and Mazinkaiser were based on their manga and ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4 Super Robot Wars F]]'' designs, respectively. By ''The 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha'', the designs for both mechs shifted to the designs from their two OVA series.
117	** Alpha 2 also saw a massive upgrade in animation quality for the battles, even giving some units special Dynamic Kill animations if they managed to finish off an enemy unit.
118	* BackForTheFinale: Many of the series removed for ''Alpha Gaiden'' and ''Alpha 2'' (such as ''Evangelion'', ''Raideen'' and ''Gunbuster'') return in ''Alpha 3''. Averted however with the ''Alpha Gaiden'' debuts, ''Dubine'', ''Masou Kishin'',''Victory Gundam'', ''Giant Robo'', the original ''Gundam'' and ''War in the Pocket''.
119	* BadassArmy: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Londo Bell]], later renamed the "Alpha Numbers" beginning with ''Alpha 2'' by [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Kincaid Nau]].
120	%%* BadassCrew: All the heroic factions, seperately
121	* BehindTheBlack:
122	** This explanation is used in regards to the sudden appearance of ''Gundam SEED'' in ''Alpha 3''; it essentially amounts to "Oh, [[{{Transhuman}} Coordinators]] and the [=PLANT=]s have always been there: they just didn't get involved in any of the stuff that happened in the last three wars."
123	** The second half of the ''Raideen'' plot happens offscreen in-between ''Alpha Gaiden'' and ''Alpha 3'', explaining the absence of [[{{Anime/Raideen}} Akira Hibiki]] in ''Alpha 2''.
124	* BigBad
125	** ''Alpha'': [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Euzeth Gozzo]]]]
126	** ''Alpha Gaiden'': [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Magus]]]], though it turns out the FinalBoss is really [[spoiler:[[Characters/MasouKishin Shu Shirakawa]], who was planning to take Magus' plan a step further]].
127	** ''Alpha 2'': [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Irui Gan Eden]]]]
128	** ''Alpha 3'': [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Keiser Ephes]]]]
129	* BigBadWannabe: Due to the [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover nature of the series]], a number of villainous factions are clearly trying to bite off ''way'' more than they can chew. They end up as quickly disposed-of fodder or [[UnwittingPawn puppets for the more capable villains]]. The best example is probably the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Mariemaia Army]] in ''Alpha Gaiden'', which gets crushed in the span of three scenarios, two of which are not mandatory.
130	* BitterSweetEnding
131	** ''Alpha'' ends with [[spoiler:the Aerogaters defeated. Unfortunately for the [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha SRX Team]], they are detained by the Federation and placed under house arrest for "having military secrets", as a result of [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Ingram Plisken]] being TheMole for the Aerogaters. Likewise, [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Viletta Vadim and Mai Kobayashi]] are arrested for having collaborated with them. Since Viletta reappears in ''Alpha 2'', it's implied the government has cleared her of charges; similarly, the rest of the team returns for ''Alpha 3'', indicating they are free to return to duty]].
132	** In ''Alpha 2'', the Earth is unsealed, [[spoiler:but the Alpha Numbers cannot rescue Irui Gan Eden in the routes for [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlphaGaiden Sanger Zonvolt]] and [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha2 Ibis Douglas]]]]. However, this is {{Retcon}}ned in ''Alpha 3'' thanks to [[spoiler:[[HesJustHiding She's Just Hiding]]]].
133	* BossRush
134	** The last scenario in ''Alpha'' consists of fighting [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Laodecia Judecca Gozzo]] with [[Anime/CombattlerV Oreana and four clones of Garuda]]]]. Once defeated, [[spoiler:Euzeth appears with Ingram in the Astranagant and four Laodecia clones in Zyfluds]]. However, the player [[spoiler:can convince Ingram [[HeelFaceTurn to fight against Euzeth]]]].
135	** With the exception of the ones who were KilledOffForReal in ''Alpha'', every end-series boss from all of Universal Century ''Gundam'' ([[AndZoidberg and Kelly]]) shows up to assist [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char Aznable]] and help him [[ColonyDrop drop Axis onto Earth]] in ''Alpha 2''. [[spoiler:If [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Haman Karn]] is convinced to fight against Char, the game makes up for this by making players fight the [[Anime/BrainPowerd Reclaimers]] before Char]].
136	** In one route split for ''Alpha 3'', the Alpha Numbers fight against [[spoiler:[[Anime/{{Dancougar}} Emperor Muge Zorbados and his three generals]]]]. Once they're defeated, [[spoiler:Muge ''revives'' [[Anime/GreatMazinger The Emperor of Darkness]], [[Manga/GetterRobo Emperor Gore]], [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Emperor Ryuuma]], [[Anime/GreatMazinger the Grand Marshall of Hell]] and [[Anime/{{Gaiking}} Emperor Darius]]]]. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Ugh...]]
137	* BoringButPractical: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Sandrock and Gundam Deathscythe]] in ''Alpha Gaiden'' have only vulcan guns and their basic melee attack, so their fights tend to be ''repetitive''. However, these "melee" attacks have good weapon range, all-around good terrain rating, decent damage for non-beam type weaponry and require neither ammunition nor energy, making them solid choices for most of the game.
138	** Bonus points in that they gain lots of attack power with upgrades. In general, any weapons with a range of 4 and post-movement with an attack power of 2500 or higher are considered this trope in ''Alpha Gaiden''.
139	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Of course, there are the usual suspects from various series, plus some extras - for example, [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Katejina Loos]] is now this, while in the original she was simply crazy.
140	** Original character [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Brooklyn "Bullet" Luckfield]]]] in ''Alpha 2'', which encompasses most of the game. In the sequel, protagonist [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha3 Touma Kanou]]]]. Unlike the former, the latter's stint is only brief.
141	* BreakTheCutie: Happens to ''plenty'' of people in the licensed properties - the ''Evangelion'' pilots and [[Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon the crew of the Solo Ship]] perhaps being the standouts. A lot of the originals don't catch a break, either.
142	** There are several times [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Kusuha Mizhua]] believes [[spoiler:Bullet has been KilledOffForReal]], and that's never a happy time for her (the worst is later on in the series [[spoiler:when she mistakenly believes she ''hears his mental death-scream'', ala [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Tiffa Adill]]; that one ''nearly'' [[HeroicBSOD breaks her]]]])
143	** Half of Ibis' story (and, in a sense, her appeal) is nothing but taking a brick to her, over and over. She eventually recovers, but it's a long road.
144	* BreakoutCharacter: Sanger from ''Alpha Gaiden''. If side materials are anything to go by, [[Anime/GreatMazinger Tetsuya Tsurugi]], who is a pretty good example in ''Alpha'' himself, going from normal, but not really important enough of a character in the first game, into one of the more developed figures to the plot and back-story of ''Alpha Gaiden''. He winds up becoming the primary mentor to Touma in ''Alpha 3'', since Tetsuya gives him his training schedule to fit his role as DrillSergeantNasty of the Alpha Numbers.
145	** Kusuha is a selectable protagonist from the start, whereas Sanger's character and ''Alpha Gaiden'' wasn't in the original plan for the series, but she proved popular as an option in ''Alpha'' that Banpresto more or less felt compelled to make her the consistent choice in the sequels. As a result, she has more merchandise focused around her than any other original or even the entire ''casts'' of some of the shows she shares games with.
146	* CallingYourAttacks
147	* CanonImmigrant: [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Ratsel Feinschmecker]] is ''clearly'' a PaperThinDisguise for [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Elzam von Branstein]], who made his debut in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'' before his appearance in ''Alpha 2''. ''Alpha 3'' brings Ratsel's mecha from ''Original Generation 2'' into the former.
148	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Quite a few series vanish without explanation and never return. Sometimes there's an excuse (Most of the ''Alpha Gaiden'' characters only exist in an alternate future, while the ''Dunbine'' and ''Characters/MasouKishin'' casts return to [[AnotherDimension Byston]] [[Anime/AuraBattlerDunbine Well]] and [[BeneathTheEarth La Gias]], respectively, and just don't come back), but not always (''Victory Gundam'', ''Braiger'', ''Crossbone Gundam'' and ''Brain Powerd'' characters disappear without comment). Most notable is ''Giant Robo'', who is set up to have a major role in later games but is written out and never mentioned again (Banpresto didn't have a choice, as the holder of the rights to ''Giant Robo'' changed after ''Alpha'', and it became too expensive to reacquire the license for sequels). As a result, [[Manga/GiantRobo Big Fire]], a major villainous faction in ''Alpha'', inexplicably goes away.
149	* CloneAngst: This sums up a chunk of the route for [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha3 Cobray Gordon]] in ''Alpha 3'', specifically, [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Calico [=McCready=]]], who serves as TheRival for Cobray and hates him for being chosen by the "Originator" (Ingram) to succeed him. Cobray's biggest stigma is he thinks he can't escape Ingram's shadow]].
150	* CrapsackWorld: The split timeline in ''Alpha Gaiden'' - the fallout from the events of ''Alpha'' and attacks by underground forces nearly destroyed humanity and most of the Earth is reduced to a scorched wasteland. After humanity partially recovers, [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX another war breaks out between the Earth and the colonies]], annihilating most of it again. In the primary timeline, the Solar System is torn by a number of successive wars, between {{Colony Drop}}s and various genocidal invaders successfully striking at major population centers across the globe. Some of the aliens opposing the Earth have suffered their own catastrophes, such as the loss of their homeworlds. At least the Alpha Numbers manage to fix most of the problems by ''Alpha 3'', including some of the invaders.
151	* CrutchCharacter: The Mazingers in ''Alpha Gaiden''. The way they play with this trope is complicated.
152	** The ''Masou Kishin'' cast from the same game. Early on, {{Mook}}s are weak enough to be devastated by their MAP Attacks, particularly the Cybuster and Valsione, who have post-movement MAP Attacks, essentially making them some of the better characters. By late game, due to the low rate of upgrades for MAP Attacks and the expensive cost of upgrading weapons, coupled with a low supply of EN and a weak weapon set, these characters are less valuable in the final scenarios in contrast to their capabilities at the start.
153	* CulturalCrossReference: In an ''Alpha Gaiden'' {{Yonkoma}}, [[Characters/MasouKishin Presia Zenozakis]] wants to see what [[Anime/TurnAGundam Harry Ord]] really looks like and snatches his CoolShades...at which point he starts [[PowerIncontinence uncontrollably spraying the room]] with [[ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} optic blasts]] while shouting "Give them back!"
154	* CutsceneBoss: [[Anime/GoShogun Neo Neros]] is defeated by [[Anime/GoShogun Kenta Sanada]] in a cutscene during the ''[=GoShogun=]'' finale in ''Alpha 2''. In terms of gameplay, the final "boss", or rather the final obstacle to completing the scenario is [[AntiClimaxBoss a bunch of missiles that need to be destroyed]].
155	* DeathByAdaptation:
156	** Unlike [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX their original series]], the Frost Brothers die in their final confrontation, as opposed to Shagia ending up being contained on wheelchair for life and Olba having to take care of him as the world rebuilds.
157	** In the same game, [[Anime/TurnAGundam Guin and Merrybell]] also die after one final battle with the heroes, when they survived in their home series.
158	** [[Anime/{{Daimos}} Miwa]]'s initial fate in ''Alpha 2'' is merely getting arrested, like in the show. However, he returns in ''Alpha 3'', only to be killed by the first shot of [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Genesis]].
159	** After surviving the events of his home series and the previous three games, [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Yazan]] finally bites it in ''Alpha 3''.
160	* DespairEventHorizon: Kamille nearly crosses it in ''Alpha 3'' after seeing how much control over the Federation [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Blue Cosmos]] has, as well as how far their genocidal hatred goes. He comments that seeing humankind repeat the same mistakes even after the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Axis Shock]] makes him understand what Char was thinking back then. Thankfully, he recovers from it.
161	* DiscOneFinalBoss: Emperor Gore and [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Queen Himika]] near the halfway point of ''Alpha 2''. Even after their defeat, the [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Yamatai Kingdom]] and Dinosaur Empire continue on, absorbed by the [[Anime/GreatMazinger Mycenae Empire]]. Himika's followers also prioritize AvengingTheVillain, and in Sanger's route intend to use "[[{{Nanomachines}} Machine Cells]]" to restore their kingdom.
162	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion The Angels and Mass Production Type Evangelions]], [[spoiler:[[OriginalGeneration Euzeth's Black Judecca, Magus' Aurgelmir, Shu's Neo Granzon]]]], [[Anime/TurnAGundam Gym Ghingham's Turn X Gundam]], The Emperor of Darkness, [[Anime/{{Daitarn 3}} Don Zauser]], Emperor Darius, [[Anime/BrainPowerd Baron Maximillian's Hyper Baronz]], [[spoiler:Irui Gan Eden]], [[Anime/{{GaoGaiGar}} The Z-Master, The 11 Lords of Sol]], Emperor Ryuuma, Emperor Muge Zorbados, [[Anime/{{Macross 7}} Geppernitch]], [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion Unit 01 fused with the Tree of Life]] (effectively '''GOD'''), [[spoiler:[[OriginalGeneration Ruach Gan Eden]] and Keiser Ephes]]
163	** Honorary mention goes to [[Manga/GiantRobo Alberto the Shockwave]], who, though he could not defeat Cthulhu (well, the Angel Sachiel, to be exact), battled him to a standstill while ''on foot''.
164	* DividedForAdaptation: The [=GaoGaiGar=] story is split between ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3''
165	* DynamicDifficulty: The ''Alpha'' series introduces the "Skill Point" System, acquired by achieving optional objectives in scenarios. Obtaining these Skill Points decides whether the next scenario will net players the easy, normal or hard version of the stage, as well as certain secrets. Beginning with ''Alpha Gaiden'', getting enough Skill Points also influences which [[MultipleEndings ending route]] will be taken. Although earlier games do not tell players what the Skill Point objectives are, ''Alpha 2'' listed the optional objectives alongside the primary objectives.
166	* EarlyBirdCameo: Star [=GaoGaiGar=] in ''Alpha 2''. Since the ''[=GaoGaiGar=]'' storyline only went up to dealing with the first half of the series, the Star upgrade was relegated to a hidden unit.
167	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
168	** For all of the aesthetic improvements and the change to isometric maps, the first ''Alpha'' is very similar to the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4 Super Robot Wars F]]'' duology mechanics-wise with all of the quirks that would imply: individually-upgraded weapons alongside ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars64''-esque weapon upgrade bonuses (such as Funnels and Breast Fire gaining MAP versions once fully upgraded), natural double-movement, and "reaction" and "limit" stats. Selecting the OriginalGeneration protagonist in the first ''Alpha'' is also very close to the system used in ''4'', whereas ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'' take after ''64'' instead.
169	** The first ''Alpha'' game has a very peculiar Skill Point system. Skill point objectives do not appear in the menu, some points were tied to dialogue choices (such as one for skipping the tutorial in the first scenario), certain stages had multiple objectives available while others had none, some objectives were worth multiple points, and it was possible to ''lose'' Skill Points, as laid out in [[http://akurasu.net/wiki/Super_Robot_Wars/Alpha/Expert_Point this chart]]. Careful reading also shows that skill points aren't balanced across route splits, which means that pursuing certain storylines or secrets can make it harder to meet skill point requirements for later bonuses. Furthermore, there was no notification for gaining or losing Skill Points; players had to check the protagonist's status screen manually every time. Modern games using the Skill Point system or variant of it have one and only one point per stage and clearly indicate how many points players have achieved once the menu is pulled up.
170	** ''Alpha'' and ''Alpha Gaiden'' had a strange mechanic where players could separate certain units into their escape craft/components. Thus it was possible to fly around as Core Fighters, Pilders, Getter Machines and other smaller craft.
171	** The first ''Alpha'' also has a mechanic exclusive to it named "Defensive Attack": when countering an enemy attack, selecting Defensive Attack ensures that the opponent's attack will hit at 75% damage, while your unit will launch a counterattack that deals half damage. There isn't much reason to use this over a full counterattack or full defend, which is almost certainly why it vanished.
172	** ''Super Robot Wars Alpha for Dreamcast'' had a number of combination attacks that wouldn't be seen elsewhere, including Nu Gundam and Sazabi, Zeta, Double Zeta and the GP-03 and the Getter Machines.
173	* ElsewhereFic: ''Alpha Gaiden'' features these after a fashion, with two separate manga side-stories detailing what happened to those left behind when the Alpha Numbers get sent to the BadFuture. One centers on [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Relena Peacecraft]] and characters from series that were in ''Alpha Gaiden'', while another focuses on [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley Soryu]] and others from ''Alpha'' who didn't return for the sequels or sat out a few games.
174	* EvilCostumeSwitch: [[spoiler:Bullet in ''Alpha 2'']]
175	* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Shu in ''Alpha Gaiden'', Char in ''Alpha 2'']]
176	* FailedASpotCheck: In ''Alpha 3'', the Alpha Numbers are gobsmacked when they suddenly learn the existence of the PLANT despite all sorts of colonies flying around in space. This is HandWaved as Blue Cosmos doing its damnedest to make Coordinators an UnPerson.
177	* FixFic: Amongst other things, the ''Alpha'' series fixes the many tragedies of the various Universal Century ''Gundam'' series and averts the {{Everybody Dies Ending}}s of ''Ideon'' and ''The End of Evangelion''. [[spoiler:However, the Ideon "Be Invoked" can still be triggered by accessing the bad ending route in ''Alpha 3'']].
178	* FragileSpeedster: Most real robots, but particularly the "[[AMechByAnyOtherName Variable Fighters]]" of ''Macross'', who will likely die in one, at most two hits, but have enormous mobility stats.
179	* GreaterScopeVillain: The [[{{Anime/Gunbuster}} STMC]]. While they aren't the biggest threat you face in-game, [[spoiler: it was the threat they posed which drove the [[{{Precursors}} First Civilization]] to build the Guneden systems to protect against them, thus leading to the birth of [[BigBad Kaiser Ephes]].]]
180	* HannibalLecture: What many of the major villains of the RealRobot series will do when they are confronted. It never works.
181	* HeelFaceTurn: Too many to list, but the one that stands out is possibly the [[spoiler:[[Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon Ide]], which give up its quest to wipe out all life from the galaxy and even sends the Alpha Numbers back to Earth]].
182	** HeelFaceDoorSlam: [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha2 Kukuru]] unfortunately gets killed off just on the verge of making one in ''Alpha 2'', but the ''biggest'' one in these games comes at the tail end of ''Alpha'' if players choose to make peace with [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Kycillia Zabi]]. Although she can't do much to help take the edge off of the remaining conflicts, she does at least pledge to do what she can and her Zeon faction will keep from causing trouble. Shortly thereafter though, [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Angel Halo]] activates and, in a show of power, leaves the entire population of [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Side 3]] braindead.
183	* HeroicBSOD: Happens a fair bit, both to the licensed characters and to some of the originals. Of course, all of the [[HotBlooded enthusiasm]] on the team tends to help people recover.
184	** Shinji, the Master Of [=BSODs=] himself, is a major cast member for ''Alpha'' and ''Alpha 3'', and is kind of the poster child for an [=SRW=] setting making this better.
185	** Kusuha runs close to this a few times in the series, when she has good reason to think [[spoiler:Bullet has been [[KilledOffForReal flat-out killed]]]]. She doesn't ''completely'' shut down, but she's very badly affected; it's more "Heroically Spitting Stack Errors" than a full [=BSOD=].
186	** [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha2 Seolla Schweizer]] in ''Alpha 2'' is badly affected by [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha2 Arado Balanga]] and his HeelFaceTurn to the Alpha Numbers, wavering between this and [[UnstoppableRage murderous rage]] for him even daring to betray the Titans. He eventually brings her around with the help of some of the ''Gundam'' cast, however.
187	** Sanger, of all people, can suffer from this if one of the "middle" endings in ''Alpha 2'' is taken, [[spoiler:where it isn't clear that Irui survived]].
188	* InsaneTrollLogic: [[spoiler:Char's rationalization for dropping Axis onto Earth]] was pretty insane [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack in the source material]], but in ''Alpha 2'', the plan is repeated with practically no changes in a world where humanity is simultaneously hammered by joint invasion forces of three alien worlds, the Mycenae Empire ([[spoiler:which, in fact, immediately takes advantage of the havoc caused by Char]]) and a number of other [[ApocalypseHow extinction-level threats]]. This is left for players to wonder how destroying most of human civilization is going to help them survive, considering these circumstances.
189	* IsometricProjection: ''Alpha'' is the first SRW to use isometric-view maps (as opposed to top-down view of the earlier (and some modern handheld) games), complete with full-body, full-color [[SuperDeformed super-deformed]] map sprites instead of color-coded head-only map icons. It has been used in the following Alpha sequels and in most modern SRW titles.
190	* JumpScare: Not something you'd expect from a ''turn-based strategy game'', but this is present in ''Alpha 3''. The strongest attack of [[spoiler:Keisar Ephes]], [[spoiler:"[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast End of]] [[TitleDrop the Galaxy]]"]], has an extremely long animation that involves [[spoiler:hordes of wraiths, visions of [[EarthShatteringKaboom planets blowing up]], Earth being chopped in half, and Keisar Ephes [[AtopAMountainOfCorpses standing atop the destroyed machines of the entire Alpha Numbers]]]]. And just when you think it's over, the dynamic kill animation shows [[spoiler:the unfortunate victim of the attack being consumed by hundreds of wraiths.]]
191	* LethalJokeItem: ''Alpha'' has the equippable part "[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Tem Ray's Circuit]]", which drastically reduces unit stats, but if the mecha is destroyed, it will cost only ''10 credits'' to repair (in other words, the part turns it into another [[JokeCharacter Boss]] [[Anime/MazingerZ Borot]]). For a real menace, put it on something like the [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion Unit 01]] along with another part to lessen the penalty, then send Shinji on a suicide attack. Paying only 10 credits instead of its usual repair cost of 40000 makes using the "[[TheBerserker Berserk Unit 01]]" sound like a practical strategy, not to mention the Berserk Evangelion is considered an enemy unit, thus destroying it nets a neat bundle of credits as well.
192	* LoadingScreen: There's a short one right after the preparations menu and before the next chapter. What makes it notable in the first game is that while you get pictures of various notable mecha, in rare occasions, you get one of ''berserk'' EVA Unit-01, and it ''[[JumpScare howls]]'' [[JumpScare at you]]. And it's the only one.
193	* NewWorkRecycledGraphics: Zigzagged for ''Alpha 1'' and ''Alpha Gaiden'' along with Alpha ''2'' and ''3'' where the units remain mostly the same but receive a number of aesthetic changes. Between ''Alpha 1'' and ''Alpha Gaiden'', the unit and map sprites are generally kept the same but there are significant improvements in their attack animations.
194	** In ''Alpha Gaiden'', Mazinkaiser receives a new "Fire Blaster" animation while the enemy version reuses the animation from ''Alpha 1''.
195	** Averted completely with certain units such as Wing Gundam Zero Custom, Daitarn 3 and Mazinger Z in ''Alpha Gaiden'' which receives a completely new sprite and animations compared to their ''Alpha 1'' versions.
196	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Thanks for stopping the STMC in ''Alpha'', only now the shockwave from the blast used to kill them is headed towards Earth and will destroy the planet in ''Alpha Gaiden''. To be fair, that is the lesser of two evils, considering the STMC practically wins anything through sheer attrition.
197	** FromBadToWorse: Turns out the STMC fought in ''Alpha'' were only a small fraction of them. Their main force arrives in ''Alpha 3''.
198	* NintendoHard: ''Alpha Gaiden'', which itself is easy in comparison to getting Tiffa and the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX G-Bits]] in the game. Scenario 15 alone frustrates players to no degree because of how many times they're going to [[SaveScumming reset the game]] in order to get those six kills in three turns with [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Garrod Ran]]; the ''substantial'' power boost they give to the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Double X]] makes them worth the effort.
199	* NonEntityGeneral: Only mentioned during the final bonus scenario in ''Alpha 3'' and most likely a joke. When someone mentions the "player" and confuses Cobray, [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Ryusei Date]] explains it's [[PaintingTheMedium the strategist who keeps watching them from "that monitor"]].
200	* OlderAndWiser: The cast of the previous games in the sequels, notably the SRX Team, Getter Team, Evangelion pilots and various Gundam protagonists. A small portion of them have also become {{Shell Shocked Veteran}}s, but this being ''Super Robot Wars'', they get over it.
201	** Tetsuya is a REALLY good example of the latter, as a result of ''Alpha Gaiden''.
202	* OncePerEpisode: The [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory GP-02A Physalis]] [[GrandTheftPrototype getting hijacked]] and needing to be taken back; this stops with ''Alpha 3''.
203	* OriginalGeneration: Aside from the game-specific originals, characters from ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsGaiden Masou Kishin: The Lord of Elemental]]'', ''VideoGame/ShinSuperRobotWars'', ''Super Hero Sakusen'', ''VideoGame/SuperRobotSpirits'' and ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars4'' reappear for the ''Alpha'' series.
204	** The ''Alpha'' series is notable in [=SRW=] for being the first to really have a substantial "mythology" of its originals, separate from all of the crossover series, and sufficiently developed to the point they felt like their own thing intellectual property. ''Alpha'' was likely the catalyst for the ''Original Generation'' series as it came to be.
205	* PetTheDog: In ''Alpha 3'', [[spoiler:after defeating the copy of the Unit 01 in the final scenario of ''The End of Evangelion'' plot, [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Ikari]] tells his son he actually wanted to comfort him, but never had courage to open up. Before he dies, he finally tells Shinji he's glad to see his son grow into such a strong man]].
206	* ThePowerOfRock: Naturally, ''Macross 7'' in ''Alpha 3'', but also [[Anime/{{GaoGaiGar}} Mic Sounders the 13th]] in the same game.
207	** JAM Project; ''Alpha 3'' notches this up to eleven by having [[spoiler:the theme song of the game, "Gong", depower the FinalBoss, led by [[Anime/{{Macross 7}} Basara Nekki]] and a recording of [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Lynn Minmay]]]].
208	* TheProphecy: In ''Alpha 2'', the [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Bronze Bell]] foretells of a malevolent force that will unify the subterranean forces of the Dinosaur Empire, Yamatai Kingdom, and Mycenae Empire. The Emperor of Darkness appears to fit the bill and goes on to be one of the final bosses in the game until ''Alpha 3'' reveals everyone jumped to conclusions and the prophecy actually spoke of Emperor Ryuuma, instead.
209	* PurposelyOverpowered:
210	** Certain late-game mecha, notably the SRX in ''Alpha'': three sets of Spirit Commands ([[spoiler:later four, with the addition of Mai]]), a powerful set of weapons, even by SuperRobot standards, and a CombinationAttack accessible in the final scenario that can potentially OneHitKill the FinalBoss.
211	** Mazinkaiser in ''Alpha Gaiden'' is far more powerful than the rest of the team, including the [[Manga/GetterRobo Shin Getter Robo]], thanks to high {{Hit Point}}s, EN, good mobility (comparable to some Gundams) and armor rating, alongside a great set of weapons, augumented with the "Mazinpower" unit ability[[note]]At 130 Will, increase damage dealt by 25%[[/note]] and can use its attacks right off the bat[[note]]To put in perspective, Shin Getter requires 140 Will to use the "Stone Sunshine" attack; Mazinkaiser has no Will requirements for "[[ChestBlaster Fire Blaster]]". By the time the Shin Getter hits 140, the Mazinkaiser will have dealt more damage than the former[[/note]]. Of course, this being ''[[NintendoHard Alpha Gaiden]]'', it's actually a godsend rather than it ruining the game.
212	** [[spoiler:Sanger and the Thrudgelmir]] from the same game: good attacks rivaling those of the Mazingers, comparable stats to the Mazinkaiser, and a set of abilities that make it almost invulnerable. [[spoiler:Note that it's only playable in the last two scenarios of the game, and despite its setup, the Thrudgelmir cannot win the scenarios alone]].
213	* PutOnABus: ''Alpha'' is the last time Banpresto (and later B.B Studio) put on ''Manga/GiantRobo'' in its series thanks to the difficulty to keep its license after the death of its original creator.
214	* RecurringBoss: Players will be continually plagued by the forces of the Dinosaur and Mycenae Empires until they're blown up for good in ''Alpha 2''. Resident PsychoForHire [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Yazan Gable]] holds the distinction of being the ''only'' enemy to show up in all four games and ''still'' live until he's finally KilledOffForReal in ''Alpha 3''.
215	** Dr. Hell is another: he reappears in ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'' as the Grand Marshall Of Hell.
216	** [[Anime/{{Dancougar}} Shapiro Keats]], who ''always'' [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat survives that]].
217	** While they aren't quite as strong as true boss units, even in their final mecha, players must fight [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Jerid Messa]], [[Anime/CombatMechaXabungle Timp and Kid Hola]] repeatedly, reflecting their status as persistent nemeses in their original anime storylines.
218	* RecycledSoundtrack: Since ''Crossbone Gundam'' did not have an animated adaptation to pull [=BGM=] from, ''Alpha 2'' utilizes a rearranged version of the Crossbone Vanguard battle theme from ''VideoGame/SDGundamGGeneration'' as the series' {{Leitmotif}}.
219	* RoadCone: Between ''Alpha 2'' and ''Alpha 3'', parts of the story change between the various protagonists. What's more, each protagonist in ''Alpha 3'' is linked to a protagonist in ''Alpha 2'' (except Kusuha, due to her link being ShapedLikeItself). In other words, [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha3 Selena Recital]] is linked to Ibis, Touma to Sanger and Cobray to Arado.
220	* {{Robeast}}: [[Anime/MazingerZ Mechanical Beasts]], Warrior Beasts, Fossil Beasts, Slave Beasts, Beast Fighters, Mecha Soldiers, [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Haniwa Phantom Gods]], [[Manga/GetterRobo Mechasauruses]], [[Anime/{{GaoGaiGar}} Zonders]] and the Angels.
221	* SavedForTheSequel: Compared to the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' series, the ''Alpha'' games often didn't tie up every loose plot thread at the end of the earlier installments, to help serve as a SequelHook. For instance, ''Alpha'' only covers the first half of ''Combattler V'' with its second season being saved for ''Alpha 3''.
222	* SecretCharacter
223	** ''Alpha'': [[spoiler:[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Cecily Fairchild]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Elpeo Puru]], Ingram with the Astranagant, [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Millia Faryna Jenius]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Puru Two]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Quess Paraya]], [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Sara Zabiarov]], [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Touji Suzuhara with the Evangelion Unit 03]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Zechs Merquise]], [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Four Murasame]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Anavel Gato]], Haman, Levi Tolar/Mai Kobayashi and a "Full Powered" Mazinger Z instead of the Mazinkaiser]]
224	** ''Alpha Gaiden'': [[spoiler:[[Anime/{{Xabungle}} Elche (as a pilot) with the Blackalley]], [[Anime/TurnAGundam Gaven Gooney with the Gaven Custom Borjanon]], a powered-up Getter Robo G or Shin Getter Robo, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Hi-Nu Gundam]], Puru Two with Haman's [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Qubeley]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Full Armored ZZ Gundam]] (along with a large number of other potential "[[Franchise/{{Gundam}} Mobile]] [[AMechByAnyOtherName Suits]]" and Variable Fighters, like the GP-02A Physalis), [[Anime/{{Xabungle}} Tron]] and Sanger]]
225	** ''Alpha 2'': [[spoiler:[[Anime/GoShogun Bundol's Battleship (with Bundle, Kadonar, Kernagurl as sub-pilots)]], [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Berga Dalas (with Dorel Ronah as the pilot)]], [[Anime/{{Daimos}} Richter]], [[Anime/VoltesV Heinel]], Shigu (With Radora as the pilot), [[Manga/GetterRobo Musashi Tomoe]] (survives but as a co-pilot of the Lady Command), [[Anime/{{GaoGaiGar}} Pizza]], The Reclaimers, [[Anime/{{GaoGaiGar}} Star Gaogaigar]], Haman, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Wing Gundam Ver. Katoki]], Full Armored ZZ Gundam, [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam X2]], [[Anime/BrainPowerd Quincy Issa, Jonathan Glenn, and Sheila Glass]], and [[Anime/KotetsuJeeg Takeru]]. Various Mobile Suits (notably the Hi Nu Gundam and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Nu Gundam Heavy Weapons System (HWS)]], but also two [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Mass Production Qubeley Type-IIs]])]]
226	** ''Alpha 3'': [[spoiler:Irui Gan Eden, provided enough Skill Points are acquired, Nu Gundam HWS and Hi-Nu Gundam, [[Manga/GetterRobo Black Getter]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Quin Mantha]] and four miscellaneous Mobile Suits, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Yzak Joule with the Duel]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Neue Ziel, Val Varo, Gerbera Tetra]] and the [=GP-O2A=] Physalis, several [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Konig Monster]] and several Variable Fighters]]
227	* SequelEscalation
228	* ShutUpHannibal: Uncountable, but the best one has got to be the [[spoiler:final scenario to ''The End of Evangelion'' story, where Shinji not only rejects the intended AssimilationPlot, but also Gendo, asserting he's his own person]]. In fact, the entire scenario is a MASSIVE invoking of this trope, seeing as how the Alpha Numbers are so HotBlooded, [[spoiler:it prevents them from turning into LCL]].
229	* SoLastSeason: Some mechs, especially from Gundam, do get outclassed as the games go on thanks to getting units from further down their timelines. Openly invoked in ''Alpha Gaiden'' where Kou's team sees the Borjarnon (a Zaku I) and note that even by the point in UC history they were from it was a hilariously outdated suit.
230	* SparedByTheAdaptation: Not as much as it might seem at first sight, due to a number of characters surviving exclusively as secrets, which aren't treated as canon in the sequels. For example, [[spoiler:Musashi]] does not survive in ''Alpha 2'', even though he can be saved on certain routes.
231	** Possibly due to the One Year War getting interrupted, a lot of the Zeon aces from ''Mobile Suit Gundam'', ''War In The Pocket'' and ''Stardust Memory'' appear in Neo Zeon's forces. However, as the Haman Route in ''Alpha 2'' is rendered CanonDiscontinuity in ''Alpha 3'', they are all KilledOffForReal.
232	** Physica from ''Anime/Macross7'' is spared from his fate in the show. Because of this, when Docker recovers, he simply rejoins the Diamond Force rather than forming the new Emerald Force.
233	* SpotlightStealingSquad: In ''Alpha Gaiden'', most of the spotlight goes to Tetsuya, who is useable for most of the game, the first character playable post-TimeSkip, has plenty of voiced dialogue rivaling [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Heero Yuy]] and has a lot of scenarios that places him center stage. By the end of the game, he is basically the most developed character in the entire cast.
234	* StationaryBoss: Shu, as usual; however, the first time players fight him in ''Alpha Gaiden'', he will move if unprovoked for a while.
235	* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Both Monsha and Sochie think the Wadom looks like a scarecrow.
236	* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Scenario 36 of ''Alpha Gaiden'' is noted by players to be one of the best points in the game. [[spoiler:The Mazinkaiser, Shin Getter Robo, R-1 Custom, Gundam X and Gundam Double X (alongside the G-Bits, if the requirements are met), the "HPHGCP" part and two free units that give tons of "Blue Stones" for the Bazaar are acquired]]. The game's difficulty starts to go wild from that point on.
237	* TheStarscream: [[spoiler:Euzeth]] in ''Alpha''; [[spoiler:[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Shiva Gozzo]]]] also pulls this off in ''Alpha 3'', although the one he usurped was only a mask for the real BigBad in the first place.
238	* ThemeNaming: Obviously, the "Space Jews" of the [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Ze Balmary]] [[TheEmpire Empire]]. A much more subtle one is the naming scheme of [[spoiler:Ingram and his clones. Their real names correspond to their numbers and the respective letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Ingram, the first clone, is "Aleph"; Villeta, the second, is "Bet" Vadim; Cobray, the sixteenth, is "Ayin"]].
239	* TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed: Goes into overdrive in ''Alpha 3'' with the concept of "Apocalypsis", a galaxy-wide force of destruction exploited by [[spoiler: Keisar Ephes]].
240	* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Shu]] in ''Alpha Gaiden''
241	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: The [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Hi-Nu Gundam]] debuts in this game as a secret found in a stage. Unlike other secrets which at least get mentioned, the Hi-Nu Gundam (and all other hidden units found in this method of going on a specific tile) does not even get acknowledged by the characters. InUniverse, it is strange that an upgraded version of the legendary Nu Gundam is not brought up at all. Out of universe, it is surprising that for a unit with some of the best animation quality in the game and being its debut, the Hi-Nu has no story relevance whatsoever.
242	* UnwittingPawn: [[Anime/{{Daimos}} Exalted Ruler Olban]] is manipulated by [[Anime/VoltesV Emperor Zu Zambojil]] and the [[Anime/{{Gaiking}} Dark Horror Army]]. Mind you, the latter two intend to use his race as shock troops to weaken the Earth's defenders, then enslave or exterminate them. Meanwhile, the Yamatai Kingdom end up as pawns themselves to the Mycenae Empire.
243	* UselessUsefulSpell: ''Alpha'' and ''Alpha Gaiden'' features a lot of units using their more obscure attacks where some even have a few ''pages'' worth of attacks compared to more recent games where units are lucky to have more than three attacks. These moves count as this trope as there are some that are so underwhelming along with costing EN and ammo that players will likely never use them unless they want to for the sake of using them. This trope is more prevalent in ''Alpha'' where moves were upgraded separately rather than all at the same time.
244	* VillainShoes: [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha2 Arado]] begins his story as a Titans soldier. [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha3 Selena Recital]] takes an opportunity to jump ship to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED ZAFT]] and assists them for several chapters early on.
245	* VillainTeamUp
246	** ''Alpha'': The Aerogaters, the [[Anime/CombattlerV Campbellians]], the [[Anime/VoltesV Bozanians]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Zanscare Empire]], [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Paptimus Scirocco]] and Shapiro Keats. To some extent, the Principality of Zeon and Dr. Hell.
247	** ''Alpha Gaiden'': The Mycenae Empire and the Dinosaur Empire, the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Frost Brothers]] and Gym Ghingham
248	** ''Alpha 2'': [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Neo Zeon]] and the [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Jupiter Empire]], the Zonders and the [[Anime/{{Daitarn 3}} Meganoids]], the [[Anime/{{Daimos}} Balmians]] with the Bozanians and the Dark Horror Army.
249	** ''Alpha 3'': The Campbellians, Bozanians and the [[Anime/{{Dancougar}} Muge Empire]]
250	* VillainousValor: A few examples; besides the obvious suspects among NobleDemon opponents and redeemable villains, a number of stalwartly evil characters, including the Great General of Darkness, [[Manga/GetterRobo General Bat]] and Queen Himika deliberately sacrifice themselves to ensure a victory for their side.
251	* WakeUpCallBoss: At least one in every game
252	** ''Alpha'' has the Dragonsaurus from the crossover movie between Getter Robo G, Great Mazinger, and [[Anime/UFORoboGrendizer Grendizer]], fought in Scenario 12 of the South Ataria Route. 28000 HP with large "HP Regeneration"[[note]]Recover 30% of total HP per turn[[/note]], hits like a truck and can be exceptionally difficult to damage due to it being underwater.
253	** ''Alpha Gaiden'' has [[spoiler:Shu and the Granzon/Neo Granzon]] early in the game, but it's Gym in the Turn X that fits this trope better, as he sets the trend where late-game bosses will spam recuperating Spirit Commands repeatedly and destroying them will be multi-turn affairs.
254	** ''Alpha 2'' has the [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Death Gale]] unit. Without proper planning, attacks from them can be devastating since the accuracy from Giri Gadeucca Aspis's Quavarze is increased due to Rosemary Raspberry providing a supporting squad-attack with the Abijo (which will also eat up any "Support Defend"[[note]]Pilot can provide defensive support to an adjacent ally[[/note]] players hope to use). Barnes Gernsback with the Tortuga has high HP, armor rating, strong counterattacks, and multiple ranks in "Support Defend", meaning he can intercept any attack players attempt to send at Gigi or Rosemary's way first.
255	** ''Alpha 3'' has [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Ephesus Judecca Gozzo and Ace Gozzo]] in their Hermodr and Dvariym, respectively, in Scenario 14. The Dvariym has several MAP Attacks (all post-movement) at its disposal and while it's hardly difficult to destroy, the problem is Ace's Will skyrocketing too high and letting him take action during the enemy turn. The Hermodr has a MAP Attack of its own with a long, wide firing range that limits the number of units that can attack it safely, along with "HP Regeneration" to take the edge off the damage players do inflict to it. Worth mentioning is the Hermodr is a battleship, and players will be seeing more of these down the line when fighting groups of Balmar enemies.
256	* WhamEpisode: In ''Alpha Gaiden'', this comes around post-scenarios 9 and 10, where up until this point, the game seemed to be about a conflict with the Titans [[spoiler:until Shu appears, announces they are in an alternate timeline and the only way to solve it is by using millions as a sacrifice. When he's defeated, he teleports Londo Bell to a BadFuture where the Earth is a barren wasteland]].
257	* WhatIf: The ''Alpha'' series basically poses this versus the "Classic Timeline", in regards to Divine Crusaders' leader Bian Zoldark being listened to instead of being ignored.
258	* WhatTheHellHero: In ''Alpha 3'', when Kira goes into a breakdown and chews out his friend Sai, Kamille, Quatre and Shinji all show up to tell Kira off.
259	* WhatTheHellPlayer: When fighting Shu for the first time in ''Alpha Gaiden'', he will accuse the player of cowardice if five turns pass before attacking him. In ''Alpha 2'', rejecting Haman's offer for an alliance also leads to one, since Londo Bell's actions in the original game were what convinced her there was a better way than the rat race.
260	* WritingAroundTrademarks: A side effect of some titles disappearing between games in spite of their importance to the plot. There are many instances where the cast is blatantly talking about the missing titles, but being unusually vague to avoid legal issues:
261	** The shockwave created by the destruction of the [[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} Excelion]] at the end of ''Alpha'' is one of the main plot points of ''Alpha Gaiden'', but since ''Gunbuster'' isn't in that game, the characters can't mention what caused the shockwave. Thankfully, the writing team found a loophole: as a form of ArcWelding, the first game established that the Excelion is based on the [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Macross]], and is officially labelled as a SDF-class ship. And since ''Macross'' is in ''Alpha Gaiden'', they simply have the cast refer to the ship that caused the shockwave as "the SDF" without mentioning its proper name.
262	** ''[[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Macross]]'' itself gets hit with this in ''Alpha 2''. Despite it being absent, when a character is discussing aliens, he mentions giants. In another moment, the cast is discussing the purpose and size of the [[Anime/{{Gaiking}} Daiku-Maryu]], with one character commenting that the "city-sized ship" is currently deep in space.
263	** ''Alpha 2'' also had a brief mention of a giant Psycommu device that fell to the ocean. Since ''Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam'' isn't in the game, they can't just call it "Angel Halo".
264	** In ''Alpha 3'', the ones who took care of Arado and Irui after the ''Alpha 2'' ending were [[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Kincade and Berah]], or rather, Seabook and Cecily, but since ''Crossbone Gundam'' is not in the game, the writing team have Arado state that he's not supposed to tell Seolla that, he can only say that they "used to be pirates" and "allowed him to have good bread everyday".
265	** ''Anime/BrainPowerd'' doesn't return for ''Alpha 3'', but even so, when Ruach is explaining the history of the First Founding People, he claims that one of the relics they left behind on Earth is the undersea ruins of a failed space ark, obviously talking about Orphan.
266	----
267
268	->''We'll go into the space over our future.''
269	->''We're looking for the place under the shining star.''

Context VideoGame / SuperRobotWarsAlpha