Chou Super Robot Wars Æ

Chou Super Robot Wars Æ (超ちょう スーパーロボット 大たい 戦せん Æアッシュ) is a crossover mecha tactical role-playing/fighting game developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the Nintendo Switch. It was released alongside Project X Zone III: War of Infinite Worlds – Ultimate Edition in Japan on June 1, 2020 and in Asian territories on December 15, 2020 as part of 65th anniversary of Bandai Namco. A side-story of Project X Zone 3: War of Infinite Worlds, developed by the same crew a year after the release of its Ultimate Version, the game marks the first time the series crosses over to various video games franchises such as Capcom's Tech Romancer, Nintendo's Xenoblade Chronicles, Namco's Xesaga, Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and many more.

The game was a commercial and critical success, having shipped 300,000 units in the first month of Japanese release and sold 3 million by the end of the year, being one of the highest-selling games in the Super Robot Wars franchise.

The Æ in the title stands for Æon/Aeon/Eon and the game's catchphrase is “The great war of giants of metal, transcending through eons” (時代Æon に超越する、金属の巨人達の戦).

A sequel and updated version on the PlayStation 4 would be released a year later under the name Chou Super Robot Wars M.

Production
On June 13, 2019, Sam Imbecile, one of the head writers and developers of Project X Zone 3, stated in E3 2019 that his next game project was a midquel to Project X Zone III where its story takes place during the events of the game. He also stated that it would be as large as the massive crossover game.

On September 6, Sam posted in Twitter: "My next game project? Think of it as Super Robot Wars on steroids, ecstasy, meth, acid, viagra and cocaine." and it became most liked and re-tweeted post of the year. As such, fans of Super Robot Wars and mecha anime in general were excited to see a new game in the series where it coincides with the events of Project X Zone 3.

Two weeks later, Sam announced the release of the new SRW game which was originally the same date of release as Project X Zone III: Ultimate Edition. However, just like the case of Project X Zone 3, he had to research and marathon every anime in the mecha genre so that he could write the story of the next game, as well as play every single important Super Robot Wars game from the first to the latest. Therefore, the game became two separate ports: one to be released for the Nintendo Switch alongside the PXZ3 Ultimate Edition and a PlayStation 4 port for the Super Robot Wars' 30th anniversary.

It is also announced in the live event that it will officially receive an English release in East and Southeast Asia and be the first game in series to be given a D rating by CERO due to mature and controversial themes. In addition, the game will provide enhanced animation and graphics seen in 3rd Super Robot Wars Z: Celestial Prison Chapter, Super Robot Wars V & Super Robot Wars X.

The game itself marks a lot of new entries to the series and also a lot of returns. The game marks the return of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon, GEAR Fighter Dendoh, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Brave Raideen, Chōdenji Robo Combattler V, Chōdenji Machine Voltes V, Tōshō Daimos, Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu, Koutetsushin Jeeg, Keroro Gunsou, Cyber Troopers Virtual-On and many more into the series proper after a long hiatus, the debut of Transformers in the form of the Unicron Trilogy incarnation (Armada, Energon and Cybertron) and the appearance of various characters that previously appeared in the mobile game Super Robot Wars X-Ω, including ones who also made an appearance in Project X Zone 3. It also marks the very first appearance of franchises from Nintendo (Xenoblade Chronicles and Pokémon), Square-Enix (Gyrozetter and Xenogears), Konami (Zone of the Enders and S.L.A.I.) and SNK (The King of Monsters) in a Super Robot Wars game.

Gameplay
Like the previous titles of the series, Chou Super Robot Wars Æ is a tactical RPG game with story elements and utilizes the same graphics engine seen in 3rd Super Robot Wars Z, Super Robot Wars V & Super Robot Wars X, but with an inclusion of a 3D isometric map unlike its predecessor.

It adapts many same elements of combat and gameplay from 3rd Super Robot Wars Z and 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy, such as team attacks and combination attacks.

Player and enemy units are divided into seven classifications with different functions and stats: Super Robots, Real Robots, Power Armors, Non-Mecha Heroes, Kaijus, Vessels and Battleships.
 * Super Robot - The second most common attainable units in the game. (i.e. Optimus Prime, Mazinger Z, Shin Getter Robo, Combattler V, EVA Unit 01, Daizyujin, MechaGodzilla, Gaogaigar, etc.)
 * Real Robot - The most common playable units unlocked in the game. (i.e. Zeta Gundam, Tsugumori, KG-6 Sleipnir, ARX-8 Laevatein, Guren S.E.I.T.E.N., etc.)
 * Power Armor - The third most common found in the game and usually the smallest that can be classified as mecha. (i.e. Tekkaman Blade, Boosted Gear Scale Mail, etc.)
 * Giant Hero - (i.e. Ultraman, Megaloman, Omnimon, Jumborg Ace, etc.)
 * Kaiju - The rarest unit classification in the game. (i.e. Godzilla Earth, Mothra, Gamera, Rayquaza, Zygarde, King Kong, etc.)
 * Crafts - The most common enemy units found and the weakest type of units. (i.e. Aircrafts)
 * Battleship - (i.e. Space Battleship Yamato, Blue Typhoon, Nadesico C, etc.)

Plot
Taking place during the events of Project X Zone 3, various worlds across the Multiverse are slowly being destroyed one by one and countless millions of lives lost in the crossfire with the suspicion that a great evil is responsible for this.

Ten years after Unicron's empire of Decepticons laid waste upon Cybertron and forced the Autobots to flee their destroyed homeworld, Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, along with his comrades who were scattered across the galaxy seeking for a new planet, visit Earth… along with a wandering seemingly-almighty source of power called the AllSpark.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Light, the Father of Ultra observes the situation of what's happening with the Multiverse and understands that the problem is probably the gravest and most dangerous anyone will ever face, so he sends his sons Taro and Leo, as well Seven, Astra and 80, to summon a grand alliance of heroes from any world they could find that had not been ravaged by the Genocide of Heroes.

After some time, a grand alliance of good is formed from the heroes of ten Earths: Time begins to run out for the Earths in both the past and the future while in the present, the Father of Ultra tells the heroes of his plan to halt the approaching antimatter waves by transporting them to various times in various Earths where they help the Ultras build Time-Space Towers by harnessing the power and technology of the AllSpark that are to be activated to save reality.
 * Earth-35 (Universal Century Earth);
 * Earth-6C7G (Cosmic Era Earth);
 * Earth-A509 (Anno Domini Earth);
 * Earth-9909 (After Colony Earth);
 * Earth-8334209 (Post Disaster Earth);
 * Earth-123P (Build Fighters Earth);
 * Earth-007F (After War Earth);
 * Earth-10O8 (Regild Century Earth);
 * Earth-233 (Advanced Generation Earth); and
 * Earth-ZY48 (Future Century Earth).

More to be added…

Banpresto Originals
When starting the game, the player creates an avatar and chooses between four scenarios, one for each combination of a male or female protagonist and super or real robot, as follows:
 * Avatar/Hero from Earth-Prime - Male/Female. The first Super Robot Wars game to provide the player an avatar with a customizable mecha, the protagonist who would later be known in the game as the Hero from Earth-Prime is an avid otaku or fan of mecha anime, to the point where he/she even imagines him/herself piloting a robot. He/she is rescued by whoever the player picks will be his/her companion throughout the game when his/her home-universe, Earth-Prime, was unfortunately destroyed in the Genocide of Heroes. Afterwards, in his/her quest to avenge his/her lost home, the player can choose to pilot either a Super Robot or a Real Robot, customize and name it.

Super Robot Pilots
If the player chooses to pilot a Super Robot, he/she can choose either of the two of the following protagonists to be your companion.
 * Isaac Flynn - Male, pilot of Dragonturtle Mk. II - Victory God Mode and later the Chou Mashiach Ben Yahuwah after giving the Victory God to Aya Nishio. First appearing in Project X Zone 3, Isaac plays a much larger role in the game. If Avatar is female, Isaac becomes her love interest. If male, Aya becomes Isaac's love interest instead.
 * Aya Nishio - Female, pilot of either the Ferrum Opus and would later control Isaac's Victory God. Playable only if Isaac is selected as the deuteragonist. If the Avatar is male, the player may have the option to be Aya's boyfriend.
 * Hanami - Female, pilot of Magical Robo MagiSun, if the Avatar is female. If the Avatar is male, she pilots Magical Robo MagiMoon instead. In addition, the player may have Madoka be his girlfriend.
 * Queen Amayano - Female, pilot of Seikishin GingaSeiShi the 37th. She is playable only if Hanami is selected as the deuteragonist. She was the Queen of an intergalactic Terran Empire from Earth-DG00X but was driven out after her universe was decimated by a wave of antimatter.
 * Prince Kamimura XXV - Male, pilot of Jakishin Kuro-Zeta-0 and later Hyakukishin Gin-Omega-100. He is the son of Queen Amayano and King Kamimura XXIV and was presumed dead when Earth-DG00X was erased. It is later revealed that he is alive and under Megatron's control.

Real Robot Pilots
In contrast, if the player chooses to pilot a Real Robot, he/she can choose one of the following below to be the deuteragonist throughout the game.
 * Youtaro Suzumura - Male, pilot of Gallileaneus AstroMark-3.
 * Rebecca Sakuno - Female, pilot of the Supraxion. Playable only if Youtaro is selected as the deuteragonist. She is an African-American-Japanese airplane pilot who is dragged into a war and trained to be a robot pilot.
 * Miriam Moonway - Female, pilot of UNCL-FM-23 Europa. Miriam is a Filipino-American Fighter Model pilot in the United Nations Combat League.
 * Joseph Bentanyahim - Male, pilot of IDF-FM-34 Callisto. Joseph is an Israeli Fighter Model pilot in the Israeli Defense Force.
 * Akatsuki Atra - Male, pilot of the ASW-G-99 Hercules.

Other Original Characters

 * Goldstreak - Male, commander of the Orbots, an autonomous sect of the Autobots stationed in the Orb Union, Earth-6C7G.

Series Included

 * Banpresto Originals
 * Super Robot Wars OG Original Generation
 * 2nd Super Robot Wars OG
 * Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier
 * Super Robot Wars J
 * Super Robot Wars F Final
 * Super Robot Wars MX
 * Super Robot Wars A
 * 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy
 * Super Robot Wars X-Ω
 * Super Robot Wars Impact
 * Project X Zone 3: War of Infinite Worlds
 * Xenosaga
 * Idolmaster: Xenoglossia
 * Digimon Xros Wars
 * Super Machine Zambot 3
 * The Unchallengeable Daitarn 3
 * Invincible Robo Trider G7
 * Invincible King Tri-Zenon
 * Combat Mecha Xabungle
 * Gad Guard
 * Brave Raideen
 * Aura Battler Dunbine
 * Chōdenji Robo Combattler V
 * Chōdenji Machine Voltes V
 * Tōshō Daimos
 * Heavy Metal L-Gaim
 * Chikyū Bōei Kigyou Dai-Guard
 * Mobile Suit Gundam
 * Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
 * Mobile Suit Gundam F91
 * Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
 * Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
 * Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
 * Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash
 * Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam
 * Mobile Fighter G Gundam
 * New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
 * After War Gundam X
 * Turn A Gundam
 * Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
 * Mobile Suit Gundam 00: The Movie -A Wakening of the Trailblazer-
 * Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
 * Gundam Build Fighters
 * Gundam Reconguista in G
 * Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (Third Generation~Forth Generation)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
 * Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
 * Brave Exkaiser
 * The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird
 * The Brave Express Might Gaine
 * The King of Braves Gaogaigar
 * The King of Braves Gaogaigar FINAL
 * Mashin Hero Wataru
 * Six God Combination Godmars
 * Space Runaway Ideon
 * New Tetsujin-28
 * Dancouga - Super Beast Machine God
 * Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova
 * Armored Fleet Dairugger XV
 * Metal Armor Dragonar
 * GEAR Fighter Dendoh
 * Super Heavy God Gravion
 * Super Heavy God Gravion Zwei
 * Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
 * Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
 * Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
 * Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
 * My-HiME
 * Martian Successor Nadesico: The Motion Picture – Prince of Darkness
 * Gekiganger III
 * E.X. Troopers
 * Mega Man Legends
 * Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness
 * Tech Romancer
 * Getter Robo Armageddon
 * Koutetsushin Jeeg
 * True Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!
 * True Mazinger ZERO
 * True Mazinger ZERO vs. Great General of Darkness
 * God Mazinger
 * Mazinkaiser
 * Mazinkaiser SKL
 * UFO Robot Grendizer
 * Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu
 * Kishin Houkō Demonbane
 * Guilty Crown
 * Hades Project Zeorymer
 * The King of Monsters
 * The King of Monsters 2: The Next Thing
 * Godzilla
 * Showa Godzilla series
 * Heisei Godzilla series
 * Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
 * Godzilla: Final Wars
 * Godzilla (2014)
 * Shin Godzilla
 * Godzilla: King of the Monsters
 * Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
 * Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle
 * Kong: Skull Island
 * Heroman
 * Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion
 * Planetary Robot Danguard Ace
 * Psycho Armor Govarian
 * Giant Gorg
 * Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry
 * Kuromukuro
 * IS: Infinite Stratos
 * High School DxD
 * High School DxD New
 * High School DxD BorN
 * High School DxD Hero
 * Tekkaman Blade
 * Golden Warrior Gold Lightan
 * Break Blade
 * Matchless Raijin-Oh
 * Full Metal Panic!
 * Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
 * Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
 * Full Metal Panic! (Light Novels)
 * Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops: ~Winged Angels~
 * Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?
 * Macross Dynamite 7
 * Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress
 * Macross Frontier the Movie: Wings of Goodbye
 * Macross Delta
 * Super Dimensional Century Orguss
 * Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross
 * Ambassador Magma
 * Dinosaur War Izenborg
 * Spectreman
 * Ultraman
 * Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie
 * Ultraman Zero: Revenge of Belial
 * Ultraman Saga
 * Ultraman Ginga
 * Ultra Fight Victory
 * Ultraman X
 * Ultraman Orb
 * Ultraman Geed
 * Jumborg Ace
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider J
 * Kamen Rider Den-O
 * Super Sentai
 * Battle Fever J
 * Chōdenshi Bioman
 * Chōjū Sentai Liveman
 * Kyoryū Sentai Zyuranger
 * Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger
 * Tokusō Sentai Dekaranger
 * Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
 * Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger
 * Uchū Sentai Kyuranger
 * Metal Hero
 * Space Sheriff Gavan
 * Space Sheriff Sharivan
 * Space Sheriff Shaider
 * B-Fighter Kabuto
 * Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution
 * Genesis of Aquarion
 * Aquarion EVOL
 * Aquarion Logos
 * Expelled from Paradise
 * Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
 * Attack on Titan
 * Keroro Gunsou
 * Haja-Taisei Dangaioh
 * Chōsoku Henkei Gyrozetter
 * Xenogears
 * Xenoblade Chronicles
 * Xenoblade Chronicles X
 * Pokémon
 * Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
 * Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
 * Pokémon Black 2/White 2
 * Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
 * Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
 * Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram
 * Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz
 * Sonic X
 * Sakura Wars
 * Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?
 * Sakura Wars 4: Fall in Love, Maidens
 * Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love
 * Phantasy Star Online
 * Magic Knight Rayearth
 * Sei Jūshi Bismark
 * Overman King Gainer
 * Captain Earth
 * Appleseed
 * The Big O
 * Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
 * Code Geass R3: Lelouch of the Resurrection
 * Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
 * Gurren Lagann The Movie: The Lights in the Sky are Stars
 * Aim for the Top! Gunbuster
 * Aim for the Top! 2: Diebuster
 * Rebuild of Evangelion
 * Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
 * Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
 * Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
 * Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 You Can (Not) Reverse
 * FLCL
 * Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
 * Darling in the FranXX
 * Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
 * Transformers
 * Chō Robot Seimeitai Transformers: Micron Densetsu
 * Transformers: Superlink
 * Transformers: Galaxy Force
 * Knights of Sidonia
 * Aldnoah.Zero
 * Valvrave the Liberator
 * Starship Troopers (OVA)
 * Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199
 * Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love
 * Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon
 * Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
 * Infinite Ryvius
 * Tekkōki Mikazuki
 * Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar
 * The Vision of Escaflowne
 * Brigadoon: Marin & Melan
 * RahXephon
 * Armored Trooper VOTOMS
 * Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Big Battle
 * Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Alone Again
 * Buddy Complex
 * Buddy Complex Final Act -Into the Skies of Tomorrow-
 * Zone of the Enders: Dolores,i
 * S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International

Soundtrack
Opening Theme: Ending Theme:
 * TRANSFORMERS EVO.
 * Performed by: JAM Project
 * Composed by: Hironobu Kageyama
 * Lyrics by: Hironobu Kageyama
 * Arranged by: Daisuke Kikuta
 * Chōdenji ~We are Brothers 2021~
 * Performed by: Super Robot Music All Stars
 * Composed by: AYANO (of FULL AHEAD)
 * Lyrics by: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Arranged by: Daisuke Kikuta

Trivia

 * Not counting the mobile game Super Robot Wars X-Ω, Chou Super Robot Wars Æ surpasses 3rd Super Robot Wars Z as the game with the largest playable cast in the series before the sequel Chou Super Robot Wars M takes the spot.
 * As a side-story to Project X Zone 3, characters, villains and plot elements from the game are also present here. Many other characters only appear in cameos in cutscenes.
 * References from Project X Zone III are also made in various points of the game.
 * The follow-up Chou Super Robot Wars M will correspond directly with the events of Project X Zone 3 's endgame arc.
 * In the same vein that Project X Zone 3 's story is the darkest in the Namco Cross series, the Chou Super Robot Wars storyline is also considered to be darkest, most surreal and mature in the entire Super Robot Wars franchise, due to presence of disturbing themes such as rape, slavery, genocide and child abuse, sexual content, nudity, excess blood and gore, extreme graphic violence, profanity, religious implications, character deaths, surreal realism, drug materialism and moments of depression throughout the game.
 * Additionally, the game was originally going to add eroge elements similar to Project X Zone 3, but the idea was dropped because the creators thought it would be "too much and go for copying Project X Zone 3".
 * Because of such, it is the first SRW game to receive a D rating by CERO.
 * This is the first game in the Super Robot Wars series to feature characters from the Transformers franchise.
 * In addition, the final boss of Chou Super Robot Wars Æ is Unicron.
 * It is the first non-Original Generation SRW game to feature multiple Banpresto Original characters from the Original Generation cast.
 * It is also the first Super Robot Wars game to debut SNK, Square Enix, Konami and Nintendo game franchises.
 * As well, it is the first game in the franchise to feature characters and stories exclusive to a different console port of the game, in this case, Nintendo's Pokémon and Xenoblade Chronicles.