Battle of Sunrise [PS2/JPN]

Battle of Sunriseis a tactical-strategy game where robots are marshaled against other robots on grid-laced maps. Unlike previous entries in the series, the battles are shown in fluid 3D sequences where robots dash and shoot at their targets while taking return fire. Robots may be seen flying, taking aim, and firing at their enemy targets in 3D arenas. This new style of presentation is in stark contrast to the 2D engagements found in the SRW games. Some attacks are made up of only a single strike but others can go on for multiple rounds.

Bonus Schwagula
All orders for Battle of Sunrise will ship with a bonus clear-file which contains nine sheets of beautiful full-page artwork. The first sheet is of the game cover but the remaining eight sheets feature the main robot from each of the eight Sunrise animation properties in the game. The back of each sheet contains black & white sketches and a bit of history on the animation.

When the crew gets done with playing Mario Kart Wii this morning, we'll have someone take photographs and post them here. Edit: Three samples of the artwork sheets (front and back) may be viewed by clicking on the link below and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

» Press any button on controller 1 and the following selections appear:

START - Begin a new game
LOAD - Resume a game from memory card save-data
CONTINUE - Continue a game currently in progress
OPTION - Adjust BGM/SE/VOICE volume levels, set screen aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9), etc

» START a new game and scrolling text in front of an image of the solar system appears. Earth may be seen on the lower-right corner of the screen and two nebulas are in the background. After the prologue, the scene opens up at an ice station somewhere in the arctic. A blonde girl appears on the bottom of the screen followed by a guy and the two hold a conversation. A blue-haired girl joins the conversation. There's no voice acting in the interactive portion of the game - just lots of dialogue. During battles, the characters will make comments and scream in pain as their mechs are attacked.

» The scene changes to a beach where the lad and blue-haired girl from earlier talk to a guy wearing red-rimmed eyeglasses.

» The first chapter opens up and a blue-mech stands in the middle of a hexagonal grid while two wrecked planes may be seen to the west and north of the mech's position. A glistening green cursor pulsates at the bottom of the mech indicating that it is active. A green mech appears to the northeast of the first mech which is piloted by a guy in an orange helmet. He's your target in the first test battle/tutorial.

» A diagnostic screen pops up which shows your mech's attributes and the conditions of battle. Press the "O" button on the second selection listed in the menu on the right side of the screen and you'll see the range of movement for your mech as indicated by green-highlighted hexagons. Use the d-pad or L-analog to move the cursor next to the enemy mech and press "O" again to acknowledge movement. Subsequently, there's an attack option that may be chosen in conjunction with the movement phase so that your mech will move and attack at the same time .

» An animated battle sequence plays where your mech leaps into battle with a fierce strike that does about 400+ points of damage. There's a counterattack component to every attack however and your mech will take damage from the enemy's return fire. Some attacks are comprised of multiple attacks and counterattacks that play out on the screen in 3D animated action.

» The 3D battle system featured in the game is dubbed the "3D Mobility Battle System" or MBS. Players may choose the direction of attack while on the map by drawing a route on the grid-based battlefield.

» After one round of the initial battle, an alarm sounds and an interloper appears to the east and NW of the dueling mechs. They're joined by a girl in a yellow-orange mech who dashes in front of the main character's mech to take damage from one of the unwanted visiting enemies. Three more enemies led by a red-suited mech manifest on the lower left corner of the screen. A new battle starts where the objective is to eliminate all enemies. The action is straightforward where you'll marshall mechs and attack each enemy until they're all gone. At the conclusion of the first battle, your team will earn 3400G and a fourth member joins the party for a little moral support. Afterwards, you'll be able to your progress to memory card. Each save-data file records the Story Number, the Chapter Title, Money, and Time.

» Two mechs in your party can team up to perform a collaborative attack on an enemy. When the enemy counterattacks, it can only target one of your party members.

» The animated battle sequences are fairly well done with a number of animated moves that the mechs go through where they dash and shoot, lunge and attack, or sidle to the side and blast away. The explosions that fester from damaged mechs when hit are also realistic as they billow forth from each impact.

» After every encounter, a level-up dialogue box appears which shows the amount of experience gained.

» Sunrise follows the lead of other games in the "Sunrise" tactical strategy arena but with a new animated 3D fighting sequence that's somewhat more dramatic that what we've seen before.

» To skip the dialogue sequences and immediately proceed to the next battle, press the START button and you'll skip the backstory. The second battle takes place in outer space where more enemy mechs are threatening the peace. Your crew flies up to counter their impending attack.

Sunrise Animation Series Featured
» Armored Trooper Votoms
» Blue Comet SPT Layzner
» Ginga Hyouryuu Vifam
» The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
» Metal Armor Dragonar
» Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counterattack
» Panzer World Galient
» Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh

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