Macross Ace Frontier

Macross Ace Frontier (マクロス エース フロンティア, makurosu ēsu furontia^?) is a shooting game developed by Artdink for the PlayStation Portable. The game is based on Studio Nue's popular Macross series, one of which is known in the West as the first generation of Robotech. It features original elements as well as characters, mechanics, episode plots and BGM borrowed from 1982's The Super Dimension Fortress Macross original TV series, the 1992 Macross Plus OVA series, the 1994 Macross 7 TV series and the 2008 Macross Frontier TV series, as well as incorporating more elements from the 1984 Macross: Do You Remember Love? feature film and the 2002 prequel OVA series Macross Zero.

Gameplay

It is a 3D shooter action game with multiplayer capability (1 - 4 Players) over the PSP ad-hoc feature. It features various characters and mecha from the last 25 years of the series, ranging from the VF-1 Valkyrie up to the most recent variable fighter craft in the Macross universe, including the VF-25 Messiah and also featuring the VF-0, the VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie as well as various enemy class mecha from Zentradi, Varauta, Anti-UN and Vajra ^[1] forces. The game was developed using the Gundam Battle engine. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Game modes

The game allows Single player and four-player Network modes. Single mode includes Campaign and Freeplay. Network mode can be played ad hoc with up to four players, and it is compatible with adhoc Party for PlayStation Portable beta version for PlayStation Network.

Gallery mode gathers unlockable collectible items such as character profiles (with voice preview), mecha profiles (with 3D model preview), pictures and songs.

Characters

• Macross (1982) / Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)

Hikaru Ichijyo (CV: Kenji Nojima)

Roy Focker (CV: Akira Kamiya)

Hayao Kakizaki (CV: Katsumi Suzuki)

Maximilian Jenius (CV: Shou Hayami)

Milia Fallyna (Zentradi and Miclone Version) (CV: Eri Takeda)

Zentradi Soldier

Quamzin Kravshera (CV: Kousuke Meguro)

Vrlitwhai Kridanik (CV: Ohtomo Ryuzaburou)

Lynn Minmay (CV: Mari Iijima)

Misa Hayase (CV: Mika Doi)

Golg Boddole Zer (CV: -)

• Macross Plus (1994)

Isamu Alva Dyson (CV: Takumi Yamazaki)

Guld Goa Bowman (CV: Unshou Isizuka)

Sharon Apple (CV: -)

• Macross Seven (1994)

Basara Nekki (CV: Kanna Nobutoshi)

Mylene Flare Jenius (CV: Tomo Sakurai)

Gamlin Kizaki (CV: Takehito Koyasu)

Gavil (CV: Akio Suyama)

Maximilian Jenius (CV: -)

Milia Fallyna Jenius (CV: -)

Gigile (CV: Tomohiro Nishimura)

Gavil (CV: -)

Geppernich (CV: -)

• Macross Frontier (2008)

Alto Saotome (CV: Yuichi Nakamura)

Michael Blanc (CV: Hiroshi Kamiya)

Ozma Lee (CV: Katsuyuki Konishi)

Clan Clang (Zentradi and Miclone Version) (CV: Megumi Toyoguchi)

Luca Angelloni (CV: Jun Fukuyama)

Brera Sterne (CV: Souichirou Hoshi)

• Original characters

Yuuto Kagura (CV -)

Pilot Male B (CV -)

Miyuki Shirakawa (CV -)

Pilot Female B (CV -)

Akimizu Yuu (CV -)

Claire Stanford (CV -)

Yamashiro Itsuki (CV -)

Playable mecha

• Macross (1982)/Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)

MBR-04-Mk.IV Tomahawk

ADR-04-Mk.X Defender

SDR-04-Mk.XII Phalanx

MBR-07-Mk.II Spartan

Destroid Monster

VF-1D Valkyrie

VF-1A Valkyrie (一般 Version)

VF-1A Valkyrie (FAST Pack) (Hikaru Ichijyo Version)

VF-1J Valkyrie (Hikaru Ichijyo Version)

VF-1J Valkyrie (Maximilian Jenius Version)

VF-1J Valkyrie (Milia Fallyna Jenius Version)

VF-1J Armored Valkyrie (Hikaru Ichijyo Version)

VF-1S Strike Valkyrie (FAST Pack) (Hikaru Ichijyo Version)

VF-1S Valkyrie (Roy Focker Version)

VF-1S Super Valkyrie (FAST Pack) (Roy Focker Version)

SDF-1 Macross

Regult

Glaug

Nousjadeul-Ger

Queadlunn Rau

Queadlunn Rau (Maximilian Jenius Version)

Queadlunn Rau (Milia Fallyna Jenius Version)

Zentradi Soldier

Vrlitwhai Kridanik

Golg Boddole Zer

• Macross Plus (1994)

VF-11B Thunderbolt

VF-11C Thunderbolt (一般 Version)

YF-19 Prototype

YF-21 Prototype

• Macross Seven (1994)

VF-11MAXL Custom (Mylene Flare Jenius Version)

VF-17D Nightmare (一般 Version)

VF-17S Nightmare

VF-17S Nightmare (Milia Fallyna Jenius Version)

VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie (Nekki Basara Version)

VF-22S Sturmvogel II (Maximilian Jenius Version)

VF-22S Sturmvogel II (Milia Fallyna Jenius Version)

Fz-109A Elgerzorene (一般 Version)

Fz-109F Elgerzorene (Gigile Version)

Glavil

Geperuniti

• Macross Zero (2004)

VF-0S Phoenix (Roy Focker Version)

SV-51α (一般 Version)

SV-51γ (Nora Polyansky Version)

SV-51γ (D.D. Ivanov Version)

• Macross Frontier (2008)

VF-171 Nightmare Plus (一般 Version)

VF-171 Nightmare EX

VF-25F Messiah (Alto Saotome Version)

VF-25G (Michael Blanc Version)

VF-25S (Ozma Lee Version)

RVF-25 (Luca Angelloni Version)

VF-27 Lucifer

Queadlunn Rea (Klan Klang Version)

Queadlunn Rea (Nene/Raramia Version)

Battle Frontier

Vajra (S)

Vajra (L)

Queen-Vajra

Sequels

The success of Macross Ace Frontier resulted in a sequel called Macross Ultimate Frontier. The six Macross installments included in Ace Frontier are also supplanted in the sequel by Dynamite 7 and Macross II. The game also features playable mecha from the videogames Macross Digital Mission VF-X2 and Macross M3.

New game elements include additional variable fighters, a “Missile Alert” system, new pilot and operator characters created exclusively for the game by Macross character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto, and special missions as they were played out in their respective series, including those from the antagonists' point of view. The loading screens also feature screenshots from all Macross installments. Ultimate Frontier was released in October 2009 in Japan.^[5]

The game is available in standard and limited versions. The latter features a preview of the first Macross Frontier movie (being released in Japan on November 21, 2009), a UMD which features all the opening and end titles from all the Macross titles released so far and an interview with Macross creator Shoji Kawamori.^[6]

A new sequel called Macross Triangle Frontier was released during February 2011 in Japan.

References

1. ^ "SCEJ PSP Software Catalog". http://www.jp.playstation.com/. http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/uljs00158.html. Retrieved 2007-09-12. 
2. ^ Famitsu: Macross Ace Frontier Coming to PSP
3. ^ Official Macross Ace Frontier Site
4. ^ Macross Ace Frontier to Ship in Japan on PSP in Fall
5. ^ "Bandai Namco To Announce Macross Ultimate Frontier" (in English). PSP Hyper. http://www.psphyper.com/psp/bandai-namco-to-announce-macross-ultimate-frontier/. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
6. ^ http://www.gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000097154.html

External links

• Official website (Japanese)