is a 1998 3D fighting

Fighting game

Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...

 arcade game

Arcade game

An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...

 by Capcom

Capcom

is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...

 that draws heavily from the various sub-genres of Mecha anime

Mecha anime

Mecha anime cover all series that revolve around the use of piloted robotic armors in battle, which is broken down into two subcategories of Super Robot and Real Robot. Mecha series cover a wide variety of genres from comedy to drama, though are always fantastical and larger-than-life in nature and...

. It has been ported to the Dreamcast console. The player controls a giant robot which is used to fight another robot in one-on-one combat. Studio Nue

Studio Nue

Studio Nue is a Japanese design studio formed in 1972 by Naoyuki Kato, Kenichi Matsuzaki, Kazutaka Miyatake, and Haruka Takachiho...

 (the animation studio responsible for the mechanical designs for many anime series including The Super Dimension Fortress Macross

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross

is an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war....

, Gunbuster

Gunbuster

Gunbuster, known in Japan as is a six episode anime OVA series created by Gainax in 1988. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The title is a combination of the titles of classic tennis anime Aim for the Ace!, whose plot inspired...

, and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

is a 13-episode anime OVA series set in the Gundam universe. The first volume containing two 30-minute episodes was released in Japan on May 23, 1991. Subsequent volumes, containing one 30-minute episode each, followed every one or two months; the final volume went on sale on September 24, 1992...

) designed the robots in this game.

Story

The setting of Tech Romancer takes place in a far future of Earth, where advanced technology have made things calm and decent for the citizens of Japan and the rest of the world. However, the peace doesn't last long as an evil alien tyrant named Goldibus invades the planet with its loyal followers and seeks to conquer the world while enslaving the human race with an emotionless iron fist. An unlikely group of heroes band together to fight against the threat of Goldibus with their own unique mecha robots and all of them won't rest until Goldibus is defeated and the world is safe from the imminent danger.

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.

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

Eyecatch

An or internal eyecatch is a scene or illustration used to begin and end a commercial break in a Japanese TV program, especially in anime and tokusatsu shows, similar to how "bumpers" into/out of commercial breaks are used in the United States...

, and dialog scenes before and after each battle. 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.

Hero Challenge Mode

An "Arcade-style" mode where the player fights through each of the major mecha and bosses. 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 including boss characters and movies.

Matching Service

In Japan the game is called "Choukou Senki Kikaioh For Matching Service" because of its online functionality.

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 usable 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.

Characters(Mecha/Pilots)

Each mecha has its own pilot, and some mecha have alternate pilots, with stories that are different from their counterparts.

Main characters

• Armor Knight G (Grand) Kaiser - A Super Robot
  Super Robot
  is a term used in manga and anime to describe a giant robot or mecha, with an arsenal of fantastic super-powered weapons, extreme resistance to damage unless the plot calls for it, sometimes transformable or combined from two or more robots and/or vehicles usually piloted by young, daring heroes,...
  
   similar to Mazinger Z
  Mazinger Z (robot)
  Mazinger Z is a fictional mecha from the anime and manga series of the same name, created by Go Nagai. Within the story, Mazinger Z was created by Professor Juzou Kabuto and piloted by his grandson Kouji...
  
  , Grendizer
  Grendizer
  is a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It is the third entry in the Mazinger trilogy. It was broadcasted on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes...
  
  , and Mazinkaiser
  Mazinkaiser
  is an anime OVA series, inspired by Go Nagai's Mazinger series. The OVA follows Kouji Kabuto, Tetsuya Tsurugi and the rest of the "Mazinger Team" as they fight against Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts....
  
  . It is known as Kikaioh in the Japanese version, hence the title. G. Kaiser is the main character of the game and its main story is like a typical Super Robot series (most notably Mazinger Z). This mecha attacks with rocket punches, bombs, and a heat beam in its chest. The pilot of G. Kaiser is Junpei Todoroki (voiced by Kōichi Tōchika): a hot-blooded protagonist fighter who leads the resistance against the invaders and seeks to defeat Goldibus in order to avenge his family's death (Junpei doesn't know that Shadow Red: a general in Goldibus' army is actually his missing brainwashed father). Although he's reckless and prone to tempered outbursts when provoked, Junpei is a good person who seeks to protect those that he cares about. G. Kaiser makes an appearance in the PTX-40A
  Lost Planet
  The Lost Planet video game series was published and developed by Capcom. The series consists of two installments, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Lost Planet 2, and a gold edition, Lost Planet Colonies...
  
  's ending in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars.

• Super Defense Armour Dixen - A Mecha similar to the RX-78-2 Gundam as well as the Nu Gundam from the Mobile Suit Gundam
  Mobile Suit Gundam
  is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
  
   series. It's 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. The pilots of this mecha are Nakato Farland (voiced by Shigeru Nakahara
  Shigeru Nakahara
  is a veteran seiyū . He works at Vi-Vo .-Notable voice roles:*Another Century's Episode 2 , *Arion *Aura Battler Dunbine *Biker Mice from Mars...
  
  ): a calm and quiet man who finds himself being a reluctant fighter and Halma Frockheart (voiced by Yoshino Takamori
  Yoshino Takamori
  is a prolific Japanese voice actress from Chiba Prefecture. Takamori is a member of Arts Vision.-Notable roles:*Ine in Project A-Ko*Sylvie in Bubblegum Crisis*Nadia in Nadia of the Mysterious Seas*Rui in the 1995 Fist of the North Star video game...
  
  ): a young woman who has low self-esteem in combat. In Nakato's storyline, he is an escapee from his father's army, since he hates his important father for having started the war. He is accepted into Captain Baits' military force, who is fighting against Nakato's former allies. In the storyline, Shadow Red works for Nakato's father and is tasked with bringing Nakato back to his father's side. The storyline's first branch concentrates more on the hostility Nakato feels for his father, and Shadow Red uses Gourai in the final battle as an attempt to punish Nakato for his betrayal. For the storyline's second branch, Nakato is forced to fight and kill Yale, who in the storyline was a friend of his in training school, and this upsets him greatly. Also, in the final battle with Shadow Red, the latter uses another Dixen instead of Gourai, and his goal is to end his rivalry with Nakato instead of punishing Nakato for betraying his father. For Halma's storyline, she is an academy trainee who is at odds with her instructor, who for some reason constantly makes her participate in extremely difficult battle simulations that are not covered in the textbook. It turns out that the instructor in question is preparing Halma to defend Earth against the enemy, the Auto Machine Corps, and Halma must leave the planet without saying good-bye to her friends (which depresses her) in order to be in time to destroy the "queen unit." Goldibus, in this storyline, plays the role of the "queen unit," and after Halma destroys it, she celebrates with her best friend Raedd, although she mourns the fact that she feels the remorse of destroying a race.
  • 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 (aka "Last Shooting") taken by the RX-78-2 in Mobile Suit Gundam.

• Pulsion - An Ultraman
  Ultraman
  is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
  
  -like humanoid alien hero who transforms into a giant
  Giant (mythology)
  The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
  
   to fight evil. Its abilities include "Space Karate
  Karate
  is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
  
  ", energy manipulation, and the abilitiy to increase its physical strength. The true identity of Pulsion is unknown, as the mecha is either played by the male alien Kai (voiced by Takehito Koyasu
  Takehito Koyasu
  is a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
  
  ) or the female alien Kei (voiced by Miki Nagasawa
  Miki Nagasawa
  is a female Japanese voice actress born in Hokkaidō and raised in Fukushima. Formerly affiliated for Haikyo, she is now affiliated with Atomic Monkey.-Anime:* After War Gundam X as Perla Ciss* Akihabara Dennou Gumi as Kamome Sengakuji...
  
  ). It's uncertain of what the relationship is between Kai and Kei, but it's been determined that the two of them may know each other from the past and that they help one another out from time to time while working together in the E.D.F. (Earth Defense Forces). In Kai's storyline, 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 returning to the evil side and assuming its true purpose. For Kei's storyline, she finds herself having to fight both Goldibus and an evil version of herself while trying to determine on whether or not the human race is able to clean up the planet from the constant pollution that plagues it. Pulsion's design is a combination of mostly Ultraseven and partly Evangelion
  Evangelion (mecha)
  In the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, , are the fictional mecha piloted by the Children chosen by the Marduk Institute . The Evas were created by Nerv. Their principal purpose is defending Tokyo-3 from the Angels...
  
   (especially in Hero Mode).

• Strategic Variable Fighter
  Variable fighter
  A Variable Fighter is a series of fictional transforming aerospace fighter mecha primarily designed by Studio Nue's Shoji Kawamori for the animated series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and later related projects...
  
   Rafaga - A transformable combat aircraft in homage to the Macross
  Macross
  is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
  
  series. It was designed by the famous mecha anime creator and designer Shoji Kawamori
  Shoji Kawamori
  is a Japanese anime creator, screenwriter and mechanical designer, having created or co-created such notable series as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Genesis of Aquarion, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier. He is currently executive director at the...
  
   (who designed similar mecha in Macross).
  • Like the VF-1 Valkyrie
    VF-1 Valkyrie
    This article is about a fictional vehicle; for the fighter squadron see VF-1.In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter or veritech fighter is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.-Background:The VF-1 was created by the...
    
    from Macross, it can transform from jet fighter (which resembles the Orguss II, a mecha from an OVA with the same name by Studio Nue) to GERWALK and/or Soldier (mecha) mode.
  • Its pilot Simon Harvard (voiced by Takehito Koyasu
    Takehito Koyasu
    is a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
    
    ) has some similarities with several Macross characters. He is a skirt chaser and ladies' man (similar to Roy Focker
    Roy Focker
    is a fictional character from the Japanese anime science fiction series Macross and the prequel OVA Macross Zero...
    
    ), who falls in love with an alien pilot (like Maximilian Jenius
    Maximilian Jenius
    ' is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Macross, voiced by Shō Hayami. In the new English adaptation by ADV Films, he is voiced by Chris Patton.-Macross:...
    
    ). The alien pilot in question is Yale, the pilot of Quvearl, and the fate of Simon's relationship with her is determined by the story path the player takes. In the first path, while Yale reciprocates Simon's feelings, she turns out to be an enemy robot programmed by Goldibus to spy on the military base and lead the enemy to destroy it. Yale is sorry, but feels she has no choice since she cannot go against Goldibus' programming. This causes Simon to decide the resolve in destroying Goldibus, since doing so would make Yale free. He succeeds, and with Goldibus' death, Yale is free, but doesn't know what to do from now on. So Simon proposes to her, and they share a kiss.
  • In the second path, Simon considers his life boring, since day after day, the routine is always the same despite his military success. He compares Yale to the angel in the Wonder Picture Book, his favorite story which he believes may someday become real. In this second story path, the military detains Yale before Simon even discovers Yale's true nature, and unlike the robot she was on the first story path, Yale turns out to be a missing "part" of Goldibus (whom Goldibus expects to re-merge with) that ran away because she didn't want to be found, which would have resulted in the destruction of the Earth, and Simon along with it. Simon defeats Goldibus, but is disappointed when Yale is not immediately waiting for him. He wanted his life to be like the Wonder Picture Book, with himself as the hero and Yale as his "princess." It turns out, however, that a young girl with blond hair who looks exactly like Yale was discovered where Goldibus had fallen.

• Phantasm Unit Twinzam V - Another Super Robot, this one similar to combining robots like Getter Robo
  Getter Robo
  is a Super Robot manga series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, as well as an anime series produced by Toei Animation. The series was broadcast on Fuji TV from April 4, 1974 to May 8, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes.- Plot :...
  
  , with elements from Voltes V and Combattler V. 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 10-year old Daichi Yumeno (voiced by Rica Matsumoto
  Rica Matsumoto
  is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her name is also sometimes romanized as Rika Matsumoto. She was one of the original members of the popular vocal group JAM Project. After the way of the stage, she embarked on voice acting and a singing career...
  
  ) and his older sister, 11-year old Sora (voiced by Mayumi Iizuka
  Mayumi Iizuka
  is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Tokyo and grew up in Taiwan and Yokohama. Iizuka is a member of Gekidan Wakakusa and Tokuma Japan Communications....
  
  ). The storyline of this mecha references several anime series - easily more than any other character. Regardless of which child's storyline the player is playing, both children end up piloting the Twinzam V in shared dreams, but are later trapped in the dream realm by Arekshim, pilot of Gamda. They are then recruited by Junpei, pilot of G. Kaiser, in the fight against Goldibus, but what happens after this recruitment depends on which storyline the player is playing. If the player is playing Daichi's storyline, then Sora loudly declares that she doesn't care what happens to anyone in this dream; she's only concerned that if she and Daichi die in this dream, they might die in real life. This fear causes Sora to leave, leaving Daichi to wonder why she is being so selfish. He, however, resolves to fight to save everyone in this dream even if he has to do it by himself. Right before the player's next battle (which is the final battle with Goldibus), Sora abruptly changes her mind and rejoins Daichi, citing as her rationale that she can't abandon her stupid brother Daichi, which makes the Twinzam V whole once again. In the ending, it is revealed that the whole incident was Daichi's dream all along, and that Sora does not remember their shared dreams from before. Daichi promises never to forget Junpei and their world in his own accord and time. If the player is playing Sora's storyline, then Sora realizes that the whole thing is HER dream, and she takes advantage of the situation to control what happens in the dream. She even makes Goldibus go berserk on purpose so that she and Daichi have to fight him; her goal is to behave in an unruly fashion until their mother (who it can be inferred is dead or otherwise forever absent in real life) comes to scold her, which would reunite Sora with their mother. The plan partially works; Sora is allowed to participate in a scene of their mother scolding her for making Daichi jump off the porch, and then telling Sora that she knows Sora is doing her best, and to please look after Daichi. Sora wakes up, yells at Daichi for tattling on her about the porch, and then explains that she got to meet their mother in her dream, which Daichi complains is unfair.

• The Messenger of Beauty and Justice Diana-17 - Diana-17 is a fighting mecha piloted by Reika Amamiya (voiced by Michiko Neya
  Michiko Neya
  is a female Japanese voice actress born in Echizen, Fukui . Neya is a freelancer, although she worked at Arts Vision.-Anime:*Aka-chan to Boku *Cardcaptor Sakura *Chrono Crusade...
  
  ), a strong-willed 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, although the control system resembles Jumborg Ace
  Jumborg Ace
  is the title superhero of a tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the show was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System from January 17 to December 29, 1973, with a total of 50 episodes...
  
  . Reika herself shares her clothing style with Domon Kasshu of Mobile Fighter G-Gundam fame.

• Heavy Armour Tank Wise Duck - A huge weapon-laden mecha that Studio Nue says is a homage to the HWR-00-Mk. II Destroid
  Destroid
  Destroid is a German electronic act incorporating EBM and electro.-Members / History:Founding member and vocalist Daniel Myer of Haujobb fame released the debut album Future Prophecies together with Ribi and Sebastian Ullman on the German label Out of Line in 2004 without any announcement of his...
  
   Monster of Macross
  Macross
  is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
  
  . Wise Duck is piloted by an entire crew, consisting of Gonzales (Commander) (voiced by Daisuke Gōri
  Daisuke Gori
  was a Japanese voice actor, narrator and actor from Kōtō, Tokyo. Throughout his life, he was attached to TV Talent Center Tokyo, Yoshizawa Theatre School and then Mausu Promotion; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. His real name, as well as his former stage name, was...
  
  ), Arvin (Combat) (voiced by Shigeru Nakahara
  Shigeru Nakahara
  is a veteran seiyū . He works at Vi-Vo .-Notable voice roles:*Another Century's Episode 2 , *Arion *Aura Battler Dunbine *Biker Mice from Mars...
  
  ), Ricky (Gunner) (Voiced by Kōichi Tōchika), Thomas (Pilot) (voiced by Takehito Koyasu
  Takehito Koyasu
  is a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
  
  ), and Herman (Sonar/Communications) (voiced by Shūichi Ikeda
  Shuichi Ikeda
  is a veteran seiyū born on December 2, 1949 in Tokyo, Japan. Ikeda is married to Sakiko Tamagawa, although he was once married to Keiko Toda. He currently works for Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society...
  
  ). This mecha pays some homage to the harder real robots, like Dougram. The Wise Duck teams is also highly reminiscent off the Cyclops Team of Gundam 0080. In the storyline, Arvin is a rookie military officer who, it turns out, has moral objections to some of war's uglier aspects, such as the necessity of having to kill very young pilots and especially the idea that the army Arvin belongs to considers it acceptable to burn a village of innocent people just so their enemy cannot hide. Depending on the player's actions in one of the fights, there are two possible story paths from here. In the first story path, Gonzales, Arvin's commander, abruptly changes his mind and decides to rebel against those cruel orders, because they would result in the massacre of civilians, which would necessarily include a little girl to whom Arvin earlier gave chocolate and who smiled at him. When Goldibus invades the Earth and cites humanity's hatred and warmongering as his reason, Arvin uses the little girl's smile as an example of something on Earth worthy to protect, inspiring him and the rest of the Wise Duck crew to defeat Goldibus. In the ending, Arvin is then shown as an older man over ten years later, the lone survivor among his crew, visiting the rusted Wise Duck, having heard that the village girl married someone and became a mother, and reflecting that he and his crew won against the enemy as humans. In the second story path, the crew "wakes up" many years into the future, in which humans are dominated by super-intelligent apes who dug up robots from the past. After the last few fights, the player abruptly learns that Arvin is in fact dead, having dreamed the whole thing as he was dying. This is because Gonazales shot Arvin for supposedly running from the enemy, and Thomas expresses regret that Arvin and his morals were in the wrong place, hoping that Arvin will dream and "wake up" in a time when there is no war.

• Magical Patched Robot Bolon - This patchwork robot, resembling the Boss Borot
  Boss Borot
  ' is a fictional mecha from the anime and manga series Mazinger Z, first premiering in episode 48. Within the story, Boss Borot was created by three engineers from the Photon Power Laboratory and piloted by Boss and his cohorts Mucha and Nuke...
  
   from Mazinger Z or the titular patchwork robot from Roujin Z
  Roujin Z
  is a 1991 Japanese anime film directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo and written by Katsuhiro Otomo.-Plot:Roujin Z is set in Japan during the early 21st century. A group of scientists and hospital administrators, under the direction of the Ministry of Public Welfare, have developed the Z-001, a...
  
  , created out of the parts of several buildings, is the creation of Pollin (voiced by Satomi Koorogi
  Satomi Koorogi
  is a female seiyū from Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. She is affiliated with Production Baobab. In the United States, she is the new voice of Snarf in ThunderCats.-Television animation:*Chi's Sweet Home...
  
  ), a Magical Girl
  Magical girl
  belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
  
   who appears to be only about eight years old - nearly seen as Minky Momo / Gigi
  Magical Princess Minky Momo
  , also known as Magical Princess Gigi or Gigi or Benvenuta Gigi and Tanto tempo fa...Gigi in Italy, is the title of two different magical-girl anime. The first Momo, often called Sora Momo , aired from 1982...
  
  , 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 story branch in Bolon's storyline, Goldibus is either Pollin's father or her mother (though the former seeks likely to be in canon).
  • 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 red, Samurai
  Samurai
  is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
  
  -style mecha, complete with a sharp sword. Its design is almost similar to the robots of The Vision of Escaflowne
  The Vision of Escaflowne
  is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, with the final episode airing on September 24, 1996. Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax also aired the series, both in Japan and on its...
  
   series. One of Goldibus' generals, Shadow Red has an agenda of his own that isn't known by Goldibus itself. In reality, he is Mamoru Todoroki, the father of Junpei who was kidnapped by Goldibus and brainwashed into becoming his loyal servant. Shadow Red also plays a role similar to Char Aznable
  Char Aznable
  , born is a fictional character from the Gundam franchise. He is originally one of the main antagonists in Mobile Suit Gundam and later becomes one of the protagonists of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. In his final appearance in Char's Counterattack, he assumes leadership of the Neo Zeon movement,...
  
   in Dixen (Natako)'s storyline, and is fittingly voiced by Shuichi Ikeda
  Shuichi Ikeda
  is a veteran seiyū born on December 2, 1949 in Tokyo, Japan. Ikeda is married to Sakiko Tamagawa, although he was once married to Keiko Toda. He currently works for Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society...
  
  . In addition, the mecha is styled similarly to Char's custom Gelgoog.
  • In addition to Gourai, Shadow Red also pilot Dixen Experiment in Dixen's storyline and the red Wise Duck with antenna in Wise Duck's storyline. Both mech are more powerful than standard type http://www.capcom.co.jp/newproducts/arcade/kikaioh/kakushi/santai/index.html.

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 of a professional soldier than her commanding officer, but also harbors a small crush on him. She closely resembles Claudia LaSalle
  Claudia LaSalle
  is a fictional character in the Macross animated science fiction universe. She debuts in the first episode of the first series, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross...
  
  , who was the girlfriend of Roy Focker in the Macross series.

• Variants of Dixen and Wise Duck piloted by Shadow Red. Shadow Red's Wise Duck amusingly sports a Zeon
  Zeon
  In the television anime Mobile Suit Gundam universe, Zeon can refer to the Republic of Zeon, the Principality of Zeon or Neo Zeon. It is also referred to as the Duchy of Zeon or the Zeon Dukedom...
  
  -style "commander's antenna" in yet another nod to Char.

• Dark Pulsion - The evil version of Kai.

• Variant Armor Blodia II Custom - The main mecha from Armored Warriors
  Armored Warriors
  Armored Warriors, known in Japan as , is a mecha-themed fighting action game released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game for their CP System II hardware...
  
  and Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness, two other mecha-style games made by Capcom. Blodia is piloted by Jin Saotome (voiced by Yūji Ueda
  Yuji Ueda
  is a popular Japanese seiyū.He is most known for the roles of Sagara Sanosuke , Akito Tenkawa , Takeshi , Horohoro , Johannes Krauser II and Keitaro Urashima ....
  
  ).

Boss Characters

• Quvearl - An Octopus
  Octopus
  The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
  
  -like bio-construct controlled by Yale, a female alien (one of many, as it turns out) who ends up falling for Simon Harvard after he stops her in a battle (See also Milia Fallyna Jenius
  Milia Fallyna Jenius
  is a fictional character in the Macross Japanese animated science fiction series, voiced by Eri Takeda. In the 2006 English adaptation by ADV Films she is voiced by Luci Christian.-Macross:...
  
  ). Its remote bit attacks and design resemble the Elmeth from Mobile Suit Gundam
  Mobile Suit Gundam
  is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
  
  .
  • Their names are plays on rival Ivy League
    Ivy League
    The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
    
     universities Harvard
    Harvard University
    Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
    
     and Yale
    Yale University
    Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
    
    .

• Gamda - A massive stone golem that seems to be made out of several temples with a huge eye in the middle. It's controlled by Arekshim (voiced by Ryūsei Nakao
  Ryusei Nakao
  , known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor, singer, and voice actor from Tōkyō Metropolis, Japan. He is attached to 81 Produce. He has also worked under the name of ....
  
  ), an alien ruler with an Egyptian theme. His design is also seemingly inspired by Kaijuu.

• Goldibus - the Ultimate Evil and the final boss of the game. Goldibus has two forms, and must be unlocked by using a code. His second form is more powerful and has two menacing special attacks, unlike his less ominous first form. Goldibus' own story in which his plans to enslave the human race succeeds. The ending for Goldibus' story has him defeating a clone of himself at the end and having enslaved the human race in success after declaring Yale a traitor. His design is inspired by the Great General of Darkness from the Mazinger
  Mazinger
  is a long running series of manga and anime featuring giant robots or mecha. The name can also be pronounced "Mazinga", as it is has been known in several countries, including in the United States of America.-Series:The series in order:...
  
   anime metaseries, combined with Mechanical Beasts
  Mechanical Beasts
  The Mechanical Beasts , also known as mechanical monsters or mechanical brutes, were the antagonist mecha from the Mazinger Z anime and manga series, created by Go Nagai. Almost all of them were created by Koji Kabuto's nemesis, Dr. Hell...
  
   from the same series. Voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka.

Note: Bosses must be unlocked by using a code in the game.

Supporting Characters

Dr. Tatsumi - An expert scientist and friend to Junpei's father and grandfather. He takes over in G. Kaiser's development and helps Junpei and his friends fight Goldibus. In Gourai's story, however, he is 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. Has a choker with an heart on it, like another Go Nagai's character, Cutie Honey

Cutie Honey

is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey first appears on volume 41 of the 1973 edition of Shōnen Champion. According to Nagai, she is the first female to be the protagonist of a shōnen manga series....

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.

External links

• Official Japanese Site