A long-running, Massive Multiplayer Crossover video game franchise, based off almost every Humongous Mecha series ever made in Japan. Also known as Super Robot Taisen if you're looking for the US releases (retitled to avoid a trademark conflict with Robot Wars) or just feeling particularly Japanophilic.In western terms, imagine if The Avengers (both teams of that name), the Justice League, Spider-Man, the Scoobies, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Doctor, and The Incredible Hulk teamed up with G.I. Joe, SG-1, Battlestar Galactica (the original and rebooted series), and the crew of the Serenity. Inject them with industrial levels of weapons-grade hot blood. Now imagine the threat it would take to bring them all together, and imagine them pounding it flat.The first Super Robot Wars was released on the Nintendo Game Boy, and featured mecha from Mazinger Z, Gundam (various series) and Getter Robo (who usually appear in subsequent games). As the series grew, more series were added, as well as their characters. Each game would take the storylines of all the series and merge them into one (mostly) complete whole. This often required some creative interpretation, particularly in the case of Gundam, as characters, mecha and events that took place decades apart in the original stories will now occur within a matter of weeks of each other, if not at the same time.The usual setup for your average Super Robot Wars game is pretty simple: take the story of every Humongous Mecha series included, put it in a blender, and set to "liquefy". The player usually sees the story through the eyes of an original character and their mecha. As the story begins to wind down, an additional threat from another planet or dimension makes itself known, and the gathered heroes come together to beat the unholy hell out of them.Of course, the interactions can sometimes have an interesting effect on the various characters. The Super Robot Wars Alpha games, for example, are highly regarded by many fans for making Shinji Ikarimuch less of a wuss.Starting from the second game, entirely new mecha and characters are introduced. These became known as Banpresto Originals. In 2002, Banpresto released Super Robot Wars Original Generation for the Game Boy Advance, which consisted entirely of the original characters and mecha created for the series over the years; a sequel appeared in 2004. Both arethe onlySuper Robot Wars games to be released in North America, due to the obvious lack of licensing problems. This finally came full circle with the release of a 3-episode OVA set after the second game, and a TV anime Divine Wars, which retells the story of the first game. As of 2011, an anime of the second game entitled The Inspector was released.Compare Another Centurys Episode, the third-person Mecha Game equivalent also made by Banpresto (in cahoots with From Software of Armored Core and Metal Wolf Chaos fame) and SD Gundam G Generation, a similar strategy series centered exclusively around the Gundam franchise.The Super Robot Wars games, based on the classification from a template in The Other Wiki:
Ye Originale SRW
Super Robot Wars: The game that started it all. Released in April 1991 for the Game Boy, contains mecha only and no pilots; essentially has an Excuse Plot and isn't counted in any timeline.
Super Robot Wars 2: The first game to have a story and Banpresto Originals. The plot starts with a Civil War with the Divine Crusaders. Released on the Famicom in December 1991. A remake was released for the Game Boy in June 1995, but isn't canon to the timeline.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Masaki Andoh, Shu Shirakawa, Bian Zoldark.
Super Robot Wars 3: Sequel to the second game, first one for the Super Famicom. Released in July 1993, it revolves around the attack of the Zuvorg Alliance's Inspectors.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Lune Zoldark, Mekibos, Vigagi, Aguija, Sikalog, Wendolo.
Super Robot Wars EX: A sequel, of sorts, to the third game. Released in March 1994, this takes place in Masaki's enigmatic world of La Gias, and deals with the Masou Kishin storyline.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Hwang Yang Long, Tytti Noorbuck, Mio Sasuga.
Super Robot Wars 4: The proper sequel to Super Robot Wars 3 and the final story of the Classic Timeline, dealing with the invasion of the Guests from the Zuvorg Alliance. Released in March 1995 on the Super Famicom, players get to choose from some Banpresto Originals, with staple personalities, to be the protagonist. This gets remade a lot of times, from Super Robot Wars 4 Scramble (January 1996; no longer canon) to Super Robot Wars F/F Final (April 1998 for Sega Saturn, later ported to the Sony Playstation; F Final the last being considered canonical). Gilliam Yeager from Hero Senki makes an appearance here, and is also the debut appearance of the super robotMazinkaiser.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Irmgult Kazahara, Ring Mao, Lenonjayce Starlord, Mina Likering, Hector Madison, Patricia Hackman, Arwynn Dorstein, Grace Urigin.
Super Robot Wars Gaiden: The first SRW Gaiden Game, occurring partway through the Classic Timeline (before Super Robot Wars 2 and after Super Robot Wars 4). This is actually the first Original Generation game, as it only includes Masou Kishin characters. Released in March 1996 on the Super Famicom.
Super Robot Wars Alpha: The first SRW to get a rather complex storyline, centered on the Balmar invasion and, to some extent, on the terrestrial Choukijin plot (in actuality, the story is simply an upgraded form of Shin Super Robot Wars). Released in May 2000 on the Sony Playstation, it's the first game to allow pilot customization of skills and statistics and also brings back old characters like Ring Mao, Irmgult Kazahara, Masaki Andoh, Lune Zoldark, Shu Shirakawa and the SRX Team, as well as Ingram Plisken and Viletta Vadim from Super Hero Sakusen. A Video Game Remake was released on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001, featuring 3D visuals, increased difficulty, secret boss characters and a cameo of the G-Breaker, a robot from Bandai's Sunrise Eiyuutan.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Kusuha Mizuha, Brooklyn "Bullet" Luckfield, Rio Mei Long, Ryoto Hikawa, Leona Garstein, Tasuku Shinguji, Yuuki Jaggar, Ricarla Borgnine, Eri Anzai, Kenzo Kobayashi, Robert H. Oomiya, Kirk Hamill, Levi Tolar (later known as Mai Kobayashi), Laodicea Judecca Gozzo, Euzeth Gozzo
Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden: A Gaiden Game of the Alpha series involving Time Travel to an apocalyptic future and the battle against the Ancestors/Machinery Children; remains a fan favorite. Released in March 2001 on the PlayStation, it's the first game to incorporate the Support Attack/Defend system and it also brings back Masou Kishin characters for their final appearance before the Original Generation sub-series, which was a source of Urban Legend of Zelda speculation that Banpresto got sued by Winkysoft for using their characters (Word Of God states the team really just wanted a break from the recent spate of Masou Kishin-centric stories). Also features the first theme song in the series, performed by JAM Project, "Hagane no Messiah".
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Sanger Zonvolt, Machinery Children (Ansuz, Thurisuz, Uruz Egret), Egret Fehu, Sophia Nate (Magus)
Super Robot Wars Alpha 2: Proper sequel to Alpha, released on the Sony Playstation2 in March 2003. First title to introduce squad-based mechanics and revolves around the Sealing War against the Gun Eden. Also marks the promotion of Sanger Zonvolt, formerly The Dragon in Alpha Gaiden, into a protagonist, and confirmation the canon heroes of the Alpha games are Kusuha Mizuha and Brooklyn Luckfield.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Arado Balanga, Seolla Schweizer, Ibis Douglas, Sleigh Presty, Tsugumi Takakura, Ratsel Feinschmeker (despite him being Elzam V. Branstein, it's this persona debut, as a result of Canon Immigrant), Kukuru, Irui Gun Eden.
Super Robot Wars Alpha 3: The most crowded SRW at its time (33 individual series!). Released in August 2005 on the Playstation2, this is the sequel to Alpha 2, ending the Balmar War saga. It's also famous for introducing Sega's Virtual On characters, the first time another company's video game series was brought into the franchise. The SRX Team, who were absent in Alpha 2 sans Viletta, make a full blown return, as do all of the previous game's originals.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Touma Kanou, Minaki Tomine, Cobray Gordon, Selena Recital, Baran Doban, Luria Qayitz, Almana Tiqvah, Hazal Gozzo, Ace Gozzo, Shiva Gozzo, Calico McCready, Spectra McCready, Etzira Tolar, Son Gan Long, Ruach Gun Eden, Keisar Ephes
Super Robot Wars Compact: First SRW for the Wonderswan released in April 1999. Features the Stage Select system, but is devoid of originals. In December 2001, it gets an updated port to Wonderswan Color using...well, colors.
Super Robot Wars Compact 2/Impact: This SRW has such a huge storyline, it was separated into 3 games for the Wonderswan altogether. Released between March 2000 to January 2001, it revolves around the Einst invasion. In March 2002, it gets compiled intoImpact for the Playstation2.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Kyosuke Nanbu, Excellen Browning, Einst Alfimi (Impact), Neue Regisseur
Super Robot Wars Z: Made for the Playstation2 in 2008 and the start of a new series, with the largest debut of new series in a single SRW. Incoporating the Tri-Battle System, the story revolves around the "Holy War", alongside the Chimera and the ever enigmatic "Evil Masaki", Asakim Dowin.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Rand Travis, Mel Peter, Setsuko Ohara, Denzel Hammer, Toby Watson, Asakim Dowin, Xine Espio, Lowen General, Schlan Opel, Edel Bernal, The Edel Bernal
The 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-hen (World Breaking Chapter): Part one of the sequel to Z, it will retain almost all of the original cast listing, alongside a surprising number of series additions and returns. This game was intended to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary. Released on April 14, 2011 for the PlayStation Portable.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Crowe Broust, Traiya Scott, Esther Elhaas, Aihm Laird, Marguerite Pistail, Cheval Reptail, Shiony Regis, Carlos Axion Jr., Gaioh
The 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Saisei-hen (Reborn World Chapter): Part two of The 2nd Super Robot Wars Z. Released on April 5, 2012 for the PlayStation Portable, Saisei-hen has broken the record set by Alpha 3 with the largest number of individual series in a single game.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Elgan Laudic, Wayne Reptail, Geraud Garce Bantail, Anbrorn Jeus, Marilyn Catto, Uther
Super Robot Wars W: Debut SRW for the Nintendo DS in March 2007. Brings back Getter Robo, but still no Universal Century Gundam (or any shows directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, in general). Deals with the mechanical Database. Notably the first SRW to have a cast list made exclusively of shows licensed in the United States (save perhaps the particular version of Shin Getter the game uses, although Getter Robo Armageddon was released in the States and the cast here is classic Getter G, e.g. the group that got dubbed into "Starvengers") with at least one franchise (Go Lion/Voltron) being incredibly obscure in Japan and seemingly only really included to appeal to Americans. Despite this, the game has not come out in North America.
Super Robot Wars K: Released for the DS in 2009. Uses an interface similar to W's with a brand-new Partner Battle System. The cast is even more notorious than Judgment, by having no Universal Century Gundam, no Getter Robo, and even no Great Mazinger!.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Mist Rex, Angelica Shartill, Sheldia Rouge, Lu Cobol, Verinee, Ispeil, Gazum
Super Robot Wars L: Bringing back many familiar series from K, L seems to fix the Partner Battle System. Unfortunately, those who wish for Universal Century Gundam and Getter Robo will be disappointed again; however, Great Mazinger is back in. Released on November 25, 2010 for the DS.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Nagumo Ichitaka, AL-3 Alice, Yuunagi Graife, HL-0 Haruno, Professor Graife, Lude Gloria
Super Robot Wars Scramble Commander: Released in November 2003 for the Playstation2, it's actually a Real Time Strategy game. Devoid of originals, but does have the Swordian Guards, which reappear in Original Generation Gaiden.
Super Robot Wars Scramble Commander 2: The second Scramble Commander released in November 2007 for the Playstation2.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Keiji Tachibana
Shin Super Robot Wars: Released in December 1996 for the Sony Playstation, it marks the debut of the SRX Team and Balmarians, both of which got a comprehensive retooling when Super Robot Wars Alpha was released.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Ryusei Date, Raidiese F. Branstein, Aya Kobayashi, Laodecia Judecca Gozzo
Super Robot Wars 64: Released in October 1999, this is the only entry for the Nintendo64. Notorious for having loads and loads of stages, a rather complex branching system, and many original mecha the Shadow-Mirror would base theirs off of (or outright use). Original characters and mecha confirmed by Word Of God not to appear in Original Generation.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Brad Skywind, Katz Folneus, Manami Hamill, Aisha Ridgemond, Arklight Blue, Elrich Schtazen, Selain Meneth, Reese Greasewell
Super Robot Wars GC: The only SRW for the Nintendo GameCube, released in December 2004. Done in full 3D and uses a unique parts system that determines where damage is dealt to a machine (head, torso, limbs). Gets ported to the Xbox360 as Super Robot Wars XO in November 2006, which adds a turn-based online multiplayer mode.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Akimi Akatsuki (male and female)
Super Robot Wars NEO: First SRW for the Wii. Released in October 2009, it utilizes the same 3D scheme from GC/XO and eschews a grid-based movement system for a radial-based one, a first for the franchise. This is also the first SRW to be totally devoid of real robots (G Gundam is the ''Gundam representative, and even then, you only get the God Gundam).
Super Robot Wars Original Generation: First proper Original Generation game released on the Game Boy Advance in November 2002. Features original characters only and mixes the first part of the Balmar War and Divine Crusaders War, alongside never-before-seen originals. Also the first one to touch "The School" subplot hinted in Alpha 2, which later mingles with other originals and introduces a unique interchangeable weapon system. Since it's devoid of licensing problems, it's the first to be localized into English.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Elzam von Branstein, Kai Kitamura, Latooni Subota, Shine Hausen, Radha Bairaban, Katina Tarask (Gameplay debut; she debuts in a trading card game), Russel Bagman, Garnet Sandi, Giado Venerdi, Daitetsu Minase, Tetsuya Onodera, Eita Nadaka, Lefina Enfield, Sean Webley, Eun Hyojin, Rishu Togoh (Not his playable debut), Marion Radom, Randolph Laker, Siebel Mistrel, Adler Koch, Tempest Hawker, Lily Junkers, Kar-Wai Lau, Tenzan Nakajima, Nibhal Mubhal, Graien Grasman, Atad Shamran, Gaza Haganer, Galuin M'Habel, Septuagint
Super Robot Wars Original Generation 2: Sequel to the first Original Generation, released in February 2005 on the Game Boy Advance and got localized, too. Continues the story and adds up the Inspectors, Shadow-Mirror, Einst and Machinery Children.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Ouka Nagisa, Wodan Ymir, Echidna Iisaki, Archibald Grims, Van Vat Tran, Agilla Setme, Cuervo Cero, Brian Midcrid, Mitsuko Isurugi, Kenneth Garret, Filio Presty, Stern Regisseur
Super Robot Wars OG: Original Generations: Video Game Remake compiling the two Original Generation Gameboy Advance titles for the Playstation2 in June 2007. Presumably due to cost considerations, this game has yet to be localized. Adds up the Twin Battle System and retouches the story with minor and major alterations, including the addition of the originals from Reversal; effectively, the game essentially Retcons the first two Original Generation games (as well as the first 3-episode OVA) via Continuity Reboot. The game was intended to celebrate the franchise's 15th anniversary.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Lorenzo di Montenego, Murata
Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden: Gaiden Game sequel to Original Generations, released in December 2007. Rather short compared to other entries in the series, but features lots of bonus material like a trading card mini-game and a battle viewer. Story-wise, it continues from Original Generations and adds the ODE Incident from the OVA/drama CD, Duminuss, the Shura, and a revamped Einst (now called Jetzt), as well as the heroes and villians from one of Banpresto's early crossover franchises, Great Battle. Also features cameos from Touma Kanou of Alpha 3 and the originals from MX.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Kouta Azuma, Shouko Azuma, Foglia Esto, Eric Wong, Kyle Bean, Celcia Farm
The Second Super Robot Wars Original Generation: Sequel to Original Generation Gaiden, this will be the first Super Robot Wars to be released on the Playstation 3. The story will include Kusuha and Ibis' from Alpha 2 and follow up on Hugo and Aqua's MX story introduced in OG Gaiden. New series entrants will include Joshua Radcliffe and Cliana Rimskaya from Destiny, Ariel Org and Duvan Org from the obscure Real Robot Regiment and Ing Egret, the last of the Machinery Children who first appeared in Lost Children, a manga side-story from Alpha 2. Release date is currently set for a winter 2012 release.
OG Saga (A selection of Gaiden Games for the Original Generation series. By Word Of God, each takes place before, during or after the events of the main series, but are separate from them)
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Haken Browning, Kaguya Nanbu, Aschen Brodel, Suzuka-Hime, Sanuki Nanbu, Shuten, Cardia Basirissa, Otone, Anne Sirena, Bonny Maxmad, Katze Kotolnos, Ezel Granada, Kyon Feulion, Henne Valkyria, Koma, Shirou, John Moses Browning, Lee Ly, Marion Sumii, Dorothy Mistral, Rubor Cucullus, Wahrschein Lichkeit
Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier EXCEED: DS sequel to Endless Frontier released in February 2010. All playable characters from the previous game return alongside new protagonists. Ties into the events of Original Generation Gaiden, as Axel Almer, Einst Alfimi and Fighter Roar make their way to the Endless Frontier as playable characters, including MOMO of Xenosaga. Mark Hunter from Gaia Saver makes a cameo.
Important Banpresto Original Characters debuting here: Aledy Naash, Neige Hausen, Cindy Bird, Pete Pain, Hamelin Silbato, Gerda Miroir, Cleo Gretel, Lok Eye, Hild Brun, Rig the Guard, Vanar Gand, Hela Gand, Jolm Gand, Gagun Laos/Gymnos Basileus
Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Masou Kishin - Revelation of Evil God: Set for a January 12, 2012 release, this will be a PlayStation Portable sequel to The Lord of Elemental and marks the 15th anniversary of the Masou Kishin series. Revelation of Evil God will come bundled with the The Lord of Elemental DS rerelease, complete with enhanced visuals and extended voice acting.
Other games:
Hero Senki: Project Olympus: An Action RPG for the Super Famicom that features Toku heroes Kamen Rider and Ultraman, as well as several Gundam pilots in Powered Armor stylized to their Gundams.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Gilliam Yeager
Gaia Saver: Another Action RPG for the Super Famicom similar to Hero Senki.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Mark Hunter
The Great Battle (1-6): An Action Game series mostly appearing on the Super Famicom, featuring Super-Deformed heroes such as Ultraman, Kamen Rider, various Gundams and the original Henshin Hero Fighter Roar. The series also spawn many spin-offs to various genres, such as Battle Pinball, Battle Racer, Battle Dodgeball and so on. Although these games seem to be free of plot, the fact Kouta Azuma uses a hoverboard, similar to the one used by Roar in Battle Racer and in the Endless Frontier EXCEEDdrama CDmight tell us something.
Important Banpresto Original characters debuting here: Fighter Roar, Dark Brain, Professor Kisaburo
Super Robot School: A High School AU simulation spin-off based on the titles and sprites featured in Judgment, W and K, but replacing Tekkaman Blade with Getter Robo Armageddon (which is really W's Shin Getter with pilot portraits from Destiny). The Original Generation version of Compatible Kaiser also appears. One of the saving graces are Moe characters designed by Eiji Komatsu (of the Deep-Blue series and Maburaho). Apparently based on a desire to expand the concept behind Link Battler and the XO multiplayer modes. Released for the DS in fall 2009.
Shin Masou Kishin: Panzer Warfare: Released around the same time alongside the Cybuster Animated Adaptation, it uses similar mecha designs for the Elemental Lords. Supposedly takes place in the far future when the civilization of La Gias has long since been forgotten, but the game's generally ignored by fans since it's somewhat disappointing. Although it brims with material for WMG, Banpresto never touched Panzer Warfare again...until the release of Super Robot Wars Z, where this version of the Cybuster can be seen in the Shurouga's Ley Buster attack animation.
Super Robot Wars Original Generation The Animation: A 3-episode OVA set after Original Generation 2. The story's about the next generation of unmanned mecha from The Federationinexplicably going berserk and kidnapping people as part of an Assimilation Plot, including several of the main characters. The OVA's story would be re-adapted into a set of bonus missions in Original Generations called "2.5: Unified Wisdom"; the story is fully fleshed out in Original Generation Gaiden.
Super Robot Wars Original Genration: Divine Wars: A 26-episode TV adaptation of the first Original Generation game that re-tells Ryusei Date's story.
Super Robot War Original Generation: The Inspector: TV adaptation of Original Generation 2 and sequel to Divine Wars. Series now airing on Crunchyroll.
Anime Theme Song (Divine Wars' Break Out. "Whooooah, whoa-oh-oh-oooohhhh, Super Robot Waaaaars!")
Arms And Armor Theme Naming: The series features several characters named for brands of guns, including Kyosuke Nanbu, Excellen Browning, Ingram Plisken and his clone Viletta (presumably supposed to be Beretta) Badim. Ingram's most famous Humongous Mecha, the Astranagant, is another example (Astra + Nagant).
The Blank (Generic nameless soldiers in Super Robot Wars tend to be this, both good and bad. It's not too noticeable if they're wearing a space suit, but some of them look rather creepy.)
Clown Car Base (Depending on the primary battleship and mecha you have)
Colbert Bump (Some of the more obscure series, such as Hades Project Zeorymer, immediately gets attention prior to the game with their debut is released)
Lunamaria Hawke's aiming ability due to her missing a battleship with a beam rifle in Gundam SEED Destiny is translated into "awful range and hit skill combined with the Strike Spirit Command costing 30 SP". The only other character to match this level of exaggeration is Masaki Andoh. Luckily, Banpresto compensated by giving her a good melee stat.
Continuity Nod (Mostly for its Original Generation, specifically characters making cameos making a reference to what they'll be doing once they're fully integrated into continuity)
To say nothing about the parts you can equip on machines, such as the Tem Ray Circuit, based off an item that Amuro's father made in the original Mobile Suit Gundam that is nothing more than a piece of junk. It has its uses, however.
Darker and Edgier (Notably certain games following Alpha. Even The Inspectors isn't immune to this, when compared to Divine Wars: the opening scene features a helpless SRX Team virtually annihilated by Beowulf)
Deflector Shield: Many enemies use this. Warp Fields in Original Generation, Orgone Cloud/Distortion Field in Judgment... The list goes on
Divergent Character Evolution (There were eight "pre-built" hero options in Alpha, one for each character design: Kusuha and Bullet become protagonists for the rest of Alpha, four are fleshed out into distinct characters in Original Generation, while the remaining two appear in Original Generation 2. Similarly, the rest of the selectable heroes in Alpha 2 get their individual place to shine in the sequel)
Escort Mission (Losing a mothership or specific unit results in a game over. In some cases this even means destroying a specific enemy unit)
Eviler than Thou: Einst towards Inspectos and Shadow Mirror in Inspector anime - their attacks forced them and heroes into Enemy Mine situation at one point. They even took over Wendelo.
Evil vs. Evil: When two enemy fractions meet with you at the battlefield, one will be "primary enemy" and other "secondary enemy". They can ocassionally go against each other's throats. Sometimes done story-wise, most notably being W, where you have Zonderians from GaoGaiGar fighting Radam from Tekkaman Blade, The Radam fighting The Evolouders from Detonator Orgun and The Evolouders fighting Eleven Lords Of Sol from GaoGaiGar FINAL.
Fan Nickname (A hefty amount by the fandom with the Original Generation, but Gundam, Mazinger and Getter form the "Holy Trinity" of SRW)
Fanservice (The Inspectors, ESPECIALLY the ending, which is nothing but the female cast in bikini's at the beach, except for one, who's in a School Swimsuit)
Some of the main female cast is notably absent: Carla, Lune, Lefina, Lemon, Alfimi, and fan favorite Pettanko Ibis.
Ibis and Carla were added beginning with episode 15; as a joke (or a likely homage to a particular meme involving "riding"), Sanger and Ratsel were in.
Foreshadowing (Beginning around the time of Original Generations, Banpresto started including hints at future games. A few examples:)
In Original Generations, Lemon Browning reminds Axel Almer that Beowulf isn't the only person with the "wolf" monniker. In the sequel Original Generation Gaiden, the Cry Wolves from Super Robot Wars MX show up.
In Original Generation 2, Lamia mentions a number of Shadow-Mirror units were lost in transit when they jumped before the main group. In Original Generation Gaiden, Axel makes references to Shadow-Mirror's "Project EF" — as in, Endless Frontier, where some of those lost units ended up.
In the DS remake of Super Robot Wars Gaiden, Masaki gets so lost his friends aren't really sure where he is anymore. Three months later after the remake is released, he finally turns up...in Another Century's Episode: R.
Likewise, in the SRW crew's ending for the game, Autumn-Four sends Ryusei, Kyosuke and Masaki back to their world...except Masaki arrives alone in the familiar La Gias; Ryusei and Kyosuke are nowhere to be seen...
Fragile Speedster (Most real robots, especially ones from Macross, tends to be a combination of this and Glass Cannon. The Garland/Proto Garland from Megazone23 stands at the very far end of the spectrum)
Fun Size (The appearance of the robots in a lot of games' combat animations)
Game-Breaking Bug (For one, Destiny's botched armor system on super robots makes tanking useless...and the 3.85m Garland a godsend)
Harder Than Hard (Recent games have Dynamic Difficulty scaling between "Easy", "Normal" and "Hard" depending on how many "Skill Points/"Battle Masteries" you earn by clearing stages quickly, killing bosses who normally run away after taking a certain amount of damage and so forth. They also have "EX-Hard" mode, which permanently locks the difficulty at Hard, gives enemies higher stats and stronger attacks, and makes it more expensive - if not, outright forbidden - to upgrade the characters and mecha)
Nintendo Hard (Try playing older games in the series lacking present-day game mechanics like Support Attack/Defend, Combo System, Squad/Twin Battle/Tri-Battle/Partner Battle System...and counterattack during enemy turns...)
Hey, It's That Voice! (Used as the basis of a LOT of jokes. Sailor Moon is especially popular to reference, given Tohru Furuya (Tuxedo Kamen) is in practically every game by virtue of playing Amuro Ray, and Mitsushi Kotono (Sailor Moon) shows up extremely often as well, most famously as Misato Katsuragi. They also like to play around with this if you save in-scenario and quit)
Hot Blooded: Never in history has such an pure concentration of hot-blooded heroism ever been assembled. Handle the games with care, your game system might spontaneously combust from the sheer awesomeness of it.
Hopeless Boss Fight: Done many times in cases where the script of the series being played out means the heroes must lose, even though it might still be possible for the palyer to win in gameplay terms.
Left the Background Music On (Especially when Macross is involved. In particular, the Information High and Do You Remember Love? sequences in the Alpha timeline)
Let's Split Up, Gang (The characters regularly split up into two or three groups for a few missions at various points in each game. Besides influencing the course of the story, these usually allow the player to unlock hidden characters and/or machines.)
It's also a nice way to level up characters you've been neglecting and suddenly decide to use: just take the route they're not available in. When they rejoin, their levels will increase relative to how long they've been away, usually enough to match your own.
Mecha-Mooks (Sometimes enemy mecha are controlled by a Super AI rather than a soldier)
More Dakka (Z has an entire class of attack, the TRI-Charge, based on all three mechs in a squad simultaneously unloading rapid-fire weapons in the general direction of the enemy...and then Boss Borot completely subverts it)
The series has a few gags with its own originals: two from 4/F/F Final, Irm and Ring, feature somewhat prominently in Original Generation and make cameos in the early Alpha games. However, they aren't direct expies of their old characters (like, say, Masaki and Gilliam is the same from series to series): the Irm and Ring in Alpha/Original Generation are significantly older than their first appearance, and rather than a simple lovey-dovey couple, they're separated, but tend to bicker Like an Old Married Couple
No Export for You (Out of all the above, the US market only get two GBA games, Original Generation animes (undubbed) and Endless Frontier. International copyright regulations suck, don't they?)
To be fair, Bandai and Toei combined currently own the American distribution rights of all the newer series. Anything Macross-related, though, is caught in the legal snarl that prevents most of it from ever making it overseas by itself. In fact, W's lineup consists entirely of Bandai and Toei-held, American-released series... barring Voltron (still held by World Events Productions, who are in dispute over it with Toei for the rights to make a movie).
And GaoGaiGar and Tekkaman Blade, which are Media Blasters property in the US. And Mazinkaiser, Martian Successor Nadesico and Full Metal Panic!, which are held by ADV. Face it, licensing a SRW game will never be remotely sane
To all those who stayed hopeful the Video Game RemakeOriginal Generations might get localized, well...
Tatsunoko Vs Capcom will hopefully serve as an inspiration for Bandai Namco to put forth the effort
No Fourth Wall (A staple of the "Save And Quit" messages, which can vary from standard Guilt-Based Gaming messages derived from particular series' casts to Hey, It's That Voice! jokes (One of Alpha Gaiden's most notorious is Masaki "Hikaru Midorikawa" Andoh speaking in Heero Yuy's voice from behind an "unknown character" portrait))
One of Us (Hikaru Midorikawa is such a major fan of the series, he has been a beta tester for some of their games and has a page on Banpresto's official blog. To that end, any character voiced by him (e.g. Heero) will have more special battle quotes against enemies. He may even throw in a few extra lines in for "his" characters for free)
Overlylong Fighting Animation (Ein Soph Aur and End of the Galaxy comes to mind, though almost all of the strongest moves count...)
It got toned down somewhat with Z...somewhat. You still get stuff like the Final Dynamic Special, with 4 Super Robots ganging up on one enemy group using almost everything in their respective arsenals.
Not to mention the Nu Gundam. Fans joke the entire animation budget was used on it.
this got one uped in SRWMX one could double team attack the foe with the Shuffle alliance and the Final Dynamic special both team attacks for one long (a little over 2 minutes) needless to say just about everything not a full health boss is almost certainty dead after taking 2 finishing team move combos.
Upped again in SRW Original Generations, where one could do a double team attack, followed by a second double team attack on Suppourt Attack. Shown here with R-Formation/Tatsumaki Zankantou to Twin Bird Strike/Royal Heart Breaker.
Precursors (Several names are mentioned: Alpha has the "First People", W has the "E's" and K has the "Crusians". Some titles like Destiny or Scramble Commander 2 have relics left by a nameless race. A source of Epileptic Trees in the mythos)
Red and Black and Evil All Over: As part of being a Char Clone, Elzam paints his robots black with red bits (Along other tweaks). He eventually gets his own robot, the Aussenseiter, which is also in this costume. He eventually does a Heel Face Turn, though.
Relationship Values (Some of the games have a built-in mechanic where pilots adjacent to a friend, rival or significant other gain higher stats during scenarios. Quite useful in the games it appears, as it can affect the skills of the pilots if they're surrounded by the people closest to them)
Required Party Member (Often used for the first appearance of a character in a game or when the game is reenacting something from a series.)
Road Cone (Any game with multiple character routes with a direct sequel or was introduced into Original Generation)
Schizo Tech (Alpha Gaiden and Z, mainly. Yes, technically, Xabungle, After War Gundam X, and ∀ Gundam all take place in post-apocalyptic settings, but the technology and terminology for each fluctuates so wildly between them, you could even call this a "Schizo Setting" for Alpha Gaiden, since one continent uses gasoline powered mechs, half of another continent roams about in landships scavenging for mechs, and the other half of said continent is practically Victorian with very little concept of mechs or high technology whatsoever)
Second Person Attack: Quite a few attacks do this, probably so the animations can play fine regardless of how the target looks. A good example would be Mazinkaiser's Final Kaiser Blade.
Transformation Name Announcement (Aside from any and all obvious anime-based examples, two of the best known users amid the original characters are Ryusei and Sanger...Good God, SANGER!)
True Final Boss (Septuagint in Original Generation, Neue Regisseur in Original Generation 2, Neo Granzon in Alpha Gaiden and many more. Until it reached the PS2, the series loved this trope)
My Death Is Just the Beginning (Defeating the Big Bad in one game of the major timelines (Classic, Alpha and Original Generation) only forces said Big Bad's allies to come at you with an even greater force in the sequels)
Spanner in the Works (More or less, it's the heroes who play this trope straight, that being you, the player)
Unwitting Pawn (The protagonists/player gets to play this a lot before they get upgraded to spanners)
Wolverine Publicity (If Amuro is among the characters, expect him to use the Nu Gundam even if he's in his teens and none of other elements from Char's Counterattack are present)
The most notable character out of this trope should be Kabuto Kouji, who appears in EVERY single series to date.
Which makes sense due to the fact that Kouji is the FIRST mech pilot. Removing him would be like removing your ancestor out of the family tree.
Pretty much any anime trope can be found in Super Robot Wars sooner or later, due to the fact that it contains so many anime series. Some that stand out, though, are:
The Alliance (Classic Timeline's Zuvorg Alliance subverts this: it's all just the Zuvorg, from what we can see, and they have their share of bad apples)
Alternate Universe (Each game continuity's essentially an Alternate Universe to each series included. Z takes this trope and runs with it - poor Setsuko!)
Anyone Can Die (If a game can save a person who fell victim to this, it usually does this, too)
But partially subverted because even the most hated villains may live (if it's a sequel series), due to the Fix Fic nature of the games, thus characters who're supposed to die will live, with the added bonus of certain villains performing a Heel Face Turn and joining the crew.
Bilingual Bonus (Several characters and mechs are named after foreign words)
Brainwashed and Crazy (In addition to several characters from the various anime series represented in the games undergoing this, many of the originals have undergone this trope at some point)
Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: Kyosuke Nanbu and Excellen Browning. Excellen is not gentle per se(she's more genki), but Kyosuke is DEFINITELY brooding, and Excellen is very sweet and loving with him.
Cloning Blues (The Balmar Empire love this, and then, the Database of W repeats it)
Epic Flail (Baran Doban pretty well perfects this trope via use of a Super Robot-sized wrecking ball capable of being swung FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND)
Sikalog does this, too; the weapon he uses is an actual flail.
Expy, Captain Ersatz (Both characters and mecha: Grungusts are clearly Mazingerexpies with a little Daitarn-esque transformation thrown in (hell, Irm basically acts like and fulfills the same plot purpose Banjou Haran does in "normal" SRWs, except with less dough), and in no way whatsoever do Huckebeins resemble Gundams...honestly: just ignore the head thing and the coloring, totally. Z's Gunleon has many similarities to GaoGaiGar, and maybe a little hint of Evangelion. However, the Randgrith barely even bothers to hide it: it's basically Fang Of The Sun Dougram as drawn by someone other than Kunio Okawara. Interestingly, its Ace Custom Laz Angriff is red, compared to the green Randgrith, which brings to mind another line of mechs designed by Okawara...)
Compatible Kaiser's updated appearance in Original Generation is almost a complete clone of Gravion (granted, it's the same mechanical designer Masami Obari).
Not only does the Gunleon carry a giant spanner and throw a smaller one for one of its attacks, it has spanner-nunchucks - and gets a lightning-effect pose when used.
And who in the right mind would pilot a heavy armor-riddled machine that can barely move with a pile bunker and titanium ball bearing launchers??
Insulted Awake (Arado Balanga does this for Seolla Schweizer once thrice, at least in Original Generation 2. It finally takes when he gets thrown like a rag doll shortly afterward)
The Kingdom (Tons from included series, with its own in Original Generation)
Large Ham (What else would you expect from a series full of Super Robot pilots?)
Loads and Loads of Characters (By the end of any given game, you've got the complete cast of at least a dozen different series on your side. Alpha 3 takes this to unheard-of heights with twenty-seven casts, some having a double-digit character count, leaving you with well over 100 deployable characters and even more mechs to choose from)
Made of Explodium (Just about every attack in the game - laser blasts, sword slashes, punches, giant-robot rhythmic gymnastics, etc. - ends with a colossal explosion. Any enemy destroyed will spontaneously explode, whether or not they're robots. Rare exceptions are the Tekkamen in Judgment and W, who shatter into pieces, and the Festum disappearing into a black hole when destroyed in K. In Z, Anti-body Coralians will...uhh...turn to sand-like stuff and break apart, Gravion's Big Bad will implode and the Shurouga...turns into a bird and dissappears amidst black/purple fog)
Zonders finished by GaoGaiGar's Hell and Heaven explode just as they did in the series, and it doesn't matter who you are if you get hit by the Goldion Hammer: you're turning into photons.
Multinational Team (Z particularly exploits this (ZAFT, the fact that virtually all the aliens are bad guys...)
The Nudifier (The Bartolls of Original Generation: a requirement for you to be put as its pilot is to be stripped naked first. If you get caught by it, get ready to strip; however, instead of funny, this is usually played for Nightmare Fuel and Fan Disservice)
Summon Bigger Fish (Let the EVA Unit-01 go berserk and it can help you against a powerful foe, but it isn't really a reliable strategy as the EVA is an uncontrollable Berserker)
The Game Boy Advance Versions of some of the Theme Music from various Anime are actually faster and match the Hot Blooded nature of the games; Zeorymer, Brain Powerd, Char's Counterattack, and SPT Layzner are some of them
Time Skip (W does this to allow it to use a set of series, then use the sequels of said series in the same game. Alpha Gaiden revolves around our heroes taking one past two or three apocalypses to use Desert Punk mainstays Xabungle and Gundam X)
Time Travel (First used in Alpha Gaiden, the whole plot in Reversal and partially responsible for the Database in W)
Took a Level in Badass (Many characters, and thanks to Fix Fic, Shinji'smuch-appreciated badassery stands out the most in Alpha 3. He took enough levels to do a Bright Slap, for God's sake)
Urban Legend of Zelda (The "Two Year Rule", a belief that Banpresto won't include an anime in SRW until two years after it's ended in order to avoid spoilers. In reality, shows can't be added until the rights come up for licensing; this rule can be disproven simply by looking at the original Super Robot Wars, which had Gundam F91 barely over a month after it came out in theaters)
Additionally, the idea that Banpresto and Winky Soft had some kind of falling-out, which is why the Masou Kishin characters haven't appeared in a mainstream game since Alpha Gaiden.
Victory Pose (For certain attacks (such as a Super Robot's finishing attack, for example), new animations will be added in if the attack destroys an enemy outright. This is referred to as a "Dynamic Kill")
Wave Motion Gun (Too many to list even amongst the Original Generation mecha, though the most famous example with them is, hands down, the SRX Team's HTB Cannon.)
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