Super Robot Wars

About

Super Robot Wars is a turn-based strategy RPG crossover video game series created by Banpresto in 1991. The series takes the plots and characters of various different Mecha anime and combines them into one singular story, with each installment using different series. Featured series include Mazinger Z, Mobile Suit Gundam, Getter Robo, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass, and Gurren Lagann.

History

The series began in 1991 with Super Robot Wars for the Game Boy. Published by Banpresto and developed by Winkysoft, the game featured Mecha from the Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and Gundam series.^[1][2] The series would go on to spawn numerous sequels and followups on various consoles and handhelds, with over 50 installments as of 2021.^[2]

Though popular both in Japan and internationally, very few games in the series have been translated and released outside of Japan, due to the complicated legal issues of being a crossover between many different series,^[1] meaning that international fans would have to rely on fan translations. Despite this, the games often include anime series such as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing,^[22] Beast King GoLion (known in the U.S. and internationally as Voltron ),^[3] The Big O,^[2] and Gun X Sword,^[2][7] which were more popular internationally than in Japan.

Starting with Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwellers, B.B. Studio and Bandai Namco began including English translations in the Asian releases, allowing international fans to simply import the games.^[6] However, as of 2021, the only mainline game to be officially released internationally is the Steam version of Super Robot Wars 30.^[1][2][13]

While primarily focused on Mecha series, the games sometimes feature non-Mecha works, including Tekkaman Blade,^[4] Space Battleship Yamato,^[6] Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water,^[2] Arcadia of my Youth: Endless Orbit SSX,^[7] Cowboy Bebop,^[7] s-CRY-ed,^[2] Pop Team Epic,^[2] Crayon Shin-chan,^[2] and Godzilla.^[2]

Original Generation Games

Each game in the Super Robot Wars series features not only licensed Mecha anime, but also original characters and mecha designs, referred to as "Banpresto Originals". These eventually led to the Super Robot Wars: Original Generation sub-series, which focus exclusively on original characters and mecha. These games are also notable for being the only Super Robot Wars games to be translated and released outside of Japan (under the name "Super Robot Taisen") due to the absence of licensed characters.^[5]

Anime Adaptations

In 1999, the anime series Cybuster premiered on TV Tokyo. While not a direct adaptation of any Super Robot Wars game, its plot is loosely based on original characters and the Cybuster mecha from the series. In 2004, the anime was released on DVD in the U.S. by Geneon Entertainment. In 2017, Discotek Media licensed the series and rereleased it on DVD (with the title spelled as "Psybuster").^[8][11][12]

In 2005, Brain's Base released Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation, a three-episode OVA that takes place after the game Super Robot Wars: Original Generation 2. In 2006, the anime Super Robot Wars OG: Divine Wars premiered on TV Tokyo, with the plot being a retelling of the events of the first Original Generation game. A sequel series retelling the events of Original Generation 2, Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector, premiered in 2010. Both The Animation and Divine Wars were licensed by Media Blasters and released on DVD in the U.S.^{[9][10][15][16]}

Reception

The series has received positive reception for being a faithful tribute to Mecha anime. Sales-wise, it is a best-selling series for both Banpresto and Bandai Namco, and has sold over 19 million copies worldwide as of 2020. The series was certified by Guinness World Records for "most intellectual property licensed used in a role-playing video game series".^[1]

Online Presence

On DeviantArt, searching "superrobotwars" yields more than 3,500 results.^[17] The official Super Robot Wars Twitter account, created in October 2012, has accumulated over 60,000 followers.^[18] On Reddit, there are two subreddits dedicated to the series, r/Super_Robot_Wars^[19] (created on May 2nd, 2018, with over 5,500 members) and r/SRW^[20] (created on April 23rd, 2011, with over 1,000 members). The official Super Robot Wars Facebook group has over 10,000 members.^[21]

Related Memes

Trombe!

Trombe! is a music track in Super Robot Wars: Original Generation, used as the theme song for the character Elzam Von Bransteinmore. The track plays when he is selected to move around or attack. Due to a glitch, the track has higher priority over any other song in the game and will "override" other tracks that would normally play, including the final boss theme.^[14]

The Age of Fatso

"The Age of Fatso" is a phrase involving the Mazinger Z character Boss and his mecha Boss Borot. Derived from a poorly-made subtitle translation of the Mazinger Z anime, the phrase is used in the Super Robot Wars fanbase in regards to Boss' appearances in the games, in particular the fact that Boss Borot is designed to be a weak unit but usually ends up being a very effective one.^[14]

Search Interest

External References