Tech Romancer
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| Tech Romancer | |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Release date(s) | 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players, simultaneous play |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Input | Joystick; several buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade display | Raster, standard resolution, horizontal |
Tech Romancer (Japanese name: Choukou Senki Kikaioh) is a 1998 3D fighting arcade game by Capcom that draws heavily from the various sub-genres of Mecha anime. It has been ported to the Sega Dreamcast console. The player controls a giant robot which is used to fight another robot in one-on-one combat. Studio Nue (the creators responsible for the mechanical designs for many anime series including The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Gunbuster, and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory) designed the robots in this game. It is essentially thought of as the sequel to Cyberbots.
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[edit] Game Modes
The game is primarily played in two modes: Story Mode, and Hero Challenge Mode. The Dreamcast version also had minigames that could be played on the VMU for points.
[edit] Story Mode
Each mecha has its own story mode, which plays out like an anime series, with each battle broken up by an episode title, eyecatch, and dialog scenes before and after each battle. While most stories eventually culminate in a final battle against Goldibus, an alien invader intent on conquering the world, each mecha has its own story (where it is the star of its own show), and decisions made in the dialog scenes, as well as the conditions under which a battle is won, can cause some stories to branch out and have multiple paths and endings. The other mecha and characters naturally make appearances, but their role may vary from their actual origins to fit the "star" mecha's story.
[edit] Hero Challenge Mode
An "Arcade-style" mode where the player fights through each of the major mecha and bosses towards a final showdown with Goldibus. Various hidden mecha and pilots found in the game can only be used in Hero Challenge Mode. In the Dreamcast version, points earned in Hero Challenge Mode and the VMU minigames could be used to purchase hidden characters and movies.
[edit] Gameplay
Battles take place mostly on a flat 3D plain, with buildings and other terrain features scattered around. Destroying the terrain (by attacking or walking through them) releases power-ups, which include three weapons(vary between each character/mecha, armor or life powerups, and the Hero Mode powerup, which increases the power of your mecha's attacks, and may also unlock additional abilities or moves.
Rather than rounds, the matches are decided by the life meters of the fighters. Each fighter has two life meters, and is destroyed when the second one is depleted. In addition, each mecha gets an armor gauge that, when broken by consistent brute attacks, lowers the mecha's defense and makes it harder to recover from attacks received.
Each mecha has at least two super attacks, as well as a Final Attack, which is useable when the opponent is down to the last 50% of their second lifebar. This attack, when activated and successfully connected, automatically destroys the opponent, winning the battle.
[edit] Characters(Mecha/Pilots)
Each mecha has its own pilot, and some mecha have alternate pilots, with stories that are different from their counterparts.
[edit] Main characters
- Armor Knight G(Grand) Kaiser (known as "Kikaioh" in the Japanese version, hence, the "title character") - A Super Robot similar to Mazinger Z and Grendizer. G. Kaiser is the main character of the game. Attacks with rocket punches, bombs, and a heat beam in its chest. Piloted by Junpei Todoroki in a Super Robot-style series.
- Super Defense Armour Dixen- A Mecha similar to the RX-78-2 Gundam from the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Is armed with a shoulder-mounted beam cannon, grenades, and three remote-controlled beam guns. It can also switch between a beam rifle and a bazooka. Piloted by either Nakato Farland in a Gundam-like story, or Halma Frockheart in a story similar to Gunbuster or Candidate for Goddess.
- Final Shot - In Dixen's Final Attack, it grabs the opponent and throws them high into the air, then draws its beam rifle and shoots them in the back. Dixen's pose during the Final Shot is a direct reference to the final shot taken by the RX-78-2 in Mobile Suit Gundam.
- Pulsion An Ultraman-like hero who transforms to fight evil. Pulsion's true identity is either the male Kai or the female Kei. Pulsion was originally a servant of Goldibus who had its memory erased in a fight with Diana-17, who appears as a goddess-like figure in this story. Kai has the choice of continuing to fight for justice, or return to the evil side, while Kei eventually has to fight an evil version of herself. It's design seems to be combination of Ultraseven and Evangelion.
- Strategic Variable Fighter Rafaga -- A Transformable fighter in homage to the Macross series. Like the VF-1 Valkyrie, it can transform from a jet fighter (which resembles the A-10 Thunderbolt) to GERWALK and/or Soldier(mecha) mode. Its pilot, Simon Harvard, is a ladies man similar to Roy Focker, who falls in love with an alien pilot (see Maximilian Jenius).
- Infinite Body Twinzam V - Another Super Robot, this one similar to combining robots like Getter Robo. Made up from a pair of jet fighters, It can transform between two forms depending on which is dominant. Twinzam V is altenately piloted by Daichi Yumeno and his older sister Sora, two children(ages 10 and 11) who seem to believe they're dreaming this all up.
- The Messenger of Beauty and Justice Diana-17 - Diana-17 is a fighting mecha piloted by Reika Amamiya, a student at a girls' academy who is initially the first person to know of Goldibus' plans for invasion in the midst of a war. She tries to gather the other heroes in order to resist the invasion. Diana-17's design seems to be heavily influenced by ARIEL.
- Heavy Armour Tank Wise Duck - A huge weapon-laden mecha that Studio Nue says is a homage to the HWR-00-Mk. II Destroid Monster of Macross (known as M.A.C. II in Robotech), althougt also is a reference to the mechas of Battletech and certain Zoids. Wise Duck is piloted by an entire crew, consisting of Gonzales(Commander), Arvin(Combat), Ricky(Gunner), Thomas(Pilot), and Herman(Sonar/Communications).
- Magical Patched Robot Bolon - This patchwork robot, resembling the Boss Borot from Mazinger Z or the titular patchwork robot from Roujin Z, created out of the parts of several buildings, is the creation of Pollin, A Magical Girl who appears to be only about eight years old -nearly seen as Minky Momo / Gigi, although she can age herself to be roughly 17. She has a crush on Junpei, and ends up fighting several of the female pilots in the game over him in her storyline. She is actually the daughter of Goldibus.
- Depending on the branch Bolon's storyline takes, Goldibus is either Pollin's father or her mother!
- In the North American version of the game, a scene occurs in Pollin's story were she and Kei argue over who loves Junpei more. In the original Japanese version, they argue over who has the larger breasts(against Pollin's adult form).
- Mariou Shogun Gourai - A huge Samurai-style mecha, possibly a reference to Escaflowne, complete with sword. Seemingly one of Goldibus' generals, Shadow Red seems to have an agenda of his own. In reality, he is Mamoru Todoroki, the father of Junpei. Shadow Red also plays a role similar to Char Aznable in Dixen(Natako)'s storyline, and is fittingly voiced by Shuichi Ikeda.
[edit] Hidden Characters
- Strategic Variable Fighter Rafaga(Amuritta Type) - This red fighter is piloted by Amuritta, Simon Harvard's long-suffering wingman. Amuritta is a much more professional soldier than her commanding officer, but also harbors a small crush on him. She closely resembles Claudia LaSalle, who was the girlfriend of Roy Focker.
- Variants of Dixen and Wise Duck piloted by Shadow Red
- Dark Pulsion - The evil version of Kai.
- Variant Armour Blodia II Custom - The main mecha from Armored Warriors and Cyberbots, two other mecha-style games made by Capcom. Blodia is piloted by Jin Saotome, who appears in Cyberbots and Marvel vs. Capcom.
[edit] Bosses
- Gamda - A massive stone golem that seems to be made out of several temples with a huge eye in the middle. Controlled by Arekshim, an alien ruler with an Egyptian theme. Also is inspired in certain giant creatures, principally the lived fortress of Dragonquest
- Quvearl - An Octopus-like bio-contruct controlled by Yale, a female android(one of many, as it turns out) who ends up falling for Simon Harvard after he defeats her in a battle(See also Milia Fallyna Jenius) Its remote bit attacks and design resemble the Elmeth from Mobile Suit Gundam. Also would be inspired by any of the angels of Evangelion.
- Their names are plays on rival Ivy League universities Harvard and Yale.
- Goldibus - the Ultimate Evil. Goldibus has two forms, and must be defeated twice to beat the game. His second form is more powerful and has two menacing special attacks, unlike his less ominous first form. He would be inspired by the major enemy of the OVA Deathmatch! Mazinkaiser VS the Great General of Darkness, and another ones of the Mechanical Beasts of the mecha series of Go Nagai; and also of Satan of Space, the major and last enemy of Ironman 28, anime remake of the original Tetsujin 28, called Gigantor in USA.
[edit] Suppourting Characters
Dr. Tatsumi - Scientist and friend to Junpei's father, he takes over for him in helping Junpei and G. Kaiser fight Goldibus. In Gourai's story, however, he in a traitor, who tried to kill Junpei's parents. Shadow Red swears to get his revenge on him, but he is killed by Arekshim first.
Saori - Dr. Tatsumi's daughter, and Junpei's would-be girlfriend. Suffers a lot of misunderstandings in Pollin's storyline.
General - Commander of the armed forces in both Natako and Halma's versions of Dixen's storyline.
Chueng-Meng - A crewman on Natako's ship in Dixen's storyline. she's very close to Natako, and worries about him a lot.
Ivonne - Communications Officer in Simon and Amuritta's unit.
Raeed - One of Halma's Classmates. Although he's not as skilled a pilot as Halma, he still looks after her when she's in trouble.
