SUPER ROBOT WARS Z2: SAISEI-HEN
Genre: Giant Robots Everywhere - The SRPG
Platform: PSP
Release Date: JP - 4/5/12
Price: A lot of your money, but worth every cent
Yes! It's that time again. Almost exactly one year later, the direct sequel to the Super Robot Wars Z2: Hakai-Hen (Destruction Arc) is about to make its appearance once again on the PSP with Super Robot Wars Z2: Saisei-Hen (Rebirth Arc). Unlike SRW Z1 which was a complete story from start to finish, Z2 was split into two separate games as several of the series covered were original aired as two parts. What did this mean in practicality? It meant that Z2-1, while covering a good chunk of the included shows, was in the end mainly a GIANT SETUP to make you need Z2-2 where all the universe crushing finales will finally take place.
For those just joining us, you can catch up on the Z2-1 thread here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426756
And the Z1 thread here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=336163
GAMEPLAY - WHAT'S NEW?
-Not a whole lot! This is literally the 2nd half to last year's game. Meaning continued stories, with a couple new story entries and the same good gameplay that was in the previous game. Fast, challenging, and fun is the name of Z2 with its lack of squad or partner systems. It's straight out traditional "bunch of characters on a map" SRPG, just all the characters are super awesome robots that melt your face away. The only new "system" is really the Macross 7 song system for buffing/debuffing, which should be pretty similar to Lelouche's command system for doing the same in Z2-1.
But really, who cares about all that stuff, let's talk about
----------------
THE CAST LIST
----------------
There are A LOT of series in this one. I'm not even going to count them up. You have your returning group from Z1, the continuing group from Z2, and another two all new entries to spice up the experience. Here we goooooo....
ORIGINAL(S)
I'm assuming our main lead from the first half Crowe Brust is still in the game. I've been in media blackout a bit concerning the OG plot so who knows. Maybe we're playing as Asakim for the whole game or something. Who knows. But since he still has a lot of story to tell, as his past was only briefly hinted on in Z2-1, it is likely our wise-cracking penniless hero will return to lead ZEXIS to victory. There may, or will be plenty of other original characters, but that is part of the surprise!
----------------------------------------------
ALL NEW AND EXCITING MECHA-BROS:
----------------------------------------------
TETSUJIN 28 - 1980's anime version
One of the most iconic robots in Japan gets its first appearance in a SRW game! It will be based on the 1980s anime run called Shin Tetsujin 28 Go.
Strengths - Tetsujin is good at PUNCHING THINGS
MACROSS DYNAMITE SEVEN (including Macross Seven)
Rock n' Roll Top Gun is back. Seven SRW entries after Macross Seven's last appearance in SRW Alpha 3, lead singer Basara and his 1980s glam rock band return to sing once again.
Strengths - Basara's Engrish. POWAAA TOO THE DREAAAAMMM
----------------------------------------
Z2-1'S CONTINUING NEW SERIES:
----------------------------------------
GUNDAM OO - SEASON 2
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH
Strengths - Exia Repair!
CODE GEASS R2
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH
Strengths - Hilarity
GURREN LAGANN - LAGANN-HEN
Row Row Fight the Power and all that. Z2-2 will cover the 2nd half of the show as Simone and crew grow and grow to overcome all challenges that are thrown at them. The story will be based off the movie version of GL, which was notably changed in the Lagann arc; so those who have only watched the TV show may be in for some surprises towards the end!
Strengths - EVERYTHING
SHIN GETTER ROBO ARMAGEDDON - THE AWESOME-R PARTS
Z2-1 covered the first few eps of Shin Getter Robo Armageddon. Those eps were awesome. However, Z2-2 will cover the REST in all its glory.
Strengths - BLACK GETTER + SHIN DRAGON
GUNDAM WING - THINGS HAPPEN ARC
Gundam Wing TV was in the Z2-1, however in that game they did pretty much nothing but show up and have a few Heero/Relena quarrels while Trieze sipped coffee in his living room with Amuro and Quattro. The bulk of the plot of Gundam Wing will occur in Z2-2 along with the mech upgrades.
Strengths - More Gundams!
MACROSS FRONTIER - SECOND HALF
Second half of Mac F comes to Z2-2! I never made it this far in the show, so I have no idea what happens that is different in the 2nd half, but hey, should be cool and play well with Macross Seven. Includes mechs from movie version.
Strengths - MORE SINGING
SHIN MAZINGER - EVEN BETTER HALF
The second half of the already amazing Mazinger reboot.
Strengths - EPIC
VOTOMS - MORE STORY
Z2-1 sure covered a lot of Votoms story. However, I've been told that there is still LOTS more, so the Votoms plots should continue in this one. Yay!
Strengths - Chirico's dodge rate.
DANCOUGAR - GOD BLESS DANCOUGAR
!!! Apparently, Dancougar who was only in the Z2-1 as a support character for Dancougar Nova's story, will get some of his own tale told in Z2-2.
Strengths - It's freaking DANCOUGAR, the original one, the awesome one. What more do you want?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Z2'S NEW ENTRY SERIES THAT FINISHED IN Z2-1 BUT MAY STILL HAVE A ROLE YET:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAI-GUARD
DANCOUGAR NOVA
GODMARS
*Godmars actually has more story they could cover, but apparently it's unlikely that Z2-2 will cover it.
TRIDER G7
EUREKA SEVEN - MOVIE VERSION
-----------------------------------------------------
SUPER ROBOT WARS Z1 RETURNING SERIES:
-----------------------------------------------------
THE BIG O
ZAMBOT 3
DAITARN 3
GOD SIGMA
AQUARION
BALDIOS
GRAVION ZWEI
ORGUSS
GUNDAM X
TURN A GUNDAM
GUNDAM SEED DESTINY
ZETA GUNDAM - MOVIE VERSION
CHAR'S COUNTERATTACK
XABUNGLE
OVERMAN KING GAINER
As you can see, there will be A LOT of GIANT ROBOTS in this one. The tough part will be choosing which 20 or so you will deploy each stage! However, branching paths will make it easier to use them all.
Returning units are getting new attacks and animations, so there's a reason to use them all!
------------------
SCREENSHOTS
------------------
------------------
FINAL TRAILER
------------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEigzl0hRFI
.
