CyberOps: Megamix

"Why throw away your life so recklessly?" "That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron."

- Game Trailer CyberOps: Megamix is a crossover mecha fighting game developed and published by Bandai-Namco Entertainment and the 11th game in the Capcom Vs. series. It features mech/cyborg characters from Bandai-Namco, Sega, Capcom and Square-Enix games, including the Transformers series of games based on the popular toy franchise of the same name, which were published by Square-Enix in Japan (Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark).

The fifth entry in the Japan Six, the game is a product of a partnership between all 4 companies, who previously churned out Square-Enix vs. Capcom: When Worlds Collide, the 10th and previous entry in the Capcom Vs. series. As the game is primarily made and backed by Bandai-Namco, it combines the gameplay style of the Tekken series with Hyper Combos and V-Trigger abilities inspired by the Street Fighter, Darkstalkers and Capcom Vs. series of fighting games.

It was first released for arcades on February 7, 2018. An updated version with new characters, game modes, items and stages, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows on May 7, 2019.

Plot
After Cybertron is attacked by Unicron in search of the Matrix of Leadership, Autobots leader, Optimus Prime once again returns to earth to warn the humans of a looming Decepticon threat. Along the way, the Futurians have sent Mecha-King Ghidorah and MechaGodzilla Kiryu from the past to destroy the cosmic planet eater themselves. When groups of human forces, led by the Autobots, view the cyborgs as a threat, having been built from alien future technology, the G-Force sends Heero Yuy-via Wing Zero-to get them on the same page, having informed him of their true nature. However, they soon find themselves under attack by the Decepticons, led by Prime's archnemesis, Megatron.

Meanwhile, Unicron continues to scout Cyberton's destroyed remains in search of the Matrix, with the humans dragged into a grueling war.

Gameplay
CyberOps: Megamix features the realistic, 3D sidescrolling engine featured in the Tekken series with fight mechanics largely mirroring the Tekken style of gameplay. Like traditional Tekken games, it allows parrying around the level in order to evade enemy attacks by way of side-stepping. Additionally, the Rage Arts (available once your health bar is in critical) and Power Crush techniques from Tekken 7 make a comeback.

Classic features seen in landmark Capcom fighters are also featured. For instance, fighters are given EX gauges, allowing them to perform up to 3 different special moves unique to each character, including a 3rd Level 3 Hyper Combo/Special Move, similar to MvC3. Among the Level 3 Hypers are Wing Zero's Twin Buster Cannon and Kiryu's patented Absolute Zero Cannon, which also temporarily freezes the opponent after hitting, leaving it vulnerable to further damage. The EX/Hyper Moves are unique from the Rage Arts accompanying each character, allowing a wide variety of high-damaging moves. In the updated version for home consoles, this is further expanded, allowing players to either cancel Rage Arts techniques into Special Moves or perform stronger versions of Special Moves while in critical. In addition, each character is given V Gauges, which can perform up to 3 abilities, as seen in Street Fighter V: However, several new mechanics have been added: New to the home console release (exclusive from the arcade version) is the new Battle Suit Mode. For select characters, you'll unlock a new mini-game after completing the Story Mode in which you'll be tasked with fighting legions of enemy battle suits/biomechs from said franchise similar to Dynasty Warriors.
 * V-Skills: Free skill unique to each character that's used to build up V Gauge. For example, MechaGodzilla can deflect projectiles with his tail and perform a body strike with his thrusters as a second V-skill, Ninja Megazord can summon the Falcon Zord, transforming into the Ninja Megafalconzord while giving him a second V-Skill, allowing him to air dash the form of a zig zag at the opponent before drilling him into the ground similar to Chun-Li's Rankyaku.
 * V-Reversal: Allow characters to counter moves while being hit at the cost of V-gauge. Example: MechaGodzilla can hit the opponent with guided missiles from his back and sides, Prime can absorb (further) attacks after transforming into a truck and then ramming into the opponent, Mecha-King Ghidorah can knock opponents backwards with a triple head smash, launching all 3 heads at the opponent simultaneously.
 * V-Trigger: Perform an ability unique to each character for a limited time while constantly draining V-Gauge; for example, MechaGodzilla can levitate off the ground with his thrusters and shoot projectiles in the air, or use his V-Trigger to spam his various projectiles while airborne, Mecha-King Ghidorah can also levitate off the ground with his flight and perform numerous foot stomps to a prone opponent or launch gravity bolts from his 2 organic heads simultaneously, Ninja Megazord, as the Ninja Falcon Megazord, and can thus also fly off the ground and perform airborne attacks, even shoot missiles while in the air.
 * Projectile: Each character is given a standard projectile ability unique to each character. For example: Prime can fire his iron blaster, Mecha King Ghidorah can fire gravity beams from one of his organic heads, Epyon uses its patented whip-like chain.
 * Thrusters: Fighters can dash at one another via an all new thrusting mechanic.
 * EX Smash: by hitting V-Trigger + Power Crush, you can send your opponent flying through the side of the screen and into a different part of the stage many feet away, even though buildings, openings and walls, with a supercharged melee strike.
 * Assist Hypers: Some characters will call in assist mechs for Hyper Moves. For example, by hitting V Skill + Hyper, with a Lv 3 or higher Ultra meter, Ninja Megazord can call in Titanus (and the Falconzord if he hasn't already done so via V-Skill) to become the Ninja Ultrazord and perform its patented Finisher attack familiarized in the TV series, firing all of its projectiles at once as his Lv 3 (3rd) Hyper. This attack is very lethal, the most powerful Hyper move in the game, dealing 610,000 DP, the equivalent of Vergil's The Dark Angel Lv 3 Hyper Combo in UMvC3. As a downside, however, it can only be performed after using Ninja Megazord's V-Skill (or first Hyper Move, which also summons the Falconzord to perform an attack) and with a Hyper Meter of at least Level 3.

Characters
There are 28 base characters in total, 7 per company, that can be played between human and CPU players alike. There are also 2 bosses, a sub and final boss, who aren't playable. DLC characters will be made available later in the year at an undetermined time. In addition, some characters/mechs will be upscaled so as to keep the size differences between certain mechs relatively in check.

The updated home console release also has 4 unlockable characters, one per company, who can be unlocked after defeating them in a secret boss battle, which is earned by finishing with a score of at least 350,000,000 and no continues while controlling a mech of their respective brand.

NOTE: yes, I know that Transformers is technically owned by Activision, but Square-Enix did publish Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark in Japan, so I'm licensing the Transformers bots as Square-Enix characters.

Music
In addition, several stages also feature iconic musical scores familiarized with the respective franchise. For example, Chicago (Transformers stage) features Black Lab's rendition of the Transformers theme. The Command Center features the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers theme. Libra (Epyon/Wing Zero stage) has "Rhythm Emotion" from the Gundam Wing anime playing in the background.