Super Robot Wars GC Import Hands-On

Banpresto's Super Robot Wars video game series is arguably one of the best anime franchises that most US gamers know nothing about. The juggernaut series has been going strong since its 1991 debut on the Game Boy with games that have spanned nearly every major platform, which is not bad for a turn-based strategy offering based on superdeformed robots. The key to the franchise's appeal lies in its cast of characters, which represents a who's who of tiny robots that feature just about every big name in the genre. The latest entry in the series is Super Robot Wars GC, the first GameCube entry for the venerable series. We took a peek at the promising game, which appears to be serving up just the right amounts of superdeformed robots, hyper children, and action heroes with big spiky hair.

For those unfamiliar with the Super Robot Wars franchise, the premise is simple. You take a workable plot about the conflict between good and evil, set it in the far future, toss in dozens of characters and superdeformed mechs, and use a turn-based strategy mechanic that's complemented by over-the-top cinematics. The basic formula has seen some gameplay tweaks, but it has still managed to get a healthy amount of mileage from its premise. Part of Super Robot Wars' appeal can be directly traced to the charge fans of the various franchises get from seeing their favorite characters working together...or duking it out. Much like comic fans love a good team-up, Super Robot Wars fans should be happy, because the GC version serves up a heaping platter of team soufflé.

As far as the gameplay goes, SRW GC stays true to the series' standard. Combat is turn-based and menu-driven. Each mech in your stable has a unique set of attacks. In addition, you'll be able to access the unique abilities of each of the various pilots you put in your mechs. As you defeat enemies, both your mech and your pilot will earn experience and level up in typical RPG fashion. Between battles, you'll visit a maintenance menu that lets you both save your game and check on your crew. You'll also be able to buff out your bot by equipping performance-enhancing items and spending points to increase its stats or the power of its attacks. Once you're all sorted, you can move on to the next chapter in the story. The basic system works well, and the combat is accessible. You'll even see some nice touches of depth, such as damage modifiers based on terrain and damage modifiers based on whether battling mechs are on the ground or in the air.

The graphics get the job done and pop in all the right places. The bulk of the action plays out in 2D, with a good chunk of your time focused on conversation screens and an overhead map of the battlefield. The 2D art is nicely done and includes some animation flourishes to help convey the hyperemotional state of the cast. However, one of the big draws of all the SRW games' graphics is the set of slickly animated 3D sequences that play out when the bots engage in combat on the battlefield. The GameCube installment doesn't disappoint here, as it features over-the-top sequences that are on par with the high standards of the previous games. The character models for the various mechs are well done, although they're not quite as flashy as those seen in the previous entries in the series. The backgrounds add some kick to the visuals, though, by presenting animated flourishes that help sell the moment when massive energy blasts knock members of your team back several city blocks.

The audio is decent enough, but it doesn't have quite the kick it should due to a modest use of voice samples. The overall audio package is fine, and all the theme songs for the various characters cue up as they head into battle. Additionally, appropriate sound effects are presented in the game. There is some voice in the game, although it appears to be reserved for combat based on what we've seen so far. The story sequences rely mostly on sound effects that are effectively used. However, as well done as all the game's audio is, we would have liked to have heard more voice work.

Based on our initial impressions, Super Robot Wars GC looks like it's everything a GameCube-owning SRW fan could want. Lots of robots, solid gameplay, and well-done graphics add up to deliver a strong package that the GameCube library is sorely in need of. The sad part of this story is that the game isn't very import-friendly, so it's not likely to hit the States. It would be great news if it did, but since no Super Robot Wars game has hit the US in the series' decade-plus life, don't hold your breath.