機動戦艦ナデシコ NADESICO THE MISSION, launched 8/26/1999, developed and launched (I believe) by Sega
I don’t understand how effectively folks bear in mind it now, however Nadesico was an enormous deal within the 90s and 2000s — I bear in mind folks being followers of the anime. I’ve by no means seen it however I’m acquainted with the collection by its many appearances in Tremendous Robotic Taisen. The collection was praised for its offbeat fashion that blended comedy and drama in a means that was going towards the standard “horrors of struggle” mech collection (whereas nonetheless having a few of that content material).
Sadly, after the TV anime, the collection faltered and by no means regained its footing. There was a film, but it surely was extensively criticized for the drastic change in tone and what occurred to the primary characters from the TV collection. It additionally required a Sega Saturn recreation to fill within the hole between the TV collection and the film, a recreation that was by no means launched in English.
Apparently the film was supposed to be the primary in a trilogy that might conclude the storyline, however the different two films have been by no means made. I used to be not capable of finding out definitively if this was due to the damaging response to the film (I’m additionally undecided if the response in Japan was as damaging as within the US).
This recreation got here out a few 12 months after the film, and takes place after it. Nonetheless, it does little to advance the plot, and I assume the builders have been constrained in what they might do as a result of they needed to match their recreation into the (presumably unknown) the rest of the storyline. Regardless of the ending of the film, Akito doesn’t seem in any respect within the recreation (I didn’t even see a point out of him), and the primary character is a faceless participant self-insert that by chance turns into the non permanent captain of the Nadesico C. The plot entails some components of the film however does nothing actually to advance on something that was coated there. Followers of the franchise who want to this because the “final” Nadesico providing can be disenchanted if they’re hoping to get any clues for a way the story would have unfolded within the remaining films.
The sport begins with the primary character (you) doing a coaching train on the Nadesico C, which requires placing you in because the captain. However then some actual stuff begins taking place when Jovians assault, and for some obscure cause the management can’t be switched again to Ruri. You quickly have to choose whether or not you need the captain to additionally exit within the Aestevalises (the mechs); I selected to do that and I believe that makes Ruri captain once more, maybe in the event you select the opposite choice the primary character will stay captain within the battles? I’m undecided.
After the opening battles you get drawn right into a plot by the Martian Successors and the Crimson Group to kidnap Ines and plunder extra of the ruins of Mars, and you must cease their plans.
The battles happen on maps like this (they’re solely two dimensions). Every items’ flip, they’ll take as many actions as they’ve accessible. Which actions can be found depend upon the technique you selected for the battle — in most missions, a number of crew members will supply their very own methods. As an example, Prospector would possibly counsel going across the enemies and coming at them from behind. Ruri will counsel ready exterior their vary till Gravity Blast is prepared. Ryoko will counsel charging in from the entrance. The objective of the mission tends to be the identical, and also you don’t essentially need to comply with the technique you selected, however it is going to have an effect on the instructions you should utilize.
So on this case, as an illustration, I’ve 4 instructions — elevate protection (distortion subject), lauch Aestevalis, Restore, and Assault. Relying on the mission you may also have Dodge, and you’ll have a number of of the identical factor (as an illustration, you would have three Assault and one Launch and that’s it). You need to use a “change” command to modify out instructions throughout battle, though you received’t be capable of use a command the identical flip you turn it.
Every command additionally has little packing containers with it — I’m not fully clear on how these packing containers refill, however you should utilize them to do larger results, like use extra highly effective weapons or launch a couple of unit at a time.
Within the first couple of missions you solely get to make use of the Nadesico C, however you’ll quickly get to make use of the Aestevalises as effectively.
The Aestevalises have to remain inside a sure vary of the Nadesico to recharge their batteries, in any other case they’ll solely have a restricted variety of turns earlier than they energy down. In addition they have hissatsuwaza (robust assaults), that burn up the IFS share you’ll be able to see above. That is one side of the sport I by no means discovered — I don’t have the handbook and there’s no walkthrough website I may discover, and I by no means discovered the way you truly construct up a pilot’s IFS worth to make use of the assaults. For probably the most half the sport isn’t very laborious, however on the ultimate couple of bosses I had a tough time not with the ability to extra freely use these assaults.
Shifting is at all times an motion you are able to do.
You’ll be able to see how you might be shifting on the inset map on the backside plus the highest. There are two annoyances I discovered with it — in the event you put in an unlawful transfer you lose your flip; for probably the most half you’ll be able to see when you’ll be able to’t transfer someplace however you must watch out. Second is that it’s not at all times clear whether or not you might be shifting into melee vary for the Aestevalises or not. I had a lot of instances the place I believed I had gotten into melee vary however truly didn’t.
When attacked, you’ll be able to select to dodge, counter, or put up shields (if in case you have the required energy).
The graphics on the entire are fairly good, as you’ll be able to see.
After a battle you get this reward cash display with Prospector, however I don’t suppose there may be any strategy to truly spend the cash, it’s only a joke (except there’s something I missed).
Generally between battles there’ll simply be a narrative sequence, different instances you’ll be able to transfer round on a map just like the above. As you progress ahead, it’s possible you’ll encounter hidden enemy ships. Periodically you can even use the “relaxation” perform. The primary couple of instances you employ this there are some facet tales, however after that you simply simply get a restricted variety of actions to show your pilots new strikes or improve the Aestevalises.
You’ll be able to improve your pilots with factors you get from publish battles, and you can even change Aestevalises in addition to equip totally different weapons and gadgets.
The story sequences are finished by a mixture of animated sequences, voiced dialogue sections, and voiceless textual content.
General that is an OK recreation. As I stated above, whereas the storyline isn’t unhealthy, it’s not particularly good both and I believe it will likely be significantly unsatisfying for Nadesico followers who’re hoping to see the (unplanned) last entry within the storyline. As a recreation, there’s sufficient to do within the recreation that it’s enjoyable, however the issue stage is sort of low — this can be as a result of they needed to ensure that Nadesico followers who weren’t technique recreation gamers wouldn’t get caught, but it surely does imply that a number of the customization and upgrading choices aren’t all that obligatory.
