Robotech: The Macross Saga
Encyclopedia
Robotech: The Macross Saga is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up
for the Game Boy Advance
handheld system, developed by Lucky Chicken Games
and published by TDK Mediactive
. This title was released during a renaissance of Robotech
video games, where struggling projects were no longer cancelled and actually made it to market.
that are a notable feature of the Robotech series. This manifests itself in gameplay as the ability to adopt different modes offers unique advantages and vulnerabilities. Fighter mode has the fastest movement, but can't touch the ground. Battloid mode offers much better aim, but mobility is greatly diminished. While the hybrid Guardian mode splits the difference by combining and averaging these features.
The player can choose from their favorite Macross Saga characters (as seen on Masterpiece Collection toys released at the time). Each character offers varying levels of Power (Quantity of missiles), Stamina (Life energy), Strength (Strength of attacks), Piloting (Speed of movement) and Speed (Speed of Battloid).
After every few side-scrolling missions, the player gets a Destroid mission. Destroids are non-transformable Battloids that serve a similar role as a walking tank. The player can chose from a number of Destroids favoring different abilities. Ironically, the Destroids served as the basis for some of the early Battlemechs of Battletech fame, and the Destroid missions adopt an isometric view very similar to the MechWarrior 3050
game for the SNES
.
In an effort to increase replay value, the game also included a number of unlockable characters who like the main characters have different power levels, but many also fly entirely different vehicles with their own quirks, some of the vehicles are not transformable thur to the wackiness of the Lucky Chicken. Each main character you complete the game with unlocks their secret counterpart.
Link cables allowed for up to four players.
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
handheld system, developed by Lucky Chicken Games
Lucky Chicken Games
Lucky Chicken Games is an American video game developer founded in 1998 by Jamie Ottilie, Matt Saia and Jonnathan Hilliard. It was purchased by mobile game publisher Abandon Mobile in 2005 and became the production and development operation of the mobile game company...
and published by TDK Mediactive
TDK Mediactive
TDK Mediactive was a California-based video game publisher owned by TDK that published video games based on licensed properties such as:* Conan * Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis * Robotech: Battlecry * Robotech: The Macross Saga...
. This title was released during a renaissance of Robotech
Robotech
Robotech is an 85-episode science fiction anime adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and first released in the United States in 1985...
video games, where struggling projects were no longer cancelled and actually made it to market.
Gameplay
The game centers on the piloting of Veritech Fighters, the transformable mechaMecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
that are a notable feature of the Robotech series. This manifests itself in gameplay as the ability to adopt different modes offers unique advantages and vulnerabilities. Fighter mode has the fastest movement, but can't touch the ground. Battloid mode offers much better aim, but mobility is greatly diminished. While the hybrid Guardian mode splits the difference by combining and averaging these features.
The player can choose from their favorite Macross Saga characters (as seen on Masterpiece Collection toys released at the time). Each character offers varying levels of Power (Quantity of missiles), Stamina (Life energy), Strength (Strength of attacks), Piloting (Speed of movement) and Speed (Speed of Battloid).
- Rick HunterRick HunterRick Hunter, voiced by veteran voice actor Tony Oliver, is one of the fictional characters in the Robotech anime television series. He begins the series as a naive and headstrong nineteen-year-old civilian pilot, having flown for his father "Pops" Hunter's world-class flying circus...
- Max SterlingMax SterlingMaximillian Sterling, voiced by Cam Clarke , is one of the fictional characters in the Robotech anime television series. He is a young fighter pilot assigned to Rick Hunter's various commands along with Ben Dixon...
- Roy Fokker
- Miriya Parina SterlingMiriya Parina SterlingMiriya Parina Sterling, voiced by Edie Mirman, is one of the fictional characters in the anime television series Robotech. She is the self-styled "finest combat pilot in all the Zentraedi forces." She is distinguished by her slim figure, green eyes and her long green hair.-First Robotech War:Miriya...
- Ben Dixon
After every few side-scrolling missions, the player gets a Destroid mission. Destroids are non-transformable Battloids that serve a similar role as a walking tank. The player can chose from a number of Destroids favoring different abilities. Ironically, the Destroids served as the basis for some of the early Battlemechs of Battletech fame, and the Destroid missions adopt an isometric view very similar to the MechWarrior 3050
MechWarrior 3050
Mechwarrior 3050 is the second Battletech based game from Activision for Super NES. This time around its viewed in an isometric view as opposed to the first person view of the previous game...
game for the SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
.
In an effort to increase replay value, the game also included a number of unlockable characters who like the main characters have different power levels, but many also fly entirely different vehicles with their own quirks, some of the vehicles are not transformable thur to the wackiness of the Lucky Chicken. Each main character you complete the game with unlocks their secret counterpart.
Link cables allowed for up to four players.
Additional Notes
- Unlike Macross: Scrambled ValkyrieThe Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Scrambled Valkyriewas a 16-megabit, 2D shooter released on the Nintendo Super Famicom in 1993 based on the 1984 animated movie The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?. The story took place after the movie's ending but before the launch of the SDF-2 Megaroad-01. It is infamous in the US for its...
produced for the Super Famicom, Robotech: The Macross Saga favors a more super deformedSuper deformedSuper deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
art style. - A super deformedSuper deformedSuper deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
Max Sterling VF-1A figurine by ToynamiToynamiToynami is an American toy company based in Van Nuys, California. Founded in 2000 by George Sohn, Toynami is primarily focused on anime licenses for specialty retailers and collectors in the North American market...
was included as an exclusive bonus with the North American release of the game .