New Super Robot Taisen games revealed

TOKYO--Banpresto revamped the official Japanese Web site for its Super Robot Taisen series and unveiled a number of upcoming projects in the works. Among the games revealed are Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 for the Game Boy Advance, an anime video release of 2002's Original Generation, and the first GameCube game in the anime robot series.

The sequel to 2002's Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation, Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2, is slated for release in Japan in late 2004. Unlike other games in the Super Robot series, which feature robots from popular anime series such as Toei Animation's Mazinger Z and Neon Genesis Evangelion from Gainax, the Original Generation games only feature Branpresto's own mechs and pilot characters.

The majority of characters from the first Original Generation, such as Kyosuke Nanbu, Ryusei Date, Excellen Browning, and Aya Kobayashi, will return in the sequel. New characters include Lamia Loveless from Super Robot Taisen A (GBA), Alfimi from Super Robot Taisen Impact (PS2), Zeora Schweitzer and Arad Baranga from Dai-2-Ji Super Robot Taisen Alpha (PS2), and Aya Kobayashi's sister, Mai Kobayashi, from Super Robot Taisen Alpha (PS). There will also be several new mechs, such as the PTX-003C-SP1 Alt Eisen Rize, which first appeared in Super Robot Taisen Compact 2 (WonderSwan). Banpresto has not yet said if there will be any new changes in the gameplay from the original.

Banpresto is also working on an anime adaptation of Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation. Three volumes are planned for release, beginning in spring 2005. Banpresto will also release a Super Robot game for the GameCube, a first for the series. Details on the game, which will be called Super Robot Taisen GC, should be available in the near future.