History VideoGame / SuperRobotWarsZ

* ActionGirl: The series showcases a fair number of female ace pilots, with ladies like [[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} Noriko]], [[Anime/DancougarNova Aoi]], and [[Anime/CodeGeass Kallen]] kicking copious amounts of ass alongside the boys. Never mind the fact one of the most powerful units in the final game... is in the form of [[Anime//{{Diebuster}} a human girl.]]

* ActionGirl: The series showcases a fair number of female ace pilots, with ladies like [[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} Noriko]], [[Anime/DancougarNova Aoi]], and [[Anime/CodeGeass Kallen]] kicking copious amounts of ass alongside the boys.

* CanonWelding: ''Z3'' reworks the ''Macross Frontier'' movies into being continuations of the TV series instead of an AlternateContinuity.

* NoIndoorVoice: In the ''Second Z'', Harry Ord, with his infamous "[[CatchPhrase UNIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEERSE!!!]]" scream in his voice clips, with the last of them being "Did you say Queen Diana's butt? CURSE YOU!!!"

* ADayInTheLimelight: ''Z'' is this to ''Anime/{{Zambot 3}}'', which had previously been frequently overshadowed by its sibling series ''Anime/{{Daitarn 3}}'', as well losing a good deal of its plot to lessen the copius deaths and child abuse. However, ''Daitarn 3'' in ''Z'' is reduced to a supporting role, while the ''Zambot 3'' plot has a larger presence in the route for [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsZ Setsuko Ohara]], with a lot more of the plot retained.

* TruerToTheText: ''Anime/Zambot3'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' are given their straightest ''Super Robot Wars'' adaptations to date in the first ''Z''. All of the tragedy of ''Zambot 3'' is kept in, instead of being completely averted or glossed over as it was in previous games. Meanwhile, ''Zeta Gundam'' benefits from not having to share screentime with other Universal Century series and -- aside from giving Amuro his ''Char's Counterattack''-era tech -- plays its story completely straight.

* TruerToTheText: ''Anime/Zambot3'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' are given their straightest ''Super Robot Wars'' adaptations to date in the first ''Z''. All of the tragedy of ''Zambot 3'' is kept in, instead of being completely averted or glossed over as it was in previous games. Meanwhile, ''Zeta Gundam'' -- aside from turning Amuro into an AscendedExtra by including his ''Char's Counterattack''-era tech -- benefits from not having to share screentime with other Universal Century series; ''Z'' notably featured the first appearance of ''Zeta's'' primary antagonist Paptimus Scirocco in years.

* BroadStrokes: The series plays fast and loose with the canon events of the previous games. For example, it's stated that Shinn fought for [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Gilbert Durandal]] to the very end, which occurs in the ZAFT Route of ''Z''. However, Shinn also recalls the promise he made to [[spoiler:[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Quattro Bagina]] to stop him should he ever try to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack do something radical and similar]]]], which only happens in the ZEUTH Route for ''Z''.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Euphemia, Shirley and [[Anime/CodeGeass Rolo Lamperouge]]]] in ''Saisei-hen'', provided the player picks the right route. Also, [[spoiler:Anew and [[Anime/ShinMazinger Lorelei]]]] are {{Secret Character}}s. Averted due to ''Jigoku-hen'' defaulting to the route where the they (excluding those who were secret characters) don't survive.
** Speaking of which, even when that route is taken, [[spoiler: Lelouch survives the Zero Requiem in part through Celestial Being's technology, even though he didn't intend to]]. Resulting in [[spoiler: his]] presence for the rest of the series.

** When Ledo fights [[spoiler:Striker]] during the ''Gargantia'' finale, [[spoiler:[[Anime/GargantiaOnTheVerdurousPlanet Chamber K6821]] ejects Ledo to safety, hoping to [[TakingYouWithMe destroy Striker in a suicidal attack]], but Alto picks up Ledo and puts him back into Chamber to continue the fight with another, sparing Chamber's fate from the series]].

* OffModel: The character portraits during combat show signs of this, primarily in ''Jigoku-hen''. Shinn's "[[SuperMode SEED Mode]]" portrait is drawn differently than in the previous games.

* UnskilledButStrong: [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Evangelion 13]] in ''Tengoku-hen'' might lack an ALL Attack, but it sure has some power, specifically its "[[BladeOnAStick Spear of Longinus]]", a mere 100 points fewer for base attack power of matching the Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann's "Giga Drill Break".

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic''

** '''''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' (original {{Light Novel}}s)'''

** Hibiki, [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Sousuke Sagara]], [[Anime/MacrossFrontier Alto Saotome]] and [[Anime/ShinMazinger Kouji Kabuto]] in ''Jigoku-hen''.

* TheBattleDidntCount: It's possible for Sousuke to defeat [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Leonard Testarossa in the Belial]] within the turn limit of Scenario 16, provided the [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic ARX-7 Arbalest]] is fully upgraded. However, because Leonard isn't utilizing his machine to its full potential, the Belial isn't destroyed. As per the ''Full Metal Panic'' LightNovels, [[spoiler:the Belial obliterates the Arbalest, paving the way for [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic ARX-7 Laevatein]]]].

** Played straight with the events of the ''Full Metal Panic!'' light novels: none of the novel-exclusive characters fight. While [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Casper]] appears in a [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Plan-1056 Codarl]] (specifically an [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Eligor]]), it's only during scenario events. The likes of [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Lee Fowler and Sabine Refunio]] disappear at some point in ''Tengoku-hen'' and don't return.

* ForgottenFirstMeeting: Played with in ''Jigoku-hen'' - Heero states when he was an assassin, one mission involved guarding the "Tiger of Helmajistan", a charismatic leader of a guerilla force ten years ago, whose real identity is [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Majid, the "Tiger of Badakhshan"]]. Setsuna notes he and other ChildSoldiers were sent to assassinate Majid on orders from [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Ali al-Saachez]]; Sousuke also chimes in, claiming he was there to fulfill the same objective as Setsuna. Hibiki is surprised at the odds of three soldiers who might have ended up in the same region as enemies.

* HandsomeLech: Kei, [[Anime/MacrossFrontier Mikhail Blanc]], [[Anime/GenesisOfAquarion Pierre]] and Gain form their own group of four skirt chasers. By ''Jigoku-hen'', [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Kurz Weber]], [[Anime/DaiGuard Keiichirou Aoyama]], Lockon and Andy are added into the mix.

** [[Anime/{{Macross7}} Mylene Jenius, Gamlin Kizaki]] and Basara
** Sousuke, [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Kaname Chidori and Teletha "Tessa" Testarossa]]

*** Shinji proclaiming he will protect Rei no matter what, as Kira, Shinn and Athrun are speaking of how the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny PLANTs]] are heading down a road of destruction. [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Audrey Burne]] and [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Kaname Chidori]] bid farewell to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Banagher Links]] and Sousuke, respectively, and Char discusses the contents of the [[MacGuffin Laplace's Box]] with Full Frontal.

*** Full Frontal leads Neo Zeon again, but threw his lot in with Sidereal. ZAFT joins Neo Zeon in serving Sidereal, while [[Anime/TurnAGundam Guin Sard Lineford]] and [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Amalgam]] do the same.

* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld: Most of the teenage cast winds up transferring to [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Jindai High]] in ''Jigoku-hen'', forming a "Campus Defense Force" with a nearby elementary school where Watta Takeo and [[Anime/{{Gigantor}} Shoutarou Kaneda]] are attending, including assistant janitor Ryouma. Played with when they start collecting a lot of unexplained absences, forcing Kaname to create a volunteer club, draft the pilots, and peg Suzune as club advisor.

* GuideDangIt: Mixed with LyingCreator - infamously, series director Takanobu Terada stated there's "only one secret" in ''Z'', and ''boy was he lying''. The game's known for having a very large number of secret units, a route split depending on an "invisible" point system, and another point system determining the MultipleEndings, ''also'' invisible to the player. Woe befall any attempting to get the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX G-Bits and Tifa Adill]] without a guide, though worse is trying to [[spoiler:keep [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Rey Za Barrel and Talia Gladys]] alive]]. Managing to do the latter requires you to take the secret ZEUTH Route split, accessible only by amassing a certain amount of the invisible points obtained by performing certain actions over a number of scenarios, some of those even going against what happens in the actual series (e.g. [[spoiler:Shinn and Rey fighting Athrun, but NOT destroying his unit; instead, waiting it out until the fourth turn]]) or might seem flat out nonsensical (such as ignoring specific enemy units). To make it worse, the ZEUTH Route is much, much better than the ZAFT Route (where most first-time players will get to without aid) and gives access to a number of secrets ([[spoiler:Haman, for one]]).
** Averted in NewGamePlus, where the point system is dropped, making it a player's choice.

** Ultimately and shockingly subverted in the final battle, where various members of ZEUTH try to do this to The Edel Bernal, only to have him reply with lines such as "Why is it wrong?", shocking ZEUTH to no end and makes them realize he's [[AxCrazy too far gone]] to listen to reason.

** SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Again, Rand's story more or less gets all the breaks; in Setsuko's, you have to ''[[EarnYourHappyEnding work]]'' just to get a few happy notes in an otherwise depressing series of events.
*** Played with, while the original story for Setsuko is much more depressing than in Rand it is arguably not so much for many of the other series involved as you are only allowed to save [[spoiler: Four, Sarah, Reccoa and Stella]] in her route and the Aki points are more flexiable in contrast to Rand's route.
** ''Hakai-hen'' is also rather cynical, since all the storylines occur during the first season of a two-part series where good people died for nothing and the situation is pretty bad throughout the ADW. However, like Crowe [[spoiler:being powered by fortune and misfortune]], ''Saisei-hen'' is much more optimistic.

* AmbiguousSituation: ''Tengoku-hen'' shows that [[spoiler:Apollo and Sirius were sealed with the Aquarion for 12,000 years, as per the plot of ''Aquarion Evol''. However, it's unclear whether they've been there since the end of the first game (thereby {{Retcon}}ning their appearances in ''Z2'') or if they sealed themselves off-screen in a separate event. What makes this more confusing is that ''Tengoku-hen'' only shows the former-ZEUTH members of Z-BLUE acknowledging the ''Genesis'' characters, but never outright states that the former-ZEXIS members are meeting them for the first time.[[labelnote:On another note]]''Jigoku-hen'' had previously treated the ZEXIS members as having personally known Apollo and his friends[[/labelnote]]]]

* EvilCounterpart
** ''Saisei-hen'' has the Anti-Spiral create the Anti Gurren Lagann for Messenger!Nia, which acts as one for Gurren Lagann himself.

* PutOnABus:
** Justified by the Third Impact in ''Tengoku-hen'', with nearly all of Z-BLUE being sent back to their own dimensions, resulting in some series missing on the roster from the game.
** The first ''Z'' marks the last time the classic iterations of ''Manga/GetterRobo'' (usually G) being included in the SRW roster. Henceforth, every other Getter appearances are represented with ''Armageddon'' (except ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsNEO NEO]]'', which had ''New'')

* AnimationBump: ''Hakai-hen'' compared to ''Z'', even though it's gone from a console to a handheld; animations are smoother, mecha are more detailed and {{Super Move Portrait Attack}}s are more animated.
** Best example hands down is the redesigned [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Nu Gundam]] and its "[[AttackDrone Fin Funnel]]" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWEKrTKhrCs attack]] in the ''Second Z''. There's a reason why the fans say Banpresto blew the animation budget on the Nu Gundam.

* DemotedToExtra: Despite being one of the most powerful leaders and Newtypes in Universal Century, [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Haman Karn]] gets shafted into playing second-fiddle to [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Paptimus Scirocco]] and Durandal in ''Z''. When it seems she's about to make her move, she's suddenly PutOnABus, [[spoiler:unless the player takes the secret ZEUTH Route split, allowing her to be recruited (or more accurately, lets her force her way into ZEUTH)]].
** [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Soma Peries and the GN Archer]] only appear as an attack for [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Allelujah Haptism and the Gundam Arios]] in ''Saisei-hen''; likewise, [[Anime/SuperDimensionCenturyOrguss Athena]] for Kei. In contrast, [[Anime/CodeGeass Nagisa Chiba and Shogo Asahina]] go from attack-only units to full-fledged units in this game.

* PlotHole: ''Saisei-hen'' altered the ending to the ''Macross Frontier'' TV series' storyline to have the other characters left in the dark in regards to [[spoiler:Brera being Ranka's biological older brother.]] Despite this, ''Tengoku-hen'' treats this information like it's common knowledge, with no indication as to when the characters learned it.

* PlotHole: ''Saisei-hen'' altered the ending to the ''Macross Frontier'' TV series' storyline in to have the other characters left in the dark in regards to [[spoiler:Brera being Ranka's biological older brother.]] Despite this, ''Tengoku-hen'' treats this information like it's common knowledge, with no indication as to when the characters learned it.

* LeftHanging: The first game chose not to have [[Anime/{{Gravion}} Eiji]] learn that [[spoiler:Raven is his sister Ayaka,]] presumably to save the reveal for a later title. Unfortunately, the ''Gravion'' cast was removed the series before this plot point could be resolved.

* AdaptationalVillainy: PlayedWith and Zig-zagged. [[Anime/{{Gravion}} Mizuki Tachibana]] is [[spoiler:once again, being a spy of the enemy, but originally, she was spying for the inept Earth Federation to make them catch up with the Gran Knights so they could stand as equals with the Gravion, as proven with the Gran Trooper, but grew disgusted with the combination of VictoryIsBoring and the federation president instead using her spying information to brag on one-upping the Gravion. In this game, however, the side she was spying for turned out to be [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny LOGOS under Lord Djibril and his racist views.]] However, she was quicker to [[EvenEvilHasStandards get disgusted at how LOGOS misused her information for further bad things]], and [[AdaptationalHeroism boredom no longer became a factor of her return to the Gran Knights and ZEUTH.]]]]

*** Amazingly, Kira and Shinn start showing signs of this trope in ''Jigoku-hen''.

* HotBlooded: The ''Z'' series is one of the most tightly concentrated masses yet in [=SRW=]. Jiron, Harry, Apollo, Shinn, [[Anime/{{Gravion}} Eiji Shigure]], both versions of the [[Manga/GetterRobo the Getter Team]] and Kouji, [[Anime/{{Dancougar}} Shinobu Fujiwara]], Kamina and ([[TookALevelInBadass later]]) Simon, [[Anime/DaiGuard Shunsuke Akagi]], etc; even people who aren't normally this trope go nuts here.

* PluckyComicRelief: Crowe, Lockon, Duo, and Keiichirou in ''Hakai-hen''. When they group up, they start telling bad jokes, even when they're alone (such as in the Scenario 7 intermission before battle, while at the Ashford Academy, Duo laughs at Kallen for acting like a weak little lady). For example, whenever the Dai-Guard gets hit, Keiichirou asks [[Anime/DaiGuard Ibuki Momoi]] if she'd like to gamble whether the next attack will hit or miss. In another instance, Lockon hangs out with Crowe and laughs at one another's dry humor.

* {{Retcon}}: It's implied in ''Tengoku-hen'' [[spoiler:Apollo and Sirius were sealed with the Aquarion since the ending of ''Z'', in spite of ''Jigoku-hen'' having members of ZEXIS being afflicted with LaserGuidedAmnesia in regards to the Aquarion, and ZEUTH members, including Simon, outright referencing Apollo like they knew him in the ''Aquarion Evol'' finale. The problem is that it's never outright stated any members of [[Anime/GenesisOfAquarion DEAVA]] weren't present for the events of the ''Second Z'', meaning ZEXIS would be meeting them for the first time, but only ZEUTH would act like they know them]].

* TimeSkip: One year between ''Hakai-hen'' and ''Saisei-hen'', four months after the UCW and ADW merge in ''Jigoku-hen''

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
** If the player chooses the ZAFT Route at around Scenario 45 of ''Z'', Haman simply [[PermanentlyMissableContent vanishes from the plot after a certain point]]. [[spoiler:Fortunately, this doesn't happen if the player manages to take the ZEUTH Route, where she's playable]]. However, [[TheBusCameBack she's back]] for ''Jigoku-hen''.
** The whereabouts of Touma: as per the finale from their series, he, Apollo and Sirius [[spoiler:seal themselves away with the Aquarion for the next thousands of years to keep the [[Anime/GenesisofAquarion Tree of Life]] from dying]] at the end of ''Z''. While the latter two reappear in ''Z: Special Disk'' and stay for the ''Second Z'', Touma is absent and not mentioned at all until ''Tengoku-hen''.

* WesternZodiac: The Spheres all correspond with the twelve constellations in the Western Zodiac.
* WeWillNotUsePhotoshopInTheFuture: [[spoiler:The Chimera in ''Z'' splits ZEUTH against each other by altering video footage to make it look like Rand's party has joined TheFederation while Setsuko's group works with ZAFT. Neither side suspects these are fake until Olson and Banjo show each group their own video]].
* WhatIf: Done in ''Z'' with the plot of ''Gundam SEED Destiny'', in ''Saisei-hen'' with ''Code Geass'' and ''Jigoku-hen'' with ''Aquarion Evol''. In the first two cases, the alternate storylines are accessible via an invisible points system related to the respective series, resulting in the last fifth of each game being an entirely different set of scenarios.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: [[spoiler: The ending of ''Tengoku-hen'' has a scene for each series where the characters have returned to their respective worlds]].

* LaughablyEvil: Jason Beck, of course. The Edel Bernal is one for the OriginalGeneration, [[AscendedFanboy eerily accurate comments to ZEUTH]] make him a rather amusing villain, leading to him being considered one of the "best" [=SRW=] villains simply due to an unabashed, unapologetic nature.

* OhCrap: So Rand and the [[MightyGlacier Gunleon]] are upgraded and it's making life easy by tanking everything thrown its way and walking ([[ImprobableWeaponUser or, "wrenching"]]) over legions of {{Mooks}}? Let's see how it feels when he becomes an enemy unit, with the same skill, stats, and upgrades given to him, using only you gave him, no less) using only Roybea, Witz, [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Carris Nautilus and the Freeden]] un-upgraded and under an instant GameOver condition if one of them dies. Although it lasts a few turns, this doesn't make it any less horrifying.
** [[SarcasmMode Better still]]: if doing this on NewGamePlus, and the player pimped the hell out of the protagonist's stats and mecha (such as putting on multiple "Haro" equippable parts[[note]]Increase movement +2, mobility +25, weapon accuracy +25, weapon range +1[[/note]]), it's entirely possible to make this {{Unwinnable}}.

* {{Retraux}}: Older {{Super Robot}}s such as Baldios, God Sigma and Getter Robo get some retro-looking animations in their strongest attacks, complete with choppy animation and trippy retro "laser backgrounds" and pastel-frame explosions. This is a first for the franchise and a great moment for fans who weren't excited about ''Z'' initially, which also demonstrates the degree of love the designers have for the older shows, preserving them in their glory.
** This trend is continued in ''Hakai-hen'' with God Mars, notorious for its lack of animation during fight scenes in it home series. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrLF5GaAcmA#t=1m16s Its strongest attack reflects this perfectly]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: To the ''Alpha'' series, particularly ''Alpha Gaiden'', due to similar series used (''Gundam X'', ''Turn A Gundam'', ''Xabungle''), overall difficulty and the use of a "bazaar" to purchase playable units.

* HumanSubspecies: The backstory of ''Jigoku-hen'' reveals [[spoiler:the Mycenae Empire and Uchuu Maou]] are humans who overcame the 12,000 year loop, ascending to higher beings via evolution. Their role is to guide their younger counterparts (humanity), but Hades and his allies decided to conquer the universe instead. In fact, Chirico compares the aura of the Mycenae to the one emitted by [[Anime/ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS Wiseman]]]].

** Scenario 15 of ''Saisei-hen'', provided players know what to do. As long as [[Anime/CodeGeass Li Xingke in the Shen-Hu]] isn't destroyed, it's easy to have characters to unlock their "Ace Bonus" with a lot of patience by defeating Wufei, who regenerates to full every time his unit is destroyed, repeatedly. At the same time, players can also let the [[Anime/MacrossFrontier Macross Quarter]] use its "[[{{BFG}} Macross Cannon]]" to hit allies capable of repairing units to repair themselves, while units who can resupply can do so on the same units to gain ExperiencePoints. [[TakeThatScrappy And as a bonus, Wufei can get beaten up]] over and over till players are satisfied. Additional bonus points if players grabs the "Bronze Emblem"[[note]]Primary pilot recovers 20 Spirit Points per turn.[[/note]] and the "Silver Emblem"[[note]]Primary pilot earns triple the number of Pilot Points.[[/note]] equippable parts before starting the scenario.

* PowerupLetdown: So the player has waited forever and toughed through the early scenarios of ''Z'' using the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X Divider]], wondering when they'll get to use the "[[{{BFG}} Satellite Cannon]]" again. When it's finally available, reality strikes hard - the weapon becomes AwesomeButImpractical, as it requires a full 3 to 4 turns before it's able to fire once [[ScrappyMechanic until the next recharge cycle]] a la ''Super Robot Wars Destiny''. However, ''Z'' ensures the {{BFG}} only functions in scenarios where ''the moon is visible through a line-of-sight'', meaning the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]] cannot use it indoors or in many other stages where there's no moon. JustifiedTrope, because the [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam Double X]] carries the "Twin Satellite Cannon", the strongest attack in ''Z'' bar-none and inevitably used specifically against bosses. While it might be a single-use in most scenarios, it's enough to be a boss-killer.
** Another example (albeit not as severe) is Renton and the Nirvash Spec3: although its stats are much better and its attacks pack a bigger punch, the reason anyone uses the Spec2 is its "Seven Swell" MAP Weapon, which the Spec3 loses, making it less useful against hordes of {{Mook}}s. [[EleventhHourSuperpower The Spec3 having as much raw power in its basic attack as the finishers of some super robots]] alleviates the pain, though. The real letdown is the ''Second Z'' counterpart of the Nirvash doesn't have the "Seven Swell" attack at all; even after its upgrade into the [[Anime/EurekaSeven Nirvash Spec-V]], it becomes weaker than the [[Anime/EurekaSeven Terminus B303]].

* {{Retraux}}: Mixed with DoingItForTheArt - older {{Super Robot}}s such as Baldios, God Sigma and Getter Robo get some retro-looking animations in their strongest attacks, complete with choppy animation and trippy retro "laser backgrounds" and pastel-frame explosions. This is a first for the franchise and a great moment for fans who weren't excited about ''Z'' initially, which also demonstrates the degree of love the designers have for the older shows, preserving them in their glory.

** Unfortunately, when it comes to a follow-up on ''Shin Mazinger'', the storywriters may or may not have written themselves into a corner...[[note]]The show ends with [[spoiler:Dr. Hell's defeat, but it only gives rise to the Mycenae Empire on Earth]].[[/note]]

* SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness: At one end, Rand's route includes the ''Anime/{{Xabungle}}'' and ''Anime/OvermanKingGainer'' characters; at the other, Setsuko. Ever wanted to see what kind of social ''and'' physical damage a 50-meter HumongousMecha leaves in its path? That's why there's ''Anime/{{Zambot 3}}''.
** That's not to say Rand's route [[GrowingTheBeard is all laughs and giggles]] either, but Setsuko's route just keeps the DarkerAndEdgier coming.

* UnitsNotToScale: While an [=SRW=] standard via size rating, the ''VOTOMS'' finale in ''Saisei-hen'' subverts this - due to the scenario being set in an underground base, it's impossible for the player to deploy allied units larger than M-sized[[note]]The player can deploy [[Anime/GodMars Gaia]], but not combine it into the L-sized Godmars[[/note]]. Of course, the final scenario in ''Jigoku-hen'' [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale throws everything out of window and replaces all size ratings with the infinity symbol]], but FridgeLogic raises further questions, thanks to Chirico and the Burglary Dog, whose final attack involves Chirico opening the cockpit and firing a round from his magnum to finish off his target.

** In ''Hakai-hen'', when you fight him in Scenario 46, he brings along several bosses you've already defeated, including [[Anime/DancougarNova Regulus Alphas]], [[Anime/MacrossFrontier Knight-class Vajra]], [[Anime/DaiGuard Heterodynes]] and [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsZ Rhino-class Dimensional Beasts]], including two clones of himself. Finally, the ''[[OhCrap real]]'' Emperor Zul appears: there's a reason why this scenario is ThatOneLevel of ''Hakai-hen''.

* ContinuityNod[=/=]MythologyGag: [[Anime/MacrossFrontier Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee's CDs]] are equippable parts. However, there is another CD in the game from [[{{Anime/Macross7}} Fire Bomber]].
** In ''Hakai-hen'', the Dynamic Kill of the Nu Gundam's Fin Funnel attack [[InternalHomage ends with it performing]] the "Last Shooting", the term used for the "firing straight upwards" pose Amuro uses with the original [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam RX-78-2 Gundam]] to finish off Char in the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Zeong]].
** Any originals and series not returning in the ''Second Z'' are directly referenced, although the only series that don't come back are ''Mazinger Z'', ''Grendizer'', ''Getter Robo G'' and ''Eureka Seven'' TV series. One example includes Kamille asking the current Kouji how [[Anime/UFORoboGrendizer Duke Fleed]] and [[Anime/GreatMazinger Tetsuya Tsurugi]] are doing, before realizing this Kouji has never met them. [[spoiler:In regards to ''Eureka Seven'', its ADW-counterpart being different becomes a PlotPoint]]. Still, it helps prevent the problem that was present in the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha'' games, where a series appearing in one game and didn't appear in subsequent ones (''Manga/GiantRobo'' and ''Anime/BrainPowerd'') aren't mentioned at all, as if they were ExiledFromContinuity.
** During the first battle with [[Manga/GetterRobo Shin Dragon]] in ''Hakai-Hen'', the Getter Team split into their respective Getter Machines, then combine with spare Getter Machines to form Getter-1, 2, and 3 respectively. They then link the three Getter Reactors together to fire a supercharged Getter Beam. This exact move was used during ''Crater Battle'', a prequel manga to ''Getter Robo Armageddon''.
** In an interesting nod, during the "[[Anime/MacrossFrontier Seikan Hikou]]" event, [[Anime/GenesisOfAquarion Apollo]] gets into the song so much he almost wants to do the memetic "KIRA ☆!" bit from it. In ''[[VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode Another Century's Episode: R]]'', where ''Genesis of Aquarion'' and ''Macross Frontier'' are in the game, Apollo repeats this line near-verbatim during the same event.
** The ''Shin Mazinger'' plot in ''Jigoku-hen'' takes ideas from ''Manga/ShinMazingerZero'', such as speculation regarding what would happen if Kouji loses control of the Mazinger or if the Photon Power keeps leaking. There's also a mention about Tetsuya, while [[Anime/ShinMazinger Professor Yumi]] states there's another Mazinger existing in the world.
** If the player unlocks the [[spoiler:[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Byarlant Custom]]]] in ''Jigoku-hen'', [[spoiler:[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Four Murasame]]]] will be its pilot. {{Irony}} abounds because [[spoiler:a [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Byalant]] is the very machine that kills her in the ''Zeta Gundam'' TV series]].
** If Shinji reaches ace pilot status in ''Jigoku-hen'', the enigmatic "[[Characters/SuperRobotWarsZ AG]]" re-enacts the "Congratulations Shinji!" scene from [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion the original TV series]].
** In a quit game skit, Touji tells Shinji how he's looking forward to [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion becoming a pilot]] and fighting along side him, Shinji tells him that he doesn't get to pilot [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion this time]], much to his shock. This may also be a reference to how he survived his encounter with Bardiel intact in VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha and VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsMX and became a playable character.
** A series of quit game skits has Misato doing the next episode preview, complete with "Service, service!" at the end. Rei does one too, in her usual emotionless voice. And then Shinji does it too...

** During Scenario 17 of ''Jigoku-hen'', Heero offers to take the [[Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu Bonta-kun]] suit back to base, but Sousuke notes Heero will miss lunch. Heero states he'll be fine and pulls out a fruit-flavored "Calorie Friend" energy bar. This is a nod to the pair's previous meeting in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'', where Sousuke offered Heero the snack after they decided to trust one another.
** When Amuro returns in ''Tengoku-hen'', AG references how the former addressed [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Sayla Mass]], him dying to a random shot from a beam bazooka, and him [[spoiler:[[BreadEggsMilkSquick making a locket out of Sayla's pubic hair]]]]. All of these events come from one of the ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' novels.

** When [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Kaworu]] hears [[Anime/{{Macross 7}} Basara]]'s song, he comments "as always, a good song", implying that he's the same Kaworu as the one in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 3]]'', who's the same as the one in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsMX MX]]'', continuing the tradition of implying that every Kaworu in every SRW game is the same person.
** Because ''Z2'' primarily featured the ''00 Raiser'' with its GN Sword II's and relegated its GN Sword III to the ''Raiser Sword'' attack, and because the ''00 Raiser Condenser-Type'' saw little-to-no on-screen combat action in the movie, all of the latter unit's attack animations in ''Z3'' compensate those points by directly referencing its final battles with the Innovades and Ribbons from ''Gundam 00 Season 2''.
** ''00 Qan[t]'s'' Seven Sword Combination is one of the biggest showcases of this in the game. The name of the attack and its start up references Exia's attack of the same name in ''Hakai-Hen'', the first part of the unit's animation references the last key scenes of the 00 Qan[T] in the movie, and the attack sequence that follows includes features exclusive to its kits and figures: Such as the beam blades on two of the GN Sword Bits from its ''Robot Damashii figure'', and the combined blades first featured in its ''Master Grade kit''.

* DeadpanSnarker, LemonyNarrator: Whoever wrote the database entries for the various characters and units sure has a sense of humor. Highlights include wondering how [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Neo Roanoke and his Windam]] [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat falls from high altitudes and does not explode]], Kira [[PlotArmor surviving a nuclear-powered Freedom's destruction at the hands of Shinn]] and poking fun at [[Anime/TheBigO Beck The Great RX-3]] for [[EpicFail getting destroyed in two seconds after taking forever to combine and pose]] by pointing out "it was totalled within seconds thanks to the Big O's merciless onslaught with its O Thunder weapon". It also gives out nods to EpilepticTrees such as Banjou being a [[Anime/{{Daitarn 3}} Megaborg]] himself and has a very loving description of ''Mazinger Z'', which goes to detail its attacks and point out its impact on the SuperRobotGenre.

* MarathonLevel: Quite a few, but especially Scenario 50 in ''Z'', which is rather long on its own, but after it's finished, there's a long exposition sequence, which thrusts the player back into combat against the Frost Brothers and Gym. The final scenario also counts since it's a three-parter and ends with you fighting the BigBad doubling as ThatOneBoss[[note]]A breakdown of the latter is part 1) Fight [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsZ Edel Bernal]] with an army of {{Mook}}s; part 2) Get Renton to a certain square while fending off 50 squads of [[Anime/EurekaSeven Coralians]]; part 3) Fight the BigBad[[/note]].

** Scenario 48 in ''Tengoku-hen'' begins with a battle against Sidereal, half of which are comprised of {{Elite Mook}}s. Once they're destroyed, Barbiel, [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsZ Shikuu and Straus]] will appear; following that, Australis takes to the field, though [[BreatherBoss he won't attack]]. Unfortunately, whittling down Australis results in him going OneWingedAngel and summoning a group of Dimensional Beasts, beginning the final phase of the scenario.