* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** Music/JAMProject provided the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n834VavHAs&fmt=18 open]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn0wTfvuo6w&fmt=18 ings]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcznDrRDJCs&fmt=18 and]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I0FBJsLcs&fmt=18 insert]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCK06f76naE&fmt=18 songs]] for Muv-Luv ''Alternative''. From the soundtrack comes various live orchestral pieces such as Hijiri Anze's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DO-VRaqxKI Flame of Life]]" and Hikaru Nanase's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9fvnSkSC90 Meiya]]".
** The OP for Extra is pretty awesome, albeit in a typical-sounding "moe VN opening" sort of way.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ctk9pa48k&hd=1 War Preparation]]
* ContestedSequel:
** ''Alternative'' was one for Japanese fans at the time of its release, partly due to the three-year ScheduleSlip and the fans building up expectations. [[spoiler: People who were expecting a light, multi-heroine ending dating sim in the vein of ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' ended up getting a dark, powerfully-written linear {{Utsuge}} with a death count on par with ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory Gundam]]''. The unexpected {{Gorn}} and Naughty Tentacles caused an outcry, and there were reports of fans dropping the game after Marimo's grisly death.]] Eventually however ''Alternative'' became the most well-regarded installment of the trilogy, ranking consistently either at the top (or just below it) of both Japanese and Western VisualNovel ratings.
** [[NoEnding Deny]] all [[ShrugOfGod you]] want [[TrollingCreator âge]], that bit at the [[AlternateUniverse end of Alternative]] certainly looked like it [[SequelHook connected]] to ''[[{{Sequel}} Altered Fable]]''. [[spoiler: If Yashiro didn't know, why would she she just spontaneously start crying, and recognizing people she didn't remember?]] This ultimately got subverted with the official English ''photonmelodies'' release that freely advertises ''Altered Fable'' as the official sequel to ''Alternative''.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Haruko Kashiwagi, the sixth player in Chizuru's lacrosse team in ''Extra'', appears to be one, considering that âge released the fandisk ''Haruko Maniax'' with her taking center-stage.[[note]]She also has the most H-scenes out of any ''Muv-Luv'' heroine, whether main or supporting.[[/note]]
** The anime made Captain Abe, the captain of the Shinano, one. [[spoiler:Pulling in a battleship into the bay, opening fire on every laser-class, and surviving is certainly an awesome way to make an impression.]]
* EvenBetterSequel: ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'' is the most widely acclaimed title in the entire franchise, and it was released as a sequel to the original ''Muv-Luv'' VisualNovel collection that contained both ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvExtra'' and ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvUnlimited''.
* FanNickname:
** ''Total Eclipse'' is sometimes jokingly known as ''Tortilla Chips''.
** [[spoiler: The 00 unit is sometimes called ''S00mika.'']]
** [[spoiler:''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 God-Empress]]'' for Kasumi, in reference to her assuming the mantle of Superintendent of the Union of Mankind in the distant future of ''Alternative'', and seemingly not aging past seventeen despite the passage of 40-odd years.]]
** [[spoiler:''Kurogane'' for Takeru in ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvUnlimitedTheDayAfter'', having joined the Imperial Royal Guard on merit (and thus being given the color black at the lowest rung of the hierarchy). [[https://desu-usergeneratedcontent.xyz/m/image/1665/26/1665263114694.jpg Even one of age's official artists got into the act.]]]]
* FirstInstallmentWins: Regarding the franchise as a whole, the original {{Visual Novel}}s, especially ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'', are highly acclaimed by the majority of the fandom. Future installments and spin-offs, such as ''Literature/MuvLuvAlternativeTotalEclipse'' and ''Literature/{{Schwarzesmarken}}'', are more divisive.
* GeniusBonus: Too many to count. One particular example: history-savvy readers will recall that Operation Cherry Blossom (Operation Ouka) shares its name [[spoiler: with the Japanese purpose-built kamikaze aircraft [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohka Ouka]] - apt name for a suicide mission in the Original Hive.]]
* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: Each of the heroines' routes in ''Extra'' and ''Unlimited'' has at least one. In ''Alternative'', [[spoiler: Yuuhi (the Grand Shogun) consoling Chizuru, who had just lost her father the Prime Minister in the coup d'etat]].
* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/KaoriMizuhashi plays [[VisualNovel/RumblingHearts Akane Suzumiya]], a girl who [[spoiler: has her teacher and older sister being decapitated, the former becoming a meme because of that scene.]] She later went on to voice [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Tomoe Mami]], who is the older sister/ teacher role [[spoiler:who gets decapitated and has memes off that scene.]]
* ItWasHisSled: [[spoiler:There are multiple timelines and that the 2nd and third stories are a genre shift from a Slice of Life Romance to a DarkerAndEdgier AlienInvasion HumongousMecha utsuge]]. Even people who barely heard of Muv-Luv knows this twist, and future spinoffs outright spoil it.
** [[spoiler:Marimo gets headchomped.]]
* MemeticMutation:
** "Is ''Alternative'' here yet?"[[note]] ''"Oruta mada~?"'' in Japanese[[/note]] A common cry by Japanese fans during the three year wait between ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative''. Shortly after its release, this was followed by "Is the fandisc here yet?"[[note]] ''FD mada~?"'' in Japanese[[/note]]
** [[spoiler: [[{{Gorn}} HEADCHOMP]] and variants thereof.]]
*** Another variant is [[spoiler: Jinguuji-sensei was seen eating with another man.]][[note]] [[spoiler:The WhamLine when Extra Marimo dies from Takeru's Casualty information affecting the Extra Verse.]] [[/note]]
** [[spoiler: The successive {{Gut Punch}}es, especially in the latter half of ''Alternative'', has led to the saying "You can't spell RAGE without AGE!"]]
** Posting ;_;> or ;_;7 [[note]]Emoticons depicting someone [[ManlyTears saluting while tearing up]] [[/note]] is common whenever "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DO-VRaqxKI Flame of Life]]", "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9fvnSkSC90 Meiya]]" "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElpL-EbCxT8 For You Who Departs]]" or "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad6c5SP48uk Farewell]]", among others, play.
** Noble Confidant, to mock the "JustFriends" treatment of Meiya in ''Alternative.''
** X has been shipped off to ''Extra''.[[note]]UnusualEuphemism for someone dying in the world of ''Alternative'', originating from Takeru and the dead heroines "showing up" in the happy, fun world of ''Final Extra'' and ''Altered Fable''. The cast of ''TDA'''s prologue, except [[SoleSurvivor Lilia]] later show up too, in ''their'' own ''Extra''-setting game.[[/note]]
** In the grim darkness of Muv-Luv, there is only waifus. [[note]]Riffing on ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'''s slogan, and the series' harem elements[[/note]]
** [[GratuitousEnglish English can eat shit. I repeat, English can eat shit.]][[note]]Used to refer to the numerous instances of glaring {{Engrish}} dialogue present in the visual novels, particularly ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'', including the scene where the aforementioned line is uttered. Notably, it became an AscendedMeme in the anime, as the producers used the scene to advertise the jump in animation quality.[[/note]]
** Lacrosse.[[note]] Often used to make fun of the Lacrosse Arc in Extra, which is universally considered the worst part of the Trilogy and is often joked to be even more traumatic than [[spoiler:Chomp or Sumika's tentacle scene]][[/note]]
** WOAH Budget. [[note]] Said abut the Muv-Luv Alternative anime's combat scenes, where the animation quality jumps tremendously to SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome levels[[/note]]
*** JAM Project Budget [[note]] The improved quality of season 2, as well as the return of JAM Project doing the music, including a new opening with Creator/MinamiKuribayashi AND giving the rights to use Wings, has a lot of fans hyped, calling the increased quality the JAM Project Budget.[[/note]]
%%* {{Narm}}: '''''[[spoiler: [[GratuitousEnglish "THEY'RE HUMAN... BRAIIIIIIINNNNSSS!!!"]]]]'''''
* MorePopularSpinoff: while age's previous works were popular, Muv-Luv definitely overshadows both of age's previous works, and every title age worked on afterwards use the Muv-Luv brand to exapand forwards.
* NauseaFuel:
** [[spoiler:Marimo's [[MemeticMutation HEADCHOMP]]]]. Especially since it occurs as a MoodWhiplash.
** In ''Total Eclipse'' we get to see [[spoiler:two young pilots ripped to pieces and eaten in [[{{Gorn}} rather grim detail]]]].
%%** MLA does ''not'' mess around.
* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Sumika was a rather divisive character in Muv-Luv Extra, seen by fans as a generic childhood love interest tsundere who is so stereotypical that she brings nothing new to the table. It also doesn't help that her love rival is Meiya, who is a fan-favorite character, to the point where [[spoiler: fans, even the ones that like Sumika in Alternative, felt sorry for Meiya when she does get friendzoned]]. (Major spoilers) [[spoiler: However, she does recieve this in Muv-Luv Alternative due to getting much more characterization and several tragic moments, such as the PTSD Arc and the 00 Unit Arc, to the point where fans that used to REALLY hate her in Extra really think of her better in Alternative, or at least hate her a lot less.]]
* ShipToShipCombat: Please don't ask whether Meiya or Sumika is the best love interest for Takeru. Really, don't do it. It's for your own sake.
* SignatureScene: [[spoiler: Marimo getting headchomped.]], due to the shock value and how it changes the story to a darker tone.
** The "English Can Eat Shit" scene, so much so that the animators used the scene to advertise the animation budget bump during the fight scenes.
** The "Wings" scene, to the point where the Alternative Anime bought the licensing rights to play the song back in the anime.
** The [[spoiler:Sadogashima Invasion.]] The animation team knew this would be one of the most hyped scenes in the anime, so they spent all their budget advertising the arc.
* SlowPacedBeginning: ''Alternative'' is widely considered by many to be a great {{Visual Novel}}. However, one of the major complaints of people who play it are that it is necessary to play through the first two installments of the series and that ''Alternative'', even after it starts, is little more than a rehash of ''Unlimited'' until 7 hours in. Notably, the anime adaptation's decision to skip most of the setup and ramp up the pacing was incredibly controversial among the fandom, resulting in the contested reception of the earlier episodes.
* SpiritualSuccessor: The non-''Extra'' ones can be considered a successor to the ''VideoGame/GunparadeMarch'' in many aspects. Alternate history caused by AlienInvasion? Check. Very low draft age? Check. AnyoneCanDie? Check.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: [[https://youtu.be/-7Rw66NqUAA?si=NzA-Mz_klJcNGJp4 Conspiracy]] sounds nearly identical to Livin' La Vida Loca. So similar in fact that it was cut from the global release, presumably for sounding a tad ''too'' similar.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A small example, but part of the worldbuilding includes the Type-87 Feedback Interface as part of the TSF's, a kind of exoskeleton meant for pilots to use when they have to eject from their machines. The visual novels include a pretty lengthy lecture about these and their use, and yet despite this they never show up across any medium and as such are limited to simple background fluff. The only reason fans even know what they look like when active is thanks to the [[AllThereInTheManual Integral Works artbooks]].
* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome:
** Whether you like or dislike the anime adaptation of Muv-Luv Alternative, everyone universally agrees that the animation for the fight scenes are really good, including showing recoil when the mechs fire, changes to the engines depending on how fast they are going, and even having detailed lights on the closeups.
** The [[spoiler:Sadogashima Arc has been universally praised for its awesome visuals, including showing multiple points of view from battleships firing their guns, to the Orbital Drop Sequence, and even a mecha first-person view.]]