[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rodea_sky_soldier_cover.png]]
''Rodea: The Sky Soldier'' (''Tenkuu no Kishi Rodea''[[note]]Rodea: The Sky ''Knight''[[/note]] in its original Wii incarnation) is a "Flying Adventure game" for UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 3DS}} by Kadokawa Games and Prope, designed by Creator/YujiNaka of Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog and VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams fame, released on April 2nd, 2015 in Japan, November 10th, 2015 in the US, and November 13th, 2015 in Europe. The game's main gimmick is the protagonist's [[VideoGameFlight ability to fly]], which is used to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.

Once upon a time there existed two countries: Naga, the terrestrial [[TheEmpire machine empire]], and Garuda, a [[WorldInTheSky floating kingdom in the sky]]. Thanks to their advanced technology, the Naga Empire thrives. Seeking the power contained in crystallized Graviton energy, Naga gazes skyward at the neighboring kingdom of Garuda and launches a full-scale invasion.

Princess Cecilia, the daughter of [[BigBad Emperor Geardo]], ruler of Naga, attempts to flee to Garuda alongside her robot bodyguard, Rodea. Trapped by her pursuers, she entrusts Rodea with half of the [[MacGuffin Key of Time]], an artifact that is integral to the success of Naga's invasion. Using the remaining half of the Key's power, she teleports Rodea to Garuda, depriving Naga of the intact Key of Time, thereby preventing the earthbound aggressor from successfully carrying out its invasion.

[[TimeSkip Since then, 1,000 years have passed]] and Garuda's citizens regard Naga's failed invasion, as well as the Naga Empire itself, as little more than a footnote in the pages of history. At a small village in Garuda, a young woman named [[WrenchWench Ion]] lives a peaceful life with her grandfather, where she spends her days tinkering with machines and inventing all sorts of odd gadgets. One day, Ion is surveying an ancient ruin when she discovers a deactivated, broken robot -- Rodea. Though Ion repairs the damage to Rodea's body, the damage to Rodea's memories is too extensive. [[LaserGuidedAmnesia He remembers next to nothing about his past]], save for his mission to save Garuda, and the face of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Ion.

The game was initially thought to be VaporWare until an announcement in November 2014 revealed the game was slated to be released in Spring 2015. [[Creator/NipponIchi NIS America]] announced that they would localize the game for English release in North America and Europe during Fall 2015. First print editions of the game had the original Wii version packaged in America, Japan and Europe.

The official English trailer can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf1uoFg69tg here]]. The old version of the trailer can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V07gjWnGURg here]].
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!!''Rodea: The Sky Soldier'' provides examples of:
%%* AdorablyPrecociousChild: Tonio.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Orthos, being the only brown one in the R-line.
%%* AmnesiacHero
* ArtificialLimbs: The main character has a ClockPunk right upper arm which Ion made for him.
* BigBrotherMentor: The [[AllThereInTheManual artbook]] mentions Rodea being this for Kelvis. He actually kinda is her big brother by being made first and being in the same line.
* BlackDudeDiesFirst: While not directly black, [[spoiler:Orthos is the first of the R-line robots to be destroyed by Rodea. Rodea openly regrets this right afterwards remembering their [[TearJerker once strong friendship]]. Orthos tells Rodea that he was always jealous of his [[MeaningfulName special name]] given by the princess. For some reason Rodea keeps this to himself rather than [[JustEatGilligan asking Ion to fix him]], hurting himself further]].
* BonusStage: doors that lead to them are shattered around the levels, usually there's a medal at the end.
* {{Chatterbox}}: you can increase or decrease how much Ion is going to talk to you in the options in the Wii U version. So while it can be a bit nice to have her talking to you if you're lonely can it get annoying when you die and she starts from the beginning again.
* ClockPunk: In elements.
** The Chronos Towers depict turning gears and are inhabited by the Guardians of Time.
** [[spoiler:The Key of Time is literally turned like a key-in-latch to unlock Rodea's time portal function.]]
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Sonia, which gets exploited by one of the villains. Also Ion, to a lesser extent.
* CyberPunk: [[spoiler:The Naga Empire's main base at 1,000 years ago.]]
* {{Cyberspace}}: You'll travel through a couple of these on the way to the final boss.
* DeceptivelyHumanRobots: Rodea in the Japanese Wii version where he speaks pretty metallic. In the Wii U version however, not so much.
* DifficultButAwesome: The flight mechanics in the Wii version. Unlike the Wii U and 3DS version, Rodea can not hover above the ground in one spot, although in both versions, he must lock on to something in range in order to fly.[[note]]He has a significantly longer range in the Wii U version compared to the Wii version, which becomes a problem in the Wii version's final boss battle...[[/note]] However, also unlike the Wii U and 3DS version, there's no flight meter, so if skilled enough, one could go an entire level without ever touching the ground.
* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Cecilia]], although this is only confirmed in the Wii U version.
* DotingGrandparent: Ion's grandfather Asimov became very protective of Ion after his wife died.
* EmbeddedPrecursor: Physical version. Pre-orders and first-run copies of the Wii U game come with a copy of the original Wii version.
* {{Expy}}:
** Cecilia is similar to [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Maria]] in some ways. Otherwise, she's more like [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]].
** Amnesiac Rodea in turn is really similar to Shadow in [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog his own game]] mixed in with some of both Sonic and Silver.
** Ion is like a mix of Tails and Amy without being a StalkerWithACrush. Also a bit like a much milder [[VideoGame/TalesOfGraces Pascal]].
** Geardo: is quite a bit like Eggman (as well as Tikal's father), trying to use robots to take over the world, despite his daughter's strong diagreement with his plans.
* FacialMarkings: The R-line robots usually got this.
* FakeDifficulty: In the Wii version, expect to go through [[ThatOneBoss the Final Boss]] a dozen times before beating it due to the fact that Rodea can't just fly anywhere he wants, has limited flight range, can't stop in mid flight, and (unlike in the Wii U version) [[CheckpointStarvation has to start the final boss fight over from the first phase]] if he loses a life...
* FakeLongevity: Applies to both versions. For those trying to get OneHundredPercentCompletion, expect to take a really long time getting all the medals, and (in the Wii U version) fully upgrading Rodea, as well as fully decorating the room Ion [[spoiler:and for a while, Sonia]] is in[[note]]Either Ion's bedroom or the bridge; it's not made clear.[[/note]], since 1)There's no radar in the Wii version, 2)In order to get the parts you need in the Wii U version, you have to clear the stages you get them in order to actually get them, and 3)Not all of the medals are immediately available to collect in the Wii U version. This also applies to getting all of the unlockables in the Wii U version.
* GenkiGirl: Ion is really cheerful and energetic.
* GirlishPigtails: Kelvis' horn-things look like pigtails.
* HeelFaceTurn: Rodea did this in the beginning of the game.
* HimeCut: Sonia got her unique version of this.
* HornedHumanoid: Rodea and the other robots in the R-line has some horn-things.
* IdenticalStranger: Both the game and [[AllThereInTheManual art book]] are quick to mention that Ion has the same face as Cecilia (Rodea however doesn't). You probably wouldn't give it much thought at first thinking there's OnlySixFaces.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Amnesiac Rodea, it's mostly [[SourOutsideSadInside a cover]].
* KnightInSourArmor: Amnesiac Rodea is this, much to Ion's dismay.
* LuddWasRight: The population of Garuda fears this and because of that stays away from machines in general.
* TheMenInBlack: Valghis and Geardo.
* MeaningfulName: Rodea was given his name from the princess, Ro from his serial number R0 and dea from dear.
* MoodWhiplash: Rodea himself does this in the Japanese version, and goes from his [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Shadowy]] amnesiac self to his upbeat and cheerful previous self when one first visits the status screen in the Wii U version.
* MrExposition: Rodea himself in the prologue, then Ion becomes MsExposition in chapter 1.
* RaisedByGrandparents: Ion was [[AllThereInTheManual according to the artbook]].
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: Rodea and the other R-types. Despite this, they are quickly indentified implying that they're DeceptivelyHumanRobots InUniverse.
* SnarkToSnarkCombat: Rodea and Ion does this often, it ends up with him saying 'huh', or her saying 'probably' or threatning to turn him into scrap metal.
* TheStinger: [[spoiler: After the credits, Rodea awakens in front of Ion, and the two embrace.]]
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Ion and Cecilia respectively.
* VideoGameFlight: Unlimited flight in the Wii version, not so much in the Wii U version.
%%* WorldInTheSky
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